Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

15 reviews

odrib's review

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia

mondovertigo's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Minor: Eating disorder

chaoticnostalgia's review

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Los Angeles: 2.5
Oranges: 4
G: 2.5
Yeti Lovemaking: 3.5
Returning: 3.75
Office Hours: 4.25
Peking Duck: 4
Tomorrow: 3.25

Overall rating: 3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Alcohol

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

bliss montage is a great collection of stories, some either more unpredictable or reflective than others, but all subtly gripping in their own way.

the volume opens w/ a bang w/ "los angeles," perhaps the most delightfully eclectic short story ive ever read, so unconventional yet - by the end - thrilling it is. thru her stories, ma wrestles w/ coming of age, the immigrant experience, the self, and relationships. ma's pondering on the first one esp hits true, her incredible, precise articulation of the strange weightless void post-undergrad bleak, quiet, yet comforting in the knowledge that others share this experience. im also amazed by how the author's able to capture and vocalize the inner condition and struggles that exist merely under the surface.

a great sophomore effort thats even better than its already good predecessor, and one of the best - tho def most eclectic - short story collection ive ever read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Drug use

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Stalking, and Sexism

Minor: Death of parent and Terminal illness

mmccombs's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

Very solid stories about “home” and desire and how in the world we live when the world is kind of terrifying. They all kind of felt like reading a dream. For some reason I didn’t love any story, I didn’t find myself fully invested, but they were all well written and had an interesting blend of the absurd and the mundane. I’d say “G” was my favorite story, closely followed by “Office Hours.” It was good! Not blown away but glad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse