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sakisreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
I LOVED Severance by Ling Ma so I had high expectations for this one.
It was definitely very bizarre and out there, and not always my favourite read (for example, there were some gory moments which I found a bit tricky to read), but had some great moments highlighting the Asian-American experience 😳
I found ‘Los Angeles’ and ‘Oranges’ to probably be the most influential (in terms of holding the most space in my brain), but there were other stories in the collection I could appreciate too.
The narrator’s ex-boyfriend being an abuser and being condemned by his mum fucked me up! 😦
I will definitely include the content warnings needed for these stories below 🥲
All in all, I’m giving this story 3.5 out of 5 stars I think. Thank you ✨
It was definitely very bizarre and out there, and not always my favourite read (for example, there were some gory moments which I found a bit tricky to read), but had some great moments highlighting the Asian-American experience 😳
I found ‘Los Angeles’ and ‘Oranges’ to probably be the most influential (in terms of holding the most space in my brain), but there were other stories in the collection I could appreciate too.
I will definitely include the content warnings needed for these stories below 🥲
All in all, I’m giving this story 3.5 out of 5 stars I think. Thank you ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Domestic abuse
marinabkat's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
savvylit's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Ling Ma carefully crafts eight fully-realized mini universes within Bliss Montage. If you've read and enjoyed Ma's novel Severance, then you'll be delighted to find that her sharp observational satire is back in many of these stories. Yet again, Ma has excelled at blending reality and fantasy in order to pose questions about human motivation.
The most memorable stories in Bliss Montage are those that feature surreal elements. In Office Space, a young professor discovers a hidden realm inside a closet. In Tomorrow, a pregnant woman's baby grows partially outside her womb. In G, two friends take a drug that turns them invisible. In Yeti Lovemaking... Well, the title speaks for itself.
As a whole, Bliss Montage is a purely delightful journey into Ling Ma's brilliant characterization and world-building abilities. Now that I have read both this collection and Severance, Ma has firmly cemented her place in my mind as one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to see what she publishes next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus & Giroux for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The most memorable stories in Bliss Montage are those that feature surreal elements. In Office Space, a young professor discovers a hidden realm inside a closet. In Tomorrow, a pregnant woman's baby grows partially outside her womb. In G, two friends take a drug that turns them invisible. In Yeti Lovemaking... Well, the title speaks for itself.
As a whole, Bliss Montage is a purely delightful journey into Ling Ma's brilliant characterization and world-building abilities. Now that I have read both this collection and Severance, Ma has firmly cemented her place in my mind as one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to see what she publishes next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus & Giroux for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Violence, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Toxic friendship
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