Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

10 reviews

jayisreading's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

3.75

This collection was definitely a mixed bag, with either me enjoying the short story or caring very little about it (if at all). Without a doubt, though, Chiang really knows how to craft a world and situation; even for the short stories I struggled with due to disinterest, I was still impressed with the way he wove everything together. Furthermore, each story posed such interesting questions and challenges to reflect on, whether it be the unreliability of mathematics as we know it, reckoning with the undeniable presence of God and His angels, or reconfiguring one’s reality through language. Perhaps not surprisingly, the gem of this collection is “Story of Your Life,” which may have been one of the best short stories I have read in a long while. (It has certainly incentivized me to finally get around to watching Arrival.) I now understand why it has received as much praise as it has.

To me, the short stories that are worth reading are: “Story of Your Life” (this one is a must, I’d say), “Tower of Babylon,” “Understand,” and possibly “Hell Is the Absence of God.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Bullying, Torture, and Classism

jwells's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective

Ted Chiang is astonishing,  but no one needs me to tell them that. 

"Story of Your Life," in particular, is exceptional.  It's rare to read something so intellectually engaging that's  also so emotionally moving. Thoroughly deserves the awards it won.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Grief

Loss of an adult child in "Story of Your Life." Loss of a spouse in "Hell is the Absence of God."

kimbo8's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, War, Medical trauma, Grief, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Misogyny

pandact's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I found this because of Alex Kasman's MathFiction Database because who can resist a title like "Division By Zero?" I was primed to enjoy that story the most, but most of Ted Chiang's stories get stuck in my head for years.
The only reason I subtract half a star is that it's been a while and I'm not sure how it aged! I remember Division By Zero most clearly because it's the kind of story you have to reread...

The coolest part, for me, was the way each parallel narrative was part of a proof that 1=2, which was so meta! I disagree with people saying that they're doomed as a couple because the man's whole problem was how he couldn't relate to math research, but her disastrous discovery is something he can understand. The mathematician's arc is looking for something else to find meaning in, so why can't they be two people together now?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Car accident, Grief, and Ableism

jessthanthree's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Grief

stargirlmolly's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief

Minor: Terminal illness and Suicidal thoughts

rileyeffective's review against another edition

inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Death, Infertility, Medical content, Cancer, and Grief

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and Bullying

bwwilhelm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism, Death, and Medical content

Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Child death, Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, and Xenophobia

mar's review

challenging reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, and Grief

manarnia's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This collection was great! There were times when it dragged or lost my interest, but overall I found it a really compelling and fun read. Also smart. Like really smart. Like is Ted Chiang an actual genius? Probably!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Xenophobia, Death, Grief, and Murder