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moth_dance's review against another edition
5.0
Wildly weird short stories. Exactly what I want from a contemporary short story collection. Each one stands out as complex magical-realism diasporic fables that are as unique as they feel universal.
I'm glad I took my time with this one, too. Obviously, I lived for the Moths section at the end of the book. “Mariela” completely stole my heart (and right after finishing a very disappointing historical fiction arc...) Following these two friends around during their brutal exploration of each other and their world had just the right amount of raw and alert details. It felt like an a24 short; my love language basically.
I'm glad I took my time with this one, too. Obviously, I lived for the Moths section at the end of the book. “Mariela” completely stole my heart (and right after finishing a very disappointing historical fiction arc...) Following these two friends around during their brutal exploration of each other and their world had just the right amount of raw and alert details. It felt like an a24 short; my love language basically.
oroseo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
strange and delightful and dark and grotesque in such a tangible way and very very gay. loved these short stories!
the_wistful_word_witch's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Gods of Want was a strangely compelling book. The stories were interesting and even haunting, but I don't know that I'd say I "liked" them. I was left intrigued, confused, and wondering wtf I just read.
The writing is quite evocative, bringing the surrealness of the stories to vibrant life. Flashes of images cropping up in my mind - raccoons in a sailboat, a parade of brothers, a weeping ceiling above a mattress-less bedframe, a kiss for good fortune...
Some of my fave quotes:
"I want to unbutton the stars with my fingers and forget them inside my fist."
"We've been listening to your prayers without needing subtitles, we've been fluent in you forever."
"she was interested in moon watching, which she told me was not the same as just looking at the moon - moonwatching was the process by which you wooed a woman down from her night perch."
"Outside, I could hear the stars hit the roof like rain."
The writing is quite evocative, bringing the surrealness of the stories to vibrant life. Flashes of images cropping up in my mind - raccoons in a sailboat, a parade of brothers, a weeping ceiling above a mattress-less bedframe, a kiss for good fortune...
Some of my fave quotes:
"I want to unbutton the stars with my fingers and forget them inside my fist."
"We've been listening to your prayers without needing subtitles, we've been fluent in you forever."
"she was interested in moon watching, which she told me was not the same as just looking at the moon - moonwatching was the process by which you wooed a woman down from her night perch."
"Outside, I could hear the stars hit the roof like rain."
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic friendship, Child death, Death, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts
lucinasfalchion's review against another edition
loved the first two stories in this but the rest did not hit the same... started skimming then I realised it was time to just DNF
mckailaferguson's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
psalva's review
5.0
More and more it’s the feeling that a book gives me which is what I remember most. If it’s a particularly powerful or emotional reading experience, I cherish it long after I forget the characters’ names or other details. This is a book that will leave a lasting mark. Chang’s imaginative, haunting writing really impressed me. I wanted to underline every sentence. It was full of recurring imagery but it felt fresh throughout, always revealing new connections.
josie_wu's review
5.0
Very cohesive and creative. Sometimes I think the stories are too driven by language, though
coatpocketcreature's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
janeaustentatious2's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5