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kateellis00's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Abandonment, and Racism
Minor: War
blackcatkai's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
CW: racism, classism, abandonment, sexual content, grief, death, sexism, body shaming, implied infidelity, mentions of sexual assault
a short story collection about the immigrant experience of multiple characters from laos to canada. some are sweet, others heartbreaking, all of them are pretty great looks into culture, family, and belonging (or the search of them). i like the way thammavongsa writes and will probably be reading more of her work in the future. some stories felt a bit cut off, ending at points that felt like there should be more, but i'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys more emotional short story collections or slice of life character driven narratives.
a short story collection about the immigrant experience of multiple characters from laos to canada. some are sweet, others heartbreaking, all of them are pretty great looks into culture, family, and belonging (or the search of them). i like the way thammavongsa writes and will probably be reading more of her work in the future. some stories felt a bit cut off, ending at points that felt like there should be more, but i'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys more emotional short story collections or slice of life character driven narratives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Racism, Abandonment, Classism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Sexism, Misogyny, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Infidelity
amberinbookland's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Death, and Abandonment
thewordsdevourer's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
this collection of short stories reads like a much needed addition to the canon of american classics, one thats reflective of the diversity of current society, from a group of ppl whose voice's rarely heard.
how to pronounce knife reminds me of lucia berlin's stories in all the best ways w/ its subtle melancholy and humor, quick reversals, and tales of the marginalized's many struggles. i like how some of the stories defy social norms and taboos (slingshot and ewwrrrkk in particular), and many dont pan out the way i expected them to.
i also enjoy reading abt laotians of every kind, abt how life turns out for them after the supposed HEA of their successful refugee journeys across the sea or sky. sure, america offers them a new home, but it's def not an easy one, a new reality w/ racism, discrimination, scorn, and indifference from others.
overall, this is a reflective, quiet, bittersweet yet revealing book that is an undoubtedly good read.
how to pronounce knife reminds me of lucia berlin's stories in all the best ways w/ its subtle melancholy and humor, quick reversals, and tales of the marginalized's many struggles. i like how some of the stories defy social norms and taboos (slingshot and ewwrrrkk in particular), and many dont pan out the way i expected them to.
i also enjoy reading abt laotians of every kind, abt how life turns out for them after the supposed HEA of their successful refugee journeys across the sea or sky. sure, america offers them a new home, but it's def not an easy one, a new reality w/ racism, discrimination, scorn, and indifference from others.
overall, this is a reflective, quiet, bittersweet yet revealing book that is an undoubtedly good read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Death
Minor: Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Medical content
lejam's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book had a mixture of questionable and great stories. It could be that I did not understand what the author was trying to portray in some of them, so I felt it was a little random? However, there were also a great handful that made me smile, reflect on my personal experiences with immigrant parents, or made me feel empty inside afterwards. I think this book is a decent introduction to short story collections. It’s an easy read and you will definitely find at least one you’ll want to come back to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying
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