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ninahuynh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This was quite the read. There were times I thought maybe the stories connected, but then the story would go into confusing narration. It may be because I was not in the mindset for this type of narrative, but boy was it difficult to get into. The only story that really intrigued me and I actually remember is the yeti story. I usually like odd stories but these were not for me; I was just confused on what I was reading for most of the time. It might have been bliss for me to still have this on my tbr.
Interesting concepts; execution did not work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Drug use
Moderate: Addiction, Physical abuse, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
marissab's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Weird, but in a really good way!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
skyba3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Such a great book! Wonderfully written and imaginative. I l sometimes didn’t even know I’d entered the fantasy until it was blatantly obvious. It was disturbing, sad, beautiful, and sometimes even creepy (I’m talking to you, office hours)? It was witty, imaginative, and sometimes very jarring. I just really loved this one. I will note that most stories end very ambiguously (which I loved), so I’m not sure many would enjoy not receiving a clear answer, but I loved how the end of each story allowed me to take a beat and think about the meaning of the story, the imagery and symbols, what the fantasy was and what it represented. It was a very beautiful book, and I think anyone can easily pick up this book. It’s amazing what Ling Ma does to build a story so quickly and so engaging. I often struggle getting into new novels but each short story was enticing from the start.
Also - I wanted to note that this book would be very easy to listen to as an audiobook (try libby).
Also - I wanted to note that this book would be very easy to listen to as an audiobook (try libby).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cancer and Car accident
cfries's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy
maedayx43's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
katieb1034's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Domestic abuse
reads2cope's review
3.75
Disturbing, strange, unsettling, disquieting... I can't describe this book accurately, but I guess that's a start. I loved Severance and short stories aren't typically my favorite format, but Ling Ma has done it again, though some pieces were more enthralling than others. The last one, Tomorrow, actually made me gag with horror, which I normally avoid at all costs, so thanks for getting me out of my comfort zone.
I did have some trouble figuring out when each story ended and the next began, going to start begging audiobook producers to leave more of a pause between chapters and put more stress on chapter titles, but maybe that's just me.
I did have some trouble figuring out when each story ended and the next began, going to start begging audiobook producers to leave more of a pause between chapters and put more stress on chapter titles, but maybe that's just me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Drug use
Moderate: Drug abuse, Xenophobia, and Racism
Minor: Stalking and Toxic friendship
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
danibailey's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Drug use, and Xenophobia
Minor: Rape
prosesiren's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really enjoyed the containment of each story that built me a world and showed me a character in such a short span while often leaving me with an open ended finality that required me to know the character on my own and determine if the world they lived in, the type of person this character was, and the type of reader I am would allow for an ending that understood both the author and the character’s story. If you enjoy short story collections I think this is well worth the read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Body horror