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brookegabor's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i think this is a short story collection unlike one i’ve ever read before. instead of being several completely separate stories, each of these felt as though they were tied together by similar characters and themes. it was like a needle would pinpoint one aspect of the story and thread that one piece to the next story, then another aspect to the next, and so on. all of the stories were beautifully written, and ling ma truly is the queen of ambiguous endings lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
goodbyerachel's review
I read the first two stories. They were WEIRD but felt on theme for Ling Ma after Severance. Very interesting idea, I struggle with short story collections and just think now it isn't vibing with me. Will definitely consider coming back to it another time when my mood fits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
challenging
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
3.5
Los Angeles: 2.5
Oranges: 4
G: 2.5
Yeti Lovemaking: 3.5
Returning: 3.75
Office Hours: 4.25
Peking Duck: 4
Tomorrow: 3.25
Overall rating: 3.5
Oranges: 4
G: 2.5
Yeti Lovemaking: 3.5
Returning: 3.75
Office Hours: 4.25
Peking Duck: 4
Tomorrow: 3.25
Overall rating: 3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Alcohol
mariacandet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm blown away by this collection. Felt each story—haunting and uncanny and breathtaking—on such a visceral level, I don't think I could rank them or even pick a favourite. If I hadn't gotten this from the library and already returned it, I'd be tempted to reread it immediately.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
bliss montage is a great collection of stories, some either more unpredictable or reflective than others, but all subtly gripping in their own way.
the volume opens w/ a bang w/ "los angeles," perhaps the most delightfully eclectic short story ive ever read, so unconventional yet - by the end - thrilling it is. thru her stories, ma wrestles w/ coming of age, the immigrant experience, the self, and relationships. ma's pondering on the first one esp hits true, her incredible, precise articulation of the strange weightless void post-undergrad bleak, quiet, yet comforting in the knowledge that others share this experience. im also amazed by how the author's able to capture and vocalize the inner condition and struggles that exist merely under the surface.
a great sophomore effort thats even better than its already good predecessor, and one of the best - tho def most eclectic - short story collection ive ever read.
the volume opens w/ a bang w/ "los angeles," perhaps the most delightfully eclectic short story ive ever read, so unconventional yet - by the end - thrilling it is. thru her stories, ma wrestles w/ coming of age, the immigrant experience, the self, and relationships. ma's pondering on the first one esp hits true, her incredible, precise articulation of the strange weightless void post-undergrad bleak, quiet, yet comforting in the knowledge that others share this experience. im also amazed by how the author's able to capture and vocalize the inner condition and struggles that exist merely under the surface.
a great sophomore effort thats even better than its already good predecessor, and one of the best - tho def most eclectic - short story collection ive ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Drug use
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Stalking, and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent and Terminal illness
mmccombs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Very solid stories about “home” and desire and how in the world we live when the world is kind of terrifying. They all kind of felt like reading a dream. For some reason I didn’t love any story, I didn’t find myself fully invested, but they were all well written and had an interesting blend of the absurd and the mundane. I’d say “G” was my favorite story, closely followed by “Office Hours.” It was good! Not blown away but glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
rachaelwho's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Dreamlike stories. Excellent and creative writer and thinker.
The audio was super weirdly edited, weird overlapped tracks that did not seem intentional at all, very surprising for a high profile author and well-known publisher. The actor was expressive and a very good fit for the performance. There's a fair amount of mispronunciations, if that bothers you.
The audio was super weirdly edited, weird overlapped tracks that did not seem intentional at all, very surprising for a high profile author and well-known publisher. The actor was expressive and a very good fit for the performance. There's a fair amount of mispronunciations, if that bothers you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
bookworme's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Rounding up my overall review bc the stories I liked in this collection were of really good substance. A very matter-of-fact take on moments of surrealism that read as very much part of the ordinary. Full of food for thought. 🍊🍊🍊🍊 favs : G, Yeti Lovemaking, Returning, Office Hours, Peking Duck
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Addiction, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Medical trauma
macy_d's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
eena's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Reading this made me want to reread Severance again, this is more of a 3.5 rating and here are my reasons:
- Ling Ma’s main characters are usually fascinating that she goes beyond the usual immigrant stories that we know of and I truly love how she presented the relationships of her characters here
- This reminded me of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and how for Asian people, especially immigrants, the English language is power and a status symbol
- I LOVE THE TITLE SO MUCH it’s the most realistic part of this collection
- What made me rate it a little lower than most of the reviews here was that I expecting the stories to go beyond just the fantasy of everything because I feel like some bits were confused in becoming a fantasy or a surrealist story. I also thought that it will be unique that each story will be interlaced with each other and this also disappointed me somehow.
This is truly a high recommendation this year and I cannot wait for Ling Ma’s future works. Big thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the arc!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Domestic abuse