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chelso's review against another edition
4.0
I liked these stories and the way they wrapped together and overlapped. It definitely is not a "fun" read and some of it feels almost uncomfortable to read, but I think that is part of the point and paints an honest picture.
jenbarin's review against another edition
3.0
[Rating: 3.5] Jenny Zhang was first brought to my attention when a good friend forwarded her Rookie mag article about Weezer's internalized misogyny and Asian fetishization. This was a critique I myself had made in the past, so it was exciting to see someone else articulate it in writing - and from another Asian Jenny, too!
Asian Americans deserve more moments of resonance such as that, which is why I'm glad Jenny Zhang has gone on to publish a book of short stories. I have to admit this collection was pretty hit-or-miss. The quality of the stories varies, and at times, it's hard to tell the protagonists apart. There is a stylistic tendency across each story to use run-on sentences for narrative effect, and while it can be impactful at first, the repetition results in robbing the characters of distinct voices. In my opinion, the most interesting and poignant stories were the ones told by the characters Christina and Jenny ("We Love You, Crispina" and "Evolution of my Brother").
Jenny Zhang repeatedly articulates a notion of immigrant love as a semi-toxic, possessive experience. It's an interesting thread that is explored in each story (and in the "Evolution of my Brother," this possessive love is between a brother and sister, provoking unsettling thoughts about inherited emotional quirks). The desire to run away from a suffocating family, and the further implication that this relates to racial/immigrant identity, was really powerful to read about. To me, this book is evidence of the nuanced perspectives Asian Americans have to contribute to the literary canon, and we need more work like this out in the world.
Bravo to Jenny Zhang for writing something so provocative. Although certain parts felt dark for the sake of being edgy, I do appreciate that she was willing to depict the model minority as something less than glamorous and privileged. Although I know a number of first gen Chinese Americans who grew up in Queens/New York taking ESL classes, this was the first time I ever saw that experience written about in American literature.
Asian Americans deserve more moments of resonance such as that, which is why I'm glad Jenny Zhang has gone on to publish a book of short stories. I have to admit this collection was pretty hit-or-miss. The quality of the stories varies, and at times, it's hard to tell the protagonists apart. There is a stylistic tendency across each story to use run-on sentences for narrative effect, and while it can be impactful at first, the repetition results in robbing the characters of distinct voices. In my opinion, the most interesting and poignant stories were the ones told by the characters Christina and Jenny ("We Love You, Crispina" and "Evolution of my Brother").
Jenny Zhang repeatedly articulates a notion of immigrant love as a semi-toxic, possessive experience. It's an interesting thread that is explored in each story (and in the "Evolution of my Brother," this possessive love is between a brother and sister, provoking unsettling thoughts about inherited emotional quirks). The desire to run away from a suffocating family, and the further implication that this relates to racial/immigrant identity, was really powerful to read about. To me, this book is evidence of the nuanced perspectives Asian Americans have to contribute to the literary canon, and we need more work like this out in the world.
Bravo to Jenny Zhang for writing something so provocative. Although certain parts felt dark for the sake of being edgy, I do appreciate that she was willing to depict the model minority as something less than glamorous and privileged. Although I know a number of first gen Chinese Americans who grew up in Queens/New York taking ESL classes, this was the first time I ever saw that experience written about in American literature.
beaniebookbagel's review against another edition
4.0
I really do believe that short stories are doing more for literature right now than any other form of prose. Authors like Jenny Zhang and Carmen Maria Machado are Making It New.
cloppythemule's review against another edition
1.0
I thought this was just dire- samey short stories about Chinese diaspora in New York- all supposedly loosely linked by the families and kids knowing each other but really linked by being the EXACT SAME characters and plots over and over again. If you can call these meandering nothings plots. Really really rubbish.
iwakeupscreaming's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
Disgusting and uncomfortable, but also sentimental and sweet. I really liked Sour Heart.
Disgusting and uncomfortable, but also sentimental and sweet. I really liked Sour Heart.
imlisaann's review against another edition
I had to throw in the towel on this one after two stories. I wanted to like this one--linked short stories about the immigrant experience by an Asian-American writer sounded right up my alley. I was a little wary when I realized this was going to be the first book under Lena Dunham's imprint but still gave it a go.
I shouldn't have. It's crass for the sake of being crass. I can handle gross details when they advance the plot, but here the talk of feces and vaginal exploration seemed solely to shock and be edgy and added absolutely nothing to the book (at least in the first two stories). I can see why Dunham thought it was great.
No thanks.
I shouldn't have. It's crass for the sake of being crass. I can handle gross details when they advance the plot, but here the talk of feces and vaginal exploration seemed solely to shock and be edgy and added absolutely nothing to the book (at least in the first two stories). I can see why Dunham thought it was great.
No thanks.
jacqueline016's review against another edition
1.0
Just awful. Based on all the buzz and reviews it was getting, I thought for sure that this was going to be a book I shouldn’t miss. Imagine my disappointment picking this up and trying to get through the manic writing style. The stories themselves were incredibly dark- this was not the issue but rather how it was conveyed to the reader in a lighthearted manner. Not a fan.
regperez's review against another edition
1.0
I stopped right at the last story. Wow. Reading this felt like a boring chore I had to get through. There was so much rambling I had to skim through a lot of parts.
What I disliked the most about this book was that all the stories were the same. Same main character, same parents that hated each other and blamed each other for their misfortunes, same frustrations, same brother, same voice, same same same.
I liked the first story and that’s probably why I’m giving it the one star. But then you keep reading and nothing changes. The language and the details get more vulgar. Details of things I don’t really care to know and I feel we’re just put in there for shock value.
The whole book felt apathetic, sarcastic, distant, cold and boring. Despite this, I’d still want to read something else from this writer bc I see the potential for an incredible book somewhere in here.
What I disliked the most about this book was that all the stories were the same. Same main character, same parents that hated each other and blamed each other for their misfortunes, same frustrations, same brother, same voice, same same same.
I liked the first story and that’s probably why I’m giving it the one star. But then you keep reading and nothing changes. The language and the details get more vulgar. Details of things I don’t really care to know and I feel we’re just put in there for shock value.
The whole book felt apathetic, sarcastic, distant, cold and boring. Despite this, I’d still want to read something else from this writer bc I see the potential for an incredible book somewhere in here.
marry_lhors's review against another edition
3.0
3.5⭐️
I read this book because one of my favourite authors, Caroline Dawson, quoted it as one of her main inspiration for her book « Là où je me terre ».
Sour Heart is a collection of short stories that are all somewhat linked (characters from previous short stories appear throughout the book). All the stories are narrated from a different Chinese girl’s perspective who immigrated to the USA, a much needed narrative that needs to be heard more. The prose of Zhang is beautiful, tinted with humour by time, but always raw and even harsh (this is not a light read).
I absolutely loved the first short story « We love you Crispina », but I found it difficult to get into some of the other ones. And I do agree with other critiques saying that there was some redundancy between the different stories, and as a reader I sometimes got mixed up between the stories and characters. Overall, I give this novel a 3.5 rating!
I read this book because one of my favourite authors, Caroline Dawson, quoted it as one of her main inspiration for her book « Là où je me terre ».
Sour Heart is a collection of short stories that are all somewhat linked (characters from previous short stories appear throughout the book). All the stories are narrated from a different Chinese girl’s perspective who immigrated to the USA, a much needed narrative that needs to be heard more. The prose of Zhang is beautiful, tinted with humour by time, but always raw and even harsh (this is not a light read).
I absolutely loved the first short story « We love you Crispina », but I found it difficult to get into some of the other ones. And I do agree with other critiques saying that there was some redundancy between the different stories, and as a reader I sometimes got mixed up between the stories and characters. Overall, I give this novel a 3.5 rating!