Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

3 reviews

kkulhannie's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

sunn_bleach's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

 Short stories are an art, and those who wield them well are masters. Bliss Montage is Ling Ma's second published work and first set of short stories, though some of them were published elsewhere beforehand. I like to describe Ling Ma as a prototypical "Millennial" author, in that I do not believe these stories could be written by someone who wasn't an adolescent during the 1990s boom-era and then experienced her formative years during 9/11 and the 2008 Great Recession. There's a wry exhaustion to the way she writes that just speaks to my experience as well (though I'm over a decade younger than her). 

Bliss Montage is on the cusp of speculative fiction in that the fantastic aspects are window dressing for Ling Ma's exploration of relationships and the American immigrant experience. The first (and best) story features a woman who lives in a large mansion with her husband, kids, and every single ex-boyfriend - including flings and one-night stands. It's a fascinating portrayal of how the tendrils of emotional abuse sink into one's psyche, with the follow-up story basically being the "real life" version. 

Other stories are less successful... but like with Max Porter, I'll buy everything she releases if she keeps up this quality for her whole career.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cursing

perkyanda's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.5

I loved this! The lack of resolution for the series Is the only aspect I didn’t love. But I loved the three and connection began stories, and the weirdness and realistic feelings and just aching they came through. I can’t wait till she has another novel or collection out!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol