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4.58 AVERAGE
4.58 AVERAGE
Teared up while reading this at work. I recommend to anyone with a beating heart.
fast-paced
Ouch. This story is heartbreaking. I feel for these characters. I thought this story was going to be a lot of fun with origami animals coming to life and it was, but then it hits you with the family relationships and devastates you.
WELL I'M IN PAIN.
Btw, if you can get ahold of the Levar Burton Reads podcast episode of this story, I highly recommend it. It has added in sound effects and he does such a great job immersing you in the story.
Btw, if you can get ahold of the Levar Burton Reads podcast episode of this story, I highly recommend it. It has added in sound effects and he does such a great job immersing you in the story.
" ...the saddest feeling in the world ? It's for a child to finally grow the desire to take care of his parents, only to realize that they were long gone. "
A beautiful short read. Had me think about my own relationship with my parents and how I should cherish every moment I have with them.
9/10
A beautiful short read. Had me think about my own relationship with my parents and how I should cherish every moment I have with them.
9/10
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!
The Paper Menagerie, though, is sharper still. I've never been so devastated and it is undoubtedly the best thing I've read this year.
It's about a half-Chinese boy named Jack in America, who comes to hate the Chinese part of him--leading him to reject his Chinese mother. Yeah, it's that kind of story and is as heartwrenching as you think it is. And yeah, you should read it.
Ken Liu's much lauded story first came to my attention when it swept the Hugo, Nebula, and the World Fantasy Award. I was intrigued but I thought it couldn't possibly live up to that kind of reputation. So, I'm ashamed to say, it sat with the rest of my Magazines of Fantasy and Science Fiction, unread, and that has been entirely my loss. It more than deserves its renown. Don't make my mistake, click on the io9 url and read The Paper Menagerie. Or listen to the LeVar Burton narration. Now.
The Paper Menagerie, though, is sharper still. I've never been so devastated and it is undoubtedly the best thing I've read this year.
It's about a half-Chinese boy named Jack in America, who comes to hate the Chinese part of him--leading him to reject his Chinese mother. Yeah, it's that kind of story and is as heartwrenching as you think it is. And yeah, you should read it.
Ken Liu's much lauded story first came to my attention when it swept the Hugo, Nebula, and the World Fantasy Award. I was intrigued but I thought it couldn't possibly live up to that kind of reputation. So, I'm ashamed to say, it sat with the rest of my Magazines of Fantasy and Science Fiction, unread, and that has been entirely my loss. It more than deserves its renown. Don't make my mistake, click on the io9 url and read The Paper Menagerie. Or listen to the LeVar Burton narration. Now.
So this story is a beautiful telling of a boy's strained relationship with his Chinese mother, and it really made me cry!
It was really beautifully written. The magical realism element about his magical paper menagerie created by his mother was really well done - it was odd to see it published in a fantasy outlet because the way it was written doesn't feel like fantasy at all. At some points, I couldn't tell if the paper menagerie was his imagination or actually happening! It was beautiful.
The last part of the story, his mother's note, was the most beautiful, even if it was also the saddest. The only thing that seemed off to me was the big jump in time from childhood to adulthood, it was a bit abrupt. I would've liked more!
The language barriers/communication issues hit close to home. My husband is French and though we now both speak French to each other and his English is perfect, when we first started dating my French was pretty basic and it was a challenge to communicate with his family. At times it was frustrating and I sometimes felt a bit left out. I eventually improved my French by insisting we speak French at home, but until then, it was a struggle to find my place within his family. Language barriers are rough. Not only does it block you from communicating fully, it makes it hard to fit in and be accepted. We've had lots of discussions about what we will teach any future child (I think he will speak French and me English, but who knows how that will work out once they are school age!).
Anyway, The Paper Menagerie is a beautiful story about a little boy's imagination, culture identity, and family relationships. Highly recommended.
It was really beautifully written. The magical realism element about his magical paper menagerie created by his mother was really well done - it was odd to see it published in a fantasy outlet because the way it was written doesn't feel like fantasy at all. At some points, I couldn't tell if the paper menagerie was his imagination or actually happening! It was beautiful.
The last part of the story, his mother's note, was the most beautiful, even if it was also the saddest. The only thing that seemed off to me was the big jump in time from childhood to adulthood, it was a bit abrupt. I would've liked more!
The language barriers/communication issues hit close to home. My husband is French and though we now both speak French to each other and his English is perfect, when we first started dating my French was pretty basic and it was a challenge to communicate with his family. At times it was frustrating and I sometimes felt a bit left out. I eventually improved my French by insisting we speak French at home, but until then, it was a struggle to find my place within his family. Language barriers are rough. Not only does it block you from communicating fully, it makes it hard to fit in and be accepted. We've had lots of discussions about what we will teach any future child (I think he will speak French and me English, but who knows how that will work out once they are school age!).
Anyway, The Paper Menagerie is a beautiful story about a little boy's imagination, culture identity, and family relationships. Highly recommended.
This is exactly the kind of story that students might read for class, and thank GOD it wasn't well-known enough during my literature class years because I am SOBBING. That would've been quite a day at school. God. Okay. Lemme write through the tears here.
PT: Short stories, reading around the world (Hong Kong and Hebei Province), history, CRYING MY EYES OUT
WIL
1) cultural inclusions. Not too many stories can claim that they've woven culture into the plot seamlessly and practically perfectly. But this one can. The linguistic mentions are not at all forced, the cultural references fit in like puzzle pieces, and the historical context is both compelling and heart-wrenching. That's the full package. Insanely impressive.
2) imaginative. Little origami creatures coming to life with the breath of small, "practical" magic?? How cute is that?? And how creative! I dunno about you but this is the first I've ever seen anything like this in which the genre isn't pure fantasy. It's realism that's been struck on the side of a matchbox and lights up with a magical spark. I love it I love it I love it.
3) the Big Concepts. Life, death, human trafficking, magic, culture, family, language, friendship... this has really got it all. There are SO many themes to choose from for analysis. It's a bit like a slice-of-life, but more pensive and moving. There's just so much to think about with this. It really forced me into a new perspective (in the best way possible).
WIDL
1) yea, so, where's the sequel? I don't think I've dehydrated myself enough from crying at this, and I'd really like to become a human raisin. Need another short story to die reading.
PT: Short stories, reading around the world (Hong Kong and Hebei Province), history, CRYING MY EYES OUT
WIL
1) cultural inclusions. Not too many stories can claim that they've woven culture into the plot seamlessly and practically perfectly. But this one can. The linguistic mentions are not at all forced, the cultural references fit in like puzzle pieces, and the historical context is both compelling and heart-wrenching. That's the full package. Insanely impressive.
2) imaginative. Little origami creatures coming to life with the breath of small, "practical" magic?? How cute is that?? And how creative! I dunno about you but this is the first I've ever seen anything like this in which the genre isn't pure fantasy. It's realism that's been struck on the side of a matchbox and lights up with a magical spark. I love it I love it I love it.
3) the Big Concepts. Life, death, human trafficking, magic, culture, family, language, friendship... this has really got it all. There are SO many themes to choose from for analysis. It's a bit like a slice-of-life, but more pensive and moving. There's just so much to think about with this. It really forced me into a new perspective (in the best way possible).
WIDL
1) yea, so, where's the sequel? I don't think I've dehydrated myself enough from crying at this, and I'd really like to become a human raisin. Need another short story to die reading.
Really beautiful, really lovely! I've heard of this story for years and finally got around to reading it. I highly recommend it is a new personal favorite!