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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A really thoughtful an quiet but analytical short story collection focusing on China's history and cultural norms, politics, social connections and relationships. As with any short story collection, some stories packed more punch than others, particularly Land of Big Numbers, Flying Machine, and Hotline Girl, and these are the ones that will stay with me longer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Police brutality
Gorgeous language, creative storylines, and pretty dark. Short stories can often be unsatisfying, but each ending felt perfect to me. I wish I knew more about China so I better understood the observations being made through these stories. A fascinating read. This would be a fun one to discuss with others.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a debut! Christ christ christ, and seemingly (at least according to my version) these stories had never been published before? Although there's no especially bad pieces, I preferred the first half: Lulu, Field Notes on a Marriage, and Flying Machine especially. Her prose is dense and specific in ways I really love, showing me sides of Chinese daily life I'd never considered to be different from my American upbringing (stupidly, hadn't considered) alongside plots of characters who are philosophically and mentally adrift in the stir of a changing, oftentimes low-grade scared, nation. Really good antho!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
this is a great selection of short stories written with elements of magical realism and realistic fiction. i found the storytelling superbly
done. the author weaves in elements of culture, politics, Chinese history, and familial themes.
i found myself extremely drawn into the stories as they unfolded. i felt a deep tension, a hopefulness for the character that was often not fulfilled. the realness of the stories, the uniqueness of the stories - compelled me