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jayisreading's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This was an interesting collection of short stories focused on the everyday life of China (though there were two stories that did not completely take place in the country). What I particularly liked about Land of Big Numbers is that Chen reveals a kind of universality in experiencing all kinds of emotions and the general messiness of life. Furthermore, Chen explores through her characters and settings what it’s like to live in modern-day China.
The writing is restrained and eloquent, for a lack of a better description. What I mean by this is that Chen asks for the reader to read between the lines; to be suspended in what is reality in China and not what media depicts (in other words, the beauty and horror of society isn’t all that different from everywhere else); to sit in the tragic and beautiful mess that humans make of themselves.
Each story is quite unique, and they are all diverse in tone and approach. However, like most other collections of short stories, I was drawn to certain stories more than others. My favorites were: “Lulu,” “New Fruit,” “Field Notes on a Marriage,” “Shanghai Murmur” (though I’ll say this was because the descriptions of the city reminded me of my time there), and “Gubeikou Spirit.”
Note: I received an ARC through a giveaway.
Note: I received an ARC through a giveaway.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cancer and Police brutality
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