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A review by billblume
Linghun by Ai Jiang
5.0
This is a quick read, but the emotional journey in it will linger. This is a story of how the living haunt the dead, but that is almost too simple to convey what Ai Jiang accomplishes in this novella.
The story is messy in a way that explores the complicated emotions around loss and living. At times, the narrative turns brutal and horrifying while Wenqi goes on her journey.
I know this review is vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I will add that Ai Jiang’s afterword entitled “A Ramble on Di Fu Ling and Death” provides some helpful framing for the story that precedes it, so don’t skip it. This is a story I won’t shake anytime soon, and it’s probably appropriate to say it will haunt me for a long time.
The story is messy in a way that explores the complicated emotions around loss and living. At times, the narrative turns brutal and horrifying while Wenqi goes on her journey.
I know this review is vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I will add that Ai Jiang’s afterword entitled “A Ramble on Di Fu Ling and Death” provides some helpful framing for the story that precedes it, so don’t skip it. This is a story I won’t shake anytime soon, and it’s probably appropriate to say it will haunt me for a long time.