A review by aschoonover
Self-Portrait with Ghost by Meng Jin

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

With short story collections, I always wonder how much the order of the stories influences my opinion of the book. In this case, my least favorite of the stories, "Philip is Dead", about a woman reflecting on the death of her obnoxious ex-boyfriend, came first. "The Odd Women," which tells the story of three women with supernatural abilities, was my favorite, and came last. Anyway, I found most of these stories thought-provoking, with compelling central characters whose frustrations and unfulfilled desires continue to haunt me.