A review by yapxinyi
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li

4.0

Recently started reading more Asian (more Chinese than Asian, I guess) literature short stories, after [b:The Sorrows of Others|57963486|The Sorrows of Others|Ada Zhang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664560830l/57963486._SY75_.jpg|90821379] by Ada Zhang, which I enjoyed. It was probably confusing for me to also have started reading [b:Tomb Sweeping|63310838|Tomb Sweeping|Alexandra Chang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1675641075l/63310838._SY75_.jpg|84787050] by Alexandra Chang at the same time, because both featured a story about orchids. But it was so interesting that each of these 3 short story collections, centred around Chinese stories and the Chinese immigrant tension, had such different styles!

In any case, what I liked about this book was how unique each story was. Each character was sympathetic in their own way, though my favourite was probably "The Princess of Nebraska", "Love in the Marketplace", and in some sad way, "Immortality"?

I find that many Chinese stories are full of minor tragedies, the weight of grief, the impossibility of things. Just as Chinese songs are a hundred times sadder... Just as these devastating quotes:

It amazes and saddens Mrs. Su that Beibei's life is so tenacious that it has outlived the love that once made it.

They were comrades, trapped in a life with the woman they could not love, but could not leave, either.

"It is what we sacrifice that makes life meaningful."

I will be thinking of these stories for some time :( Might reread "The Princess of Nebraska" soon.