This collection of short stories was beautifully written and captivating, drawing you in from the very first story until the last. Though the stories all centered broadly on China and Chinese culture, some took place in the United States and others seemingly in another world entirely, incorporating magical realism and almost fairy taleish vibes that touched on dystopian.
What impressed me most about these stories was how well-developed each of the characters felt in just a few pages—and that really allowed me to get lost in each story. There were a few times where I felt like I was really invested and the story somewhat suddenly ended, which is really my only critique of this collection. My favorite stories were Lulu, New Fruit, and Gubeikou Spirit.
I can already tell I'll be thinking about these for a long time. I'm really looking forward to whatever Te-Ping Chen writes next.
What impressed me most about these stories was how well-developed each of the characters felt in just a few pages—and that really allowed me to get lost in each story. There were a few times where I felt like I was really invested and the story somewhat suddenly ended, which is really my only critique of this collection. My favorite stories were Lulu, New Fruit, and Gubeikou Spirit.
I can already tell I'll be thinking about these for a long time. I'm really looking forward to whatever Te-Ping Chen writes next.