Great Collection

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Another great shorts collection that I've come across through Bookish First! This is a genre that I typically shy away from, because I love to become invested and it's hard for me to do so in short stories. Chen has that rare gift to encapsulate a full and rich story in just a few short pages. I finished each one sated and not left wanting. Maybe her journalistic background taught her to be succinct; regardless, I'm impressed with this debut.

One of the reasons that I was drawn to this book was that it offers a multi-perspective look at life in China. I find China to be such an interesting culture, so rich in history, such a dominant world power, and so very very different from my own experience. I loved this up close look at life on the ground there and all the intricacies of living under a government such as theirs. The touch of magic works well too - I always appreciate a bit of magical realism when it's done well. All in all this collection is great and I'm so glad I received a copy of this book.