This is a collection of short stories, most of which are based in China. I haven't read many short story collections but this is definitely my favorite. These stories were able to grab my attention from the very beginning. It was very easy to switch between stories about different characters and it didn't feel jarring. The stories were quite creative and very enjoyable to read. My favorites were Hotline Girl, Flying Machine, and On the Street Where You Live. Many of the stories were complex enough to start in present day and then go back and forth between the past and present day to explain how the characters ended up where they were in present day. Considering the stories were between 20-30 pages, I found the characters to be pretty complex.
The only complaint I had about this books is how some of the short stories ended. All of the stories wrapped up in a fairly neat way. I wish some of the stories had a bit of a cliffhanger, or without a lot of the loose ends tied up.
Overall I found this a very enjoyable read. There was a nice mix between incredibly realistic stories and stories that had some magical realism. I highly recommend if you are looking to get into reading short story collections!
The only complaint I had about this books is how some of the short stories ended. All of the stories wrapped up in a fairly neat way. I wish some of the stories had a bit of a cliffhanger, or without a lot of the loose ends tied up.
Overall I found this a very enjoyable read. There was a nice mix between incredibly realistic stories and stories that had some magical realism. I highly recommend if you are looking to get into reading short story collections!