katkinney's review against another edition
5.0
This collection of short stories set in Atlanta is one of my favorite contemporary reads from this year. The stories aren’t necessarily connected in an obvious way but the way the themes weave together completely works. I found the writing tugged at my heart with each story and always left me wanting just a little bit more after the story ended. I loved especially: the story of a man who is struggling along with his wife to conceive a child, and then discovers that through the sperm donations he made back in college, he has biologically fathered many—including one darling little girl whose mother is dying. The immigration stories, and the pressures and hurt on all involved. A girl forced to practice the piano. The photographer who makes a generous gesture to a girl on the streets that most wouldn’t consider, and the lovely result at the end. The younger sister from Japan who works in her mother’s restaurant and dares to make a different decision. This is such a beautiful collection. Highly recommended!
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
jferrell526's review against another edition
3.0
Anthology of lives
In this anthology we learn of the lives of many people. All are in some way connected. It's a true to life story with lots of angst. I found it easy to read. It's not a book for everyone but does deal with everyday lived of many.
In this anthology we learn of the lives of many people. All are in some way connected. It's a true to life story with lots of angst. I found it easy to read. It's not a book for everyone but does deal with everyday lived of many.
timdemarco's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful. Think "Winesburg, Ohio," but set in the twenty-first century and told from the perspectives of immigrants and the impoverished, the overlooked and underprivileged. A refreshing double-take at the people you pass by on a daily basis.
samanthapearl's review against another edition
5.0
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Escape to Candyland is dark, heart breaking and brilliantly written. After reading the first story I didn't want to put it down. I found myself stealing minutes throughout the day to absorb another story every chance I got. I actually finished the entire book within a few hours. Once I started it was like I couldn't stop, nor did I want to.
Life isn't always what it seems and people aren't always who they appear to be. The Escape to Candyland takes us through the lives of a variety of characters through a series of short stories that make your heart break. From preacher's wives to strippers everyone has a story and this incredible book allows us to see a glimpse inside their lives and the secrets they hide. Takahashi will break your heart many times throughout the 19 short stories contained inside this book. Each character is captured like a photograph making you care for them as if they are people you know. Raw and emotional, these amazing stories will surely show you the darker side of human nature.
The writing is simply incredible. There were a couple stories in the beginning that felt slightly rushed but the last 3/4 of the book more than made up for it. I highly recommend reading this book. It is a very fast read and worth every second.
The Escape to Candyland is dark, heart breaking and brilliantly written. After reading the first story I didn't want to put it down. I found myself stealing minutes throughout the day to absorb another story every chance I got. I actually finished the entire book within a few hours. Once I started it was like I couldn't stop, nor did I want to.
Life isn't always what it seems and people aren't always who they appear to be. The Escape to Candyland takes us through the lives of a variety of characters through a series of short stories that make your heart break. From preacher's wives to strippers everyone has a story and this incredible book allows us to see a glimpse inside their lives and the secrets they hide. Takahashi will break your heart many times throughout the 19 short stories contained inside this book. Each character is captured like a photograph making you care for them as if they are people you know. Raw and emotional, these amazing stories will surely show you the darker side of human nature.
The writing is simply incredible. There were a couple stories in the beginning that felt slightly rushed but the last 3/4 of the book more than made up for it. I highly recommend reading this book. It is a very fast read and worth every second.
petrajaga's review
4.0
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Escape to Candyland is a series of sometimes-interconnected vignettes exploring the lives of people in Atlanta, as well as some others connected to them.
This was a painful read with few, if any, silver linings. Most of the stories deal, in some way or another, with marginalized members of society, their troubles, their secrets, their inability to rise up beyond their circumstances, the violence that perpetuates itself through generations. Yet, while painful, the book is gripping and immensely readable, making you feel for the characters and hoping against hope that things might turn out well for them after all.
The one objection I have is that, midway through the book, what have thus far been individual stories, start to connect and form (at least they did for me) an expectation of coming together in a more complex manner than they ultimately ended up doing. In a way, I almost wish Takahashi had stuck to individual stories rather than build up expectations and wishes (I really wanted to know more about the little girl in the grocery store!) that ultimately found no resolution.
Still, this was an impactful book that will stay with me for a long time.
The Escape to Candyland is a series of sometimes-interconnected vignettes exploring the lives of people in Atlanta, as well as some others connected to them.
This was a painful read with few, if any, silver linings. Most of the stories deal, in some way or another, with marginalized members of society, their troubles, their secrets, their inability to rise up beyond their circumstances, the violence that perpetuates itself through generations. Yet, while painful, the book is gripping and immensely readable, making you feel for the characters and hoping against hope that things might turn out well for them after all.
The one objection I have is that, midway through the book, what have thus far been individual stories, start to connect and form (at least they did for me) an expectation of coming together in a more complex manner than they ultimately ended up doing. In a way, I almost wish Takahashi had stuck to individual stories rather than build up expectations and wishes (I really wanted to know more about the little girl in the grocery store!) that ultimately found no resolution.
Still, this was an impactful book that will stay with me for a long time.
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