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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
every ethnic group always has a set of commonalities that binds them, yet as so adeptly illustrates here, they are multifaceted and far from being a monolith. i learn a lot abt cambodian culture and the u.s. cambodian community - despite them being a lil similar to my own - but i also enjoy this for its purely fictional aspect, w/ a particular favorite being "human development."
the different immigrant struggles, family conflicts, legacy of intergenerational trauma are examined through various characters and storylines. although they're effective in varying degrees, i often find myself smirking and snorting bc of the dark humor that only the marginalized and survivors know to espouse, while also startled by the off-handed mentions of trauma and violence, a firm reminder that the genocide that sent this group of ppl to where they reside happened not long ago, yet it's also not talked abt enough in the mainstream.
from this volume, it's clear that so was a literary force to be reckoned w/, someone whose future work i would've looked forward to. ig we'll all have to make do w/ afterparties, a nonetheless notable work.
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Dementia
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Violence, Excrement, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and War
whatannikareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, and Mass/school shootings
elihegy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Genocide, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, and Dementia
theskyboi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
By far, the best stories were "Superking Son Scores Again," "The Shop," and "Somaly Serey, Serey Somaly." In these narratives, So inhabits the lives of others, giving us a glimpse into how he interpreted the quotidian lives of his community and family members. In the shoes of different narrators, So left me enraptured by a candid yet blend of ethnic history and town gossip.
However, this edition's pitfalls lie in both the spoken delivery overall and the original written text of some of the weakest stories of the bunch. For all the insight and wit that So was able to weave into his image of others, the stories focused on the experience of being young, gay, and Cambodian felt lackluster in their heavy reliance on tropes. Additionally, the audiobook's quality improved at 1.5x speed, making up for the somewhat stilted reading that was recorded.
Perhaps saddest of all is that Anthony Veasna So can never surpass this initially published work with subsequent entries into his literary catalog. Haunted by the author's passing through some fault of my own, Afterparties was a memorable yet somewhat unpolished debut that frustratingly could have been so much more on its own or as a jumping-off point for even deeper works. It's hard to say whether I fully recommend this book; it comes down to preference at the end of the day. For me, a repeat read is only in order for a select few stories.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Genocide, Sexual content, Dementia, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Religious bigotry
ladymirtazapine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicide, Excrement, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
annuich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Genocide, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Mass/school shootings, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
matthewsalibi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So's voice is so fresh and so specific. It was enthralling to spend these pages with the children of Cambodian refugees in Stockton, CA. The whole collection crackles -- what can't So do?? A book of perfectly-executed short stories, a master class in the form. He winds these stories up so perfectly, it adds a whole meta level of enjoyment; it was fun to step back every few pages to admire how expertly the stories are constructed, how effortlessly he sets up meaning and consequences for his characters.
Also, several LGBTQ+ characters, (maybe all gay men, now that I think about it?), so much more interesting and nuanced than you often find. If you like short stories or stories about complex cultural identities, you should spend some time with this standout collection.
Moderate: Drug use, Genocide, Infidelity, Suicide, and Dementia