tesladrianne's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wild_and_freckless's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
anaiira's review
3.0
I wanted too much out of this anthology.
All the short stories feel like half finished thoughts that go nowhere, everyone in them spinning in place, filled with despair or alcoholism or disappointment. They're both too real, as if the author is pulling them from her thoughts and daydreams, and too unrelatably distant.
The title of the collection made me think of or want something that the titular story was exceptionally bad at delivering.
All in all, just like Jeff Wall's photography, super not my cup of tea.
All the short stories feel like half finished thoughts that go nowhere, everyone in them spinning in place, filled with despair or alcoholism or disappointment. They're both too real, as if the author is pulling them from her thoughts and daydreams, and too unrelatably distant.
The title of the collection made me think of or want something that the titular story was exceptionally bad at delivering.
All in all, just like Jeff Wall's photography, super not my cup of tea.
nini23's review
2.0
Quite a few of the stories fell flat for me because the characters seemed closed off and inaccessible. I got most of the cultural references and the Vancouver setting was comfortingly familiar. We need more stories about Korean adoptees! Other than Nicole Chung's autobiographical non-fiction book, I am not aware of fictional works detailing their experience. The title story is bold and zingy.
mynameiskate's review against another edition
4.0
This was another rare book of short stories that I enjoyed. Lau presented a number of interesting and likeable characters and settings in her handful of stories (this is a very slim volume), a number of them set in Vancouver. In most cases, I was quite engaged with her stories and cared about what happened to the characters. If she writes another volume, I'd definitely pick it up.
If you like short stories and/or Vancouver as a setting, definitely read.
If you like short stories and/or Vancouver as a setting, definitely read.
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