Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So

21 reviews

sabrinames's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Genocide

Minor: Suicide

geraldinerowe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I didn't really get hooked until the second half. Without giving too much away that's where both the really endearing and utterly gut wrenching stories lie. After I'd finished the book and was skimming through the acknowledgements my emotions caught up with me and I started to cry, something very few books have made me do. Well worth a read alone for learning about the Cambodian atrocities. I was young when they were on the news so was aware of the situation but not of the detail. They don't feature heavily as a plot line, but influence every aspect of these stories.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Murder, and War

Minor: Racism, Sexual content, and Suicide

jayisreading's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.75

This was such a good collection of short stories, and it’s unbelievably heartbreaking to know that So’s career was cut short. Something I really appreciated about each short story was this striking balance of wry humor and quiet grief. So explored the distinct experience of being Cambodian American, queer, a child of refugees, and more. His stories almost seemed to exist outside of time in the way they simultaneously touch on past, present, and future. It’s not to say these stories existed in their own bubbles but, rather, So poignantly took into consideration (generational) trauma and memory and their impact across time. These stories were twinged with care and love, weaving in the Khmer language and culture into the blanket of the United States to create a space for Cambodian Americans.

I honestly enjoyed all of these stories for very different reasons, which I think demonstrates So’s talent. (Though, like any book, it’s not going to be for everyone.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, and Suicide

karenreader's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Short story collection about the children and grandchildren of Cambodian refugees living in the same area. Stories are well written and cover a lot of big topics. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Addiction and Suicide

maregred's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Dementia, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism

whatannikareads's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

I enjoyed a majority of these short stories! One of the stories I did not care for, but for the most part this was a really intimate look into the Cambodian American experience in Stockton, CA. I appreciate that the stories wove fibers of what seems to be Anthony’s real-life experiences and people on his life. It’s very educational about this particular ASAM subculture that needs more light shed upon it. I also appreciate that the last story educated me on a school shooting I’d never even heard of until this book, which is so unfortunate, but I love the perspective he took on it. I’m so sad he wasn’t able to see his final work published, but I’m so glad it exists. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, and Mass/school shootings

stevie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Colonisation, and War

jenguerrero's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Mass/school shootings

Minor: Suicide

ladymirtazapine's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

matthewsalibi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for an advance copy of this book.  (I loved it so much I've ordered the hardcover to keep!)

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.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Genocide, Infidelity, Suicide, and Dementia