i love ling ma and i want to kiss her on the face but that seems like a pretty major overstep so instead i'll just read everything she writes.

mini reviews for each story like i always do for collections when my weary brain allows me!


STORY 1: LOS ANGELES
immediately i don't think i can review every one of these. this was too one of a kind, too striking, i'm speechless, and i have to do this EVERY TIME?!

about to give up already.
rating: 4.25


STORY 2: ORANGES
cover story. basically.

this doesn't have the same fervent originality as the first one but it's even more immersive and suffocating.
rating: 4


STORY 3: G
this allegory is so satisfying (if a little clichéd) it's like having a treat.
rating: 4


STORY 4: YETI LOVEMAKING
HELLO ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL METAPHOR THIS ONE NOT CLICHED AT ALL!!!!!
rating: 4.25


STORY 5: RETURNING
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

i don't want this book to end ever.

a story about books and the themes of books and it has the themes and also more themes and also also also...
rating: 4.5


STORY 6: UNIVERSITY
hmmmmmm.

fun recurring theme becoming apparent of the complexity of desire (i.e., a sense of dissatisfaction too elaborate to pin on any one thing) making happiness impossible in modern life.
rating: 4


STORY 8: PEKING DUCK
these are just so rich.
rating: 4


STORY 9: TOMORROW
whoa.
rating: 4


OVERALL
brilliant and incisive, more knowing and intuitive on the subject of being young and getting older in the 21st century than just about anything i've ever read. i know i'm going to return to this one, countless times mentally and more than once for a reread.

significantly better than the sum of its parts, and the parts are damn good.
rating: 5

--------------------
tbr review

things i am willing to do in order to receive this book:
- be nice (or try to be)
- think about it a lot
- ...
- say please and thank you?

it worked. thanks to netgalley for the copy.