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andersenhannah02's review against another edition
3.0
It's hard to rate this, because it's a collection of short stories by authors with all different writing styles. Personally, I liked very few of the short stories, but I think that each, in their own right, are well written and offer a lot.
dannb's review against another edition
4.0
Some fave stories. Some fave authors. Intro to some new potential faves!
amber_siow_'s review
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
LENG LUI IS FOR PRETTY LADY
i loved reading literature about Malaysian culture, and the long-lasting culture of employing foreign women as domestic helpers
it made me reflect on my experiences with the helpers my mum hired and our interactions
insight into their experiences, their helpless and powerless role in the domestic environment
KELEMO’S WOMAN
conflict between love (love for two different people) vs duty (duty to our family or duty to our country)
the life & identity of a woman entirely shaped by her social & political role of loving an activist
was it selfless or self-saving
THE WAY OF THE MACHETE
what is the price of cowardice compared to the price of honour, or simply just pride & hotheaded impulsiveness
who pays for this price
how a child’s life changes abruptly and entirely due to his father’s actions
met with acceptance, respect, anticipation instead of spite
PORCELAIN
it reminds us that no one is whole
everyone is partially broken but also partially pieced together, and that is beautiful
explores signs and episodes of depression in the metaphor of pottery
THE RICH PEOPLE’S SCHOOL
whose fortune is it: those who left their children behind to seek a new life or those who are left behind but with a little more money
explores cultural imperialism
MY MOTHER, THE CRAZY AFRICAN
conflict between embracing one’s cultural identity & roots vs embracing the culture that immigrants are now surrounded by & immersed in
is it abandonment if we completely assume a new, western, American identity? is it betrayal if we choose to reshape our linguistic repertoire, burying our accent tones that tie us back to our cultural homeland?
ISHWARI’S CHILDREN
i love the narrative of the countryside settlements
the conflict between landlords/landowners and the vulnerable they take from
i love the essence of a young protagonist as a witness; a bystander oblivious to the rights and wrongs of their beloved dadajun
“ I simply remained unaware of it, secure in the unfeeling obliviousness of the young“
AIR MAIL
insight into the egocentric & unknowing perspective of children, oblivious to how the rest of the world lives
inter communication, cross-cultural penpals
GROWING MY HAIR AGAIN
a widow abused throughout ger entire marriage cannot cry
gives up her beautiful locks of hair
sacrifice for a happier future with her son & without her violent husband
HONOUR OF A WOMAN
questions the role of parent promiscuity & observed relationships on a teenager’s own relationships
is it an endless cycle? is this too deterministic?
is forgiveness the key to recuperating from this toxic cycle
the protagonist’s perspective as a duster further highlights the implications of domestic conflict & violence on those simply watching
THE KETTLE ON THE BOAT
unsure about the relevance/what the kettle represents
MELANCHOLY NIGHTS IN A TOKYO CYBER CAFÉ
i lost interest
AMONG STRANGERS
perfect narrative on how our accents/our linguistic repertoire is the umbilical cord, the representation and the connection between our identity and who we are, where we come from, our past
it is a bridge that connects but also a barrier
A BOY AND HIS KITE
i’m in love with this author
the impeccable style of writing, the narrative, the syntax… everything
perfectly captures the irrational mind
tells a story about a boy who wished to fly… to escape… to soar
and a story about a man who finally flied… escaped… soared
the temporal structure of the narrative perfectly captures the essence of life & apathy to one’s life
powerful representation/embodiment of the human protagonist as a kite, especially a broken one
BEFORE TONDE, AFTER TONDE
amazing insight into the life of an emigrated family
dealing & coping (or not coping) with the death of a middle child
accepting or refusing to accept a child’s sexuality
the despairs a first gen adult immigrant goes through out of unemployment
depression, anger
RETRENCHED
retrenched in all aspects of life, the protagonist convinces himself that he cannot face his embracing & understanding wife because of his unemployment
oblivious to his downward spiral, he succumbs to alcoholism, maladaptiveness/unproductivity, infidelity & depression
loved the narrative structure & style of writing
indications of a man gone mad as he cuts off his “manhood” out of guilt? despair?
THE VOLUNTEER
brings to light the white saviour syndrome
are foreign volunteers who refer to the country they occupy in as “Third World” actually fit to help people there?
or are they simply there to make themselves feel better; to boost their ego and self-esteem
THE ALBINO
did not like the style of writing
understand the main message of discrimination based on skin colour
very repetitive, long, not worth my time
FIREWEED
nice parallel & reflection between the surburban & materialistic needs & lifestyles of white, middle class housewives in america compared to the rural & down-to-earth, rustic needs & lifestyle of the protagonist back in nigeria
nice play between the different semantic denotations of fireweed to highlight this contrast
COW HEARTED
shocking story of a man who tried to sexually abuse a young girl, only to be shot
again adopting the perspective of a unknowing, unquestioning child
MARYANNE CLOUDS TODAY
I like reading literature about the aboriginal Australian communities
i loved reading literature about Malaysian culture, and the long-lasting culture of employing foreign women as domestic helpers
it made me reflect on my experiences with the helpers my mum hired and our interactions
insight into their experiences, their helpless and powerless role in the domestic environment
KELEMO’S WOMAN
conflict between love (love for two different people) vs duty (duty to our family or duty to our country)
the life & identity of a woman entirely shaped by her social & political role of loving an activist
was it selfless or self-saving
THE WAY OF THE MACHETE
what is the price of cowardice compared to the price of honour, or simply just pride & hotheaded impulsiveness
who pays for this price
how a child’s life changes abruptly and entirely due to his father’s actions
met with acceptance, respect, anticipation instead of spite
PORCELAIN
it reminds us that no one is whole
everyone is partially broken but also partially pieced together, and that is beautiful
explores signs and episodes of depression in the metaphor of pottery
THE RICH PEOPLE’S SCHOOL
whose fortune is it: those who left their children behind to seek a new life or those who are left behind but with a little more money
explores cultural imperialism
MY MOTHER, THE CRAZY AFRICAN
conflict between embracing one’s cultural identity & roots vs embracing the culture that immigrants are now surrounded by & immersed in
is it abandonment if we completely assume a new, western, American identity? is it betrayal if we choose to reshape our linguistic repertoire, burying our accent tones that tie us back to our cultural homeland?
ISHWARI’S CHILDREN
i love the narrative of the countryside settlements
the conflict between landlords/landowners and the vulnerable they take from
i love the essence of a young protagonist as a witness; a bystander oblivious to the rights and wrongs of their beloved dadajun
“ I simply remained unaware of it, secure in the unfeeling obliviousness of the young“
AIR MAIL
insight into the egocentric & unknowing perspective of children, oblivious to how the rest of the world lives
inter communication, cross-cultural penpals
GROWING MY HAIR AGAIN
a widow abused throughout ger entire marriage cannot cry
gives up her beautiful locks of hair
sacrifice for a happier future with her son & without her violent husband
HONOUR OF A WOMAN
questions the role of parent promiscuity & observed relationships on a teenager’s own relationships
is it an endless cycle? is this too deterministic?
is forgiveness the key to recuperating from this toxic cycle
the protagonist’s perspective as a duster further highlights the implications of domestic conflict & violence on those simply watching
THE KETTLE ON THE BOAT
unsure about the relevance/what the kettle represents
MELANCHOLY NIGHTS IN A TOKYO CYBER CAFÉ
i lost interest
AMONG STRANGERS
perfect narrative on how our accents/our linguistic repertoire is the umbilical cord, the representation and the connection between our identity and who we are, where we come from, our past
it is a bridge that connects but also a barrier
A BOY AND HIS KITE
i’m in love with this author
the impeccable style of writing, the narrative, the syntax… everything
perfectly captures the irrational mind
tells a story about a boy who wished to fly… to escape… to soar
and a story about a man who finally flied… escaped… soared
the temporal structure of the narrative perfectly captures the essence of life & apathy to one’s life
powerful representation/embodiment of the human protagonist as a kite, especially a broken one
BEFORE TONDE, AFTER TONDE
amazing insight into the life of an emigrated family
dealing & coping (or not coping) with the death of a middle child
accepting or refusing to accept a child’s sexuality
the despairs a first gen adult immigrant goes through out of unemployment
depression, anger
RETRENCHED
retrenched in all aspects of life, the protagonist convinces himself that he cannot face his embracing & understanding wife because of his unemployment
oblivious to his downward spiral, he succumbs to alcoholism, maladaptiveness/unproductivity, infidelity & depression
loved the narrative structure & style of writing
indications of a man gone mad as he cuts off his “manhood” out of guilt? despair?
THE VOLUNTEER
brings to light the white saviour syndrome
are foreign volunteers who refer to the country they occupy in as “Third World” actually fit to help people there?
or are they simply there to make themselves feel better; to boost their ego and self-esteem
THE ALBINO
did not like the style of writing
understand the main message of discrimination based on skin colour
very repetitive, long, not worth my time
FIREWEED
nice parallel & reflection between the surburban & materialistic needs & lifestyles of white, middle class housewives in america compared to the rural & down-to-earth, rustic needs & lifestyle of the protagonist back in nigeria
nice play between the different semantic denotations of fireweed to highlight this contrast
COW HEARTED
shocking story of a man who tried to sexually abuse a young girl, only to be shot
again adopting the perspective of a unknowing, unquestioning child
MARYANNE CLOUDS TODAY
I like reading literature about the aboriginal Australian communities
caitea's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
and_abelard_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Every single writer featured in this collection is a master of their craft, taking us on a dizzying swirl of shared human emotion in just a few pages. Fear, helplessness, heartbreak, resilience, determination, independence, empathy; I was more than a little teary when I finished.
likeaduck's review against another edition
5.0
I grabbed this book from the library because it contained a story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose longer works (and solo anthology) I have recently devoured. It's an interesting collection of stories published through the New Internationalist (www.newint.org) dealing with a range of topics but largely focused on issues of poverty and inequality. Really good stuff: I enjoyed almost all of the stories, and will probably be seeking out other work by half of the authors involved.