Collection of anecdote-style short stories. Some of them hit too close to home -- I wasn’t prepared for emotions this intense. I don’t think younger me could’ve felt these as deeply. Humans are complex, relationships are messy, the ones closest to you even more so. As the years accumulate, so do all the emotional baggage, guilt and shame I carry, but c’est la vie.
The characters and observations are wonderful, but I wish the author could reveal more of his thoughts. When his brother took his own life, what did wnj feel? I could sense the numbness and guilt, but there has to be more. Relief? Release?
Some stories made me lol, some 嚎啕大哭 🥲. The book has a fair bit of gore and deaths, but overall it left me with warmth (amidst all the 怅然-ness) instead of despair, probably because of the people. Taiwanese people seem so kind.
4th section is weaker than the rest. Just not into 小情小爱 stories, not in my teens, not now. Or maybe I lucked out in love early.