Dispatches from the Cold

by Leonard Chang

What would you do if strange letters began appearing in your mail box? Read them? When the unnamed narrator of this novel opens misdirected letters, he enters the harsh, disturbing world of Farrel Gorden. Gorden, an assistant manager in a sporting goods store near New Hampshire, hates his new Korean- American boss, and is on the verge of losing control of his hatred. As we watch the narrator reconstruct the recent events in Gorden's life, including an affair with his boss' wife and the wrenching consequences that follow, the paths of these two disparate characters- letter reader and letter writer- converge violently as each intrudes in the life of the other. This is a story that blurs the distinction between the real and the imaginary, the violent and the mundane, and negotiates the exterior world and interior workings of a vengeful mind.

Genres: Fiction

289 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1998

Reviews

[Steph Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stark, moody and with an emphasis on the voices of the lost, Chang's "Dispatches from the Cold" made me fall in love with characters from the fringe. Like David Eddings' "The Losers," (a novel that greatly influenced me and the direction of my writing) "Dispatches" deals with people living in the margins, grappling with their own complex personal dramas and trying to figure out how to navigate a world that seems to have no place for them. The dual narratives of both main characters weave together in a psychologically intense bond that made me continue to want to read more. Chang is a craftsman, but also understands the importance of letting characters speak for themselves. When I finished the last page, I felt like I missed Gorden, Shari, Helen and the others already, because I was so caught up in their stories. I didn't want the book to end and for me, that fact alone indicates that this was an intense and captivating novel.

[Alexander Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super raw, unnerving, descriptive. The characters were rich with traits I could so quickly recognize and latch onto; I found myself just as invested as the main character in their lives from each letter. Interesting perspective on a deeply unlikable character who you don’t Really know, but you know him enough to hate him. I found it deeply interesting how as soon as the main character did what my heart wanted him to do (stop Shin and his family from the possible threat of violence), everything went horribly wrong. This author played with my feelings in such a way throughout this read — the attention to detail in descriptions of place, characters, and feelings is really clear and deliberate. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. :D

[Haeri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost a year has gone by since I plucked this book from the library shelves. I was in a "must read American writers of Korean descent" phase. There, between the bookshelves' narrow aisle, I crouched and scanned the first page.

The narrator's crisp voice leaped through the white noise clouding my brain. Kind of like the dude on the cover.

Yes, it's been a year, and I still think about Chang's unnerving plot. It's sorta becoming my new fav. Set what would have been small town angst in generic suburban sprawl. But I think when I was reading it, I admired it more for the language, which had the kind of simplicity I've (unfairly) disassociated from "Korean American" writers.

[Katie M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exceedingly creepy story about a man who mistakenly begins receiving long, detailed letters from a depressed guy with a dead-end job up in rural New Hampshire who thinks he's writing to his sister in New York City, and whose life is spinning more and more out of control. I'm not sure I exactly liked this book, but it's pretty gripping.

[Parag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Socio-psychological thriller. Chang writes with a style that really grips you. Not sure if this was my fave, but check it if you're looking for a quick read.