Joshua Gross’s Reviews > The Hundred Secret Senses > Status Update

They don’t remember when capitalism was the number-one enemy. Short memory, big profits.” I respond with a polite laugh. “Americans have short memories too, I think. No respect for history, only what’s popular.

Oh my goodness, the promise she reminded Kwan of, her being born in 7 years, that wasn't just Olivia, it was Miss Banner planning to be reborn as Olivia. And I think Olivia either remembered, or at least knew what she was supposed to remember

"Women’s brains use higher and more evolved functions, which account for their sensitivity, their humaneness, their worry, whereas men rely on more primitive functions. See rock, chase. Danger, sniff, go find. Smoke cigar later.". 😂😂😂

It's surprising Olivia's reluctance and worry about eating this meal in this Chinese village considering she is half Chinese, grew up with Kwan, and is familiar with other forms of Chinese cuisine. She acts here like they're feeding her cat litter.

His remark irritates me. “Stop being so ethnocentric. You think killing chickens in the States is more humane?

Omg they should stay divorced and she should push him off a Chinese mountain.

“Maybe Du Lili used an expression like—well, ‘young as a spring chicken.’ ” His voice has the assured tone of masculine reason. “Maybe you took her literally to mean she thought she was a chicken.”

Or maybe you're an asshole!

"At the time, I didn’t know that ghosts were supposed to be scared of peach twigs."

I noticed this because peach wood being used against evil spirits also came up in a Poppy Z Brite story called Pansu about a demon loose in a Korean restaurant. It is apparently an east Asian belief that peach wood can ward off or contain evil spirits.

'Kwan looks proud. “Practical too. All waterproof.” “You mean it rains in the next world?” “Tst! Of course not. The weather is always the same. Not too hot, not too cold.” “Then why did you say the jacket is waterproof?” She stares at me blankly. “Because it is.”'

I feel like I've had conversations like this where I have conversational expectations and the other person just defies them all

"America doesn’t have as much freedom as you think. So many things are forbidden, you would not believe it. I think some rules are good, though. You can’t smoke except in jail. You can’t throw an orange peel on the road. You can’t let your baby poop on the sidewalk. But some rules are ridiculous. You can’t talk in a movie theater. You can’t eat too many fatty foods. . . .”'

'"So now you guess what I wished for.” “I don’t know. What?” “Come on, you guess.” “A handsome husband.” “No.”'

Kwan has a husband so I'm guessing they both agree he isn't handsome lol