Jerry Zhang’s Reviews > All the Sad Young Men: Stories > Status Update

This is kind of a disturbing story. Roger basically gaslights his wife to control her and so he can get his work done.

It works out in the end, and he gets a lot of money, but it really hurts his wife and is genuinely a bit disturbing.

Interesting last short story I guess.

This was a sad story but it really is a story on the cost of success. George O’Kelly doesn’t marry Jonquil because, at the time, he wasn’t rich. But to get rich cost their love, because it’s no longer the same. George has become “performative”. It’s no longer the innocent love before. He wants to win her over, and to make her his own …

“But if they still sit in the audience after they’re grown, somebody’s got to work double time for them”

This is yet another story with a good ending as a house wife learns that she is, in fact, not a “good sport” and must grow up and become an adult.

I really liked the subtle irony and the character development in this story!

Rag Martin-Jones is finally a short story with a happy ending. Or so that’s what I think. You can never know when the whole story is an illusion.

After my college hiatus I hope to finish this book by the end of my winter break.

Merry Christmas!

Absolution is a bit hard to understand, but what I got out of it is that Rudolph Miller realizes that there’s a difference between God and his imagination, and it seems to me that religion has lost its power, especially with the collapse of the priest at the end.

The Baby Party was a funny story. I liked how the two dads just fought until they were out of breath and then shook hands like nothing happened.

Winter dreams is like the backstory of the Great Gatsby, Dexter meets Judy (Daisy), doesn’t get to marry her, she’s like old money and he’s not. Then he goes to the war, and comes back and finds out she’s married.

I think it’s also a warning on chasing dreams, that some dreams are not worth it.

I don’t really feel bad for Anson but he is a tragic figure. He’s fading while everyone around him is living life to their fullest. His ego is holding him back from ever settling down and marrying — the ending just shows that Anson will keep “dissipating” and partying.