Land of Big Numbers, Te-Ping Chen, Mariner Books, 2021, 233 pp
It is widely known that I have not been a fan of short stories. By reading more of them lately I am discovering what makes a short story satisfying for me, though I am not ready to articulate that clearly yet.
Land of Big Numbers was a miracle. Every story in this collection is great. The author is, I believe, Chinese-American and a journalist who spent four years as a Beijing-based correspondent for the Wall Street Journal. She seems to have soaked up the essence of 21st century Chinese life.
Each story grabbed me from the first line. It was as if the characters were right in the room with me. Tension builds quietly yet relentlessly tale by tale. I found myself almost holding my breath until I learned what would happen, each time for 10 stories. The theme tying them together is the better life for Chinese people under the current government at the cost of some of their freedom. A heady concept created by this author without outright judgement.
Thanks to The Nervous Breakdown Book Club for selecting Land of Big Numbers as the January 2021 book. Thanks to Brad Listi at the Otherppl podcast for a penetrating interview with Te-Ping Chen. I will be watching for more from this author.
Sounds like a great read!! I haven't quite decided what makes a great short story... But these short stories written by Te-Ping Chen sound fabulous.
ReplyDeleteIf all stories were as good as these I would read more of them!
Deletethis sounds great. i've wondered from time to time about Chinese lit... i know i saw a sci fi trilogy once by a guy with a Chinese name and i looked at it once or twice in the library but never checked it out... i wonder if it's still there, now... not to say that i won't check and see if our lib has this.. tx for the info...
ReplyDeleteAre you referring to Cixin Liu who wrote The Three-Body Problem plus two more to make a trilogy? That reminds me I have the second of those, The Dark Forest. I need to move it up to the top of one of my piles.
Deletethat was the guy!
DeleteThis sounds great. In theory I like short stories just fine. But I do not read that many of them. I also need to read more stories that take place in Asia. It is a very good thing that all the stories were good.
ReplyDeleteYou would do well to take a look at these stories. Fits all your needs!
Deletethe library didn't have it: small town, small lib... maybe i'll see it sometime and actually remember that i wanted to read it... it'd be a miracle, tho, haha...
ReplyDeleteAre you a visual person? The cover would be hard to miss if you saw it. I love that you have a small town small library.
DeleteGezz, your group finds the most interesting books. Never heard of this collection.
ReplyDeleteIt was just published on Feb 2. You might see it around as it got a good bit of buzz.
DeleteI have previously struggled with short stories too. I read BJ Novak's collection a while back and liked it. I find that I typically have a hard time getting into them because by the time I am immersed, the story is over.
ReplyDeleteYou have exactly described my problem with short stories. Somehow, this author got me immersed right away and left me satisfied at the end.
DeleteGood to know. I might have to look into this next time I feel like giving a short story collection a try.
DeleteI seldom read short stories either. I find that just as I get really interested in the story the author is telling, it ends. I think it takes a writer with particular skills to be able to do short stories well and it sounds as though Te-Ping Chin is such a writer.
ReplyDeleteI was astounded by how satisfied I felt with each story.
DeleteI don't know when it happened - sometime in the last decade, I guess, but I find myself looking for short story collections. This one sounds perfect. Was it written in English, or translated?
ReplyDeleteWritten in English. The author was born here of Chinese parents. So nice to have you visit here today, Debbie!
DeleteEvery once in awhile there is a short story collection that rocks - so I'm open to try more. I recall liking Tim Winton's book of stories called The Turning - so I might reread that. And I'm curious about this Chinese one. She must be smart as a correspondent!
ReplyDeleteGlad I could add to your list of possible collections to read!
DeleteThis sounds highly interesting. As you know, I'm not a huge fan of short stories but if I know you liked them ... Well, I'll have to put another book on my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I just read one short story before I turn out the light at night. Like a bedtime story!
DeleteThat is a good idea. I always read a "light" book at night where the chapters are short, at the moment I have one by Alexander McCall Smith.
DeleteI love the sound of this one! For sure going on my TBR!
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteThis definitely sounds like my sort of book.
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Heather.
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