Land of Big Numbers: Stories

4.5. This book was absolutely stunning. This authors writing style was simply gorgeous. This collection tackles the topic of modern China, its culture and history and politics and frames each story in a truly compelling way. Some stories are more surrealist but the collection as a whole is very realistic and grounded. There are dashes of magical realism but it isn't an experimental collection. Some of the sentences in this collection were so beautiful and I found every single story so strong. This is a knock out of a collection. It deals with Chinese identity in America, communism in China, relationships between parents and children, lovers, friends and so much more. My favourite story was the last one in which a group of Chinese commuters are trapped in a train station for weeks on end due to governmental regulations. One of the strongest short story collections I have ever read. I highly recommend.

Thanks to the author Te-Ping Chen, Mariner Books and Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.