Thank You to Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of Jenny Zhang's Sour Heart: Stories, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT - Jenny Zhang's Sour Heart: Stories is a collection of connected stories following Chinese immigrants living in New York. There is a heavy emphasis on young, female characters, who are trying to understand both their new country and their parents, who lived through China's cultural revolution.
LIKE- I grew up in a middle-class, culturally diverse neighborhood and many of my close friends are Chinese. Despite experiencing diversity in my life, I've realized that my reading selections are not as diverse as they could and should be. I'm grateful that Zhang's Sour Heart: Stories found its way to my TBR Pile.
I was most interested in the parts that focused on the family relationships, specifically the differences between growing up during the Cultural Revolution and this new generation, that is growing up in America. There is a huge challenge with regard to communication between the generations. The challenge isn't limited to the generations, it also comes with the different perspectives of the immigrants. Although they all arrive in America with little in way of possessions or money and they meet as strangers sharing a cramped apartment, each family does come from a different background and brings their unique perspective. Zhang's stories are filled with a huge variety of character experiences.
My favorite story was the last chapter, one dealing with the title character who has been nicknamed Sour Heart for her love of sour foods. In the last story, she is an adult examining the relationship she has with her relatives, both her parents and relatives in China. It's complicated and includes so many layers. How do you bond with blood when you live so far away and have had such differences in your life?
DISLIKE- As much as I admire Zhang's storytelling, I have to admit that I felt a disconnect. I found the sections of the girls trying to fit in to their American schools, to be less engaging. Some of their behavior and frank sex talk didn't ring true to my childhood experience and it was hard to connect.
RECOMMEND- Yes. Sour Heart: Stories was uneven for me, but I'd still recommend it. I've not been exposed to many other fictional stories on this subject and for diversity reasons, Sour Heart: Stories is a worthy read. When I was engaged in Zhang's writing, she absolutely shined and I felt moved by her characters and prose. I look forward to discovering more of her writing.