Wednesday's Child: Stories by Yiyun Li
After reading the stories in Wednesday’s Child I wish
that I could give Yiyun Li a hug. Like many of her other works, these stories
are wrought with emotion, often heavy, powerful feelings—grief, sorrow,
uncertainty. And amongst these strong feelings, Li is able to find something
that pulls the characters (and readers by proxy) out. Not all of these stories
are painful and emotionally wrought. In fact, some are kind of humorous or
present some resolution. I enjoyed all of the stories, but “A Flawless Silence”
stood out, and helped to highlight some of the challenges that women of color
face. I also appreciated the story about the nanny for the rich family, and how
she has this kind of detached view of mothering and marriage. It was an
interesting perspective. However, the other stories in the collection are
powerful, weighty. This was the 3rd book by Yiyun Li I read this
past year, and although it was a collection, the common theme of death and the
limited time we have on earth are some of the common themes that run through
these stories. I’m not sure how she does it, but Li is one of those writers who
is able to bring out a kind of appreciation and gratitude for the time we have
and what we have when faced with thoughts of death, decay, and aging. The characters
are all complex and realistic, while also encountering serious issues and
barriers, often leading them to question their purpose and motivation for
continuing in life. An incredibly powerful collection of stories from one of
the best writers of her generation.
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