A playful and deeply affective short story collection about the histories, technologies, and generational divides that shape our relationships—from the award-winning writer of Days of Distraction.
Compelling and perceptive, Tomb Sweeping probes the loyalties we hold: to relatives, to strangers, and to ourselves. In stories set across the US and Asia, Alexandra Chang immerses us in the lives of immigrant families, grocery store employees, expecting parents, and guileless lab assistants.
A woman known only to her neighbors as “the Asian recycling lady” collects bottles from the streets she calls home. A young college grad ponders the void left from a broken friendship. An unfulfilled housewife in Shanghai finds a secret outlet for her ambitions in an undercover gambling den. Two strangers become something more through the bond of mistaken identity.
These characters, adeptly attuned to the mystery of living, invite us to consider whether it is possible for anyone to entirely do right by another. Tomb Sweeping brims with remarkable skill and talent in every story, keeping a definitive pulse on loss, community, and what it means to feel fully alive.
Unknown and Unknown (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure what to make of this one. Was she meant to find the old pieces, find the shed before it was torn down? was she trying to discover a secret from the owner? the previous owner?
what did the dog eat? Why the notes? the weird threat from the construction crew? (hide spoiler)]
To Get Rich is Glorious (view spoiler)[I like that one too. it was sad, because she was left in prison and her parents were so upset but would her want to make more money have been such a disappointing trait if she'd been a man. I would say no. She was frustrated her husband didn't want more. . .so she found a way for her to get the things she wanted (hide spoiler)]
Farewell, Hank (view spoiler)[ I really liked this one too! I think many people struggle with loss. I liked the idea of saying goodbye to hank before he was gone I love that they took the dad down and that they would think of him when they passed the orchid later. (hide spoiler)]
Cure For Life (view spoiler)[ that was an uncomfortable read. mixing different ages - using the underage girl to feel cool and then getting afraid when there might be consequences. making her repeat after him was just gross. his own fear was of his own making (hide spoiler)]
Klara (view spoiler)[ about the closeness of early friendships but also how they an morph and become unhealthy. And how you can miss them when you get older and no longer have relationships that are that close, that overlapping and overwhelming (hide spoiler)]
The Visit (view spoiler)[ awe, a little bit of a sad story about growing up and your parents no longer being there for you but also, your parents getting older. I liked how the dad fixed things while she worked and how he moved the furniture around and gave her blankets. But the time between visits seemed like it made her sad (hide spoiler)]
Flies (view spoiler)[ this was an odd one. that mix between being a kid and not understanding what's going on. what was in the hot tub and why did the mom make the dad the kid's problem? (hide spoiler)]
Compelling and perceptive, Tomb Sweeping probes the loyalties we hold: to relatives, to strangers, and to ourselves. In stories set across the US and Asia, Alexandra Chang immerses us in the lives of immigrant families, grocery store employees, expecting parents, and guileless lab assistants.
A woman known only to her neighbors as “the Asian recycling lady” collects bottles from the streets she calls home. A young college grad ponders the void left from a broken friendship. An unfulfilled housewife in Shanghai finds a secret outlet for her ambitions in an undercover gambling den. Two strangers become something more through the bond of mistaken identity.
These characters, adeptly attuned to the mystery of living, invite us to consider whether it is possible for anyone to entirely do right by another. Tomb Sweeping brims with remarkable skill and talent in every story, keeping a definitive pulse on loss, community, and what it means to feel fully alive.