Spirits Abroad, by Zen Cho

[sophia_sol]

A short story collection by my favourite writer of short stories! This is a recently re-released and expanded collection; the original was published by a smaller press back in 2014, which I loved, but now it exists with Extra Stories so obviously I had to buy this version too.

Most of the stories in this collection are old familiar friends to me, but there were a few stories I've never read, and they were also excellent. Cho really excels at writing about the intersection between the supernatural and the mundane, and at writing about people who have all the quirks and foibles and irritating habits of real people but are still people you like and care about. This peaks in her skill at writing ghost grandmas/ghost aunties but really everything she writes is great -- every single story in this collection is worth reading, which I find is a rarity in short story collections!

Comments

[lirazel]

Aww, I'm so happy for you!

[sophia_sol]

zen cho is just so GOOD! :D

[aurumcalendula]

Thank you for mentioning the extra stories - I hadn't realized there were more in this edition!

[sophia_sol]

Yeah there's 9 more stories in this one than in the original version! some of them have been published elsewhere first, but a few of them are new to this book.

[china_shop]

I read very few short story collections, but this is my gold standard. I love it so much!

[sophia_sol]

right??? IMPECCABLE.

[nnozomi]

Oh, I love Zen Cho's work so much. This is on my list of books to order as soon as the mail seems reliable...
writing about people who have all the quirks and foibles and irritating habits of real people but are still people you like and care about.
Oh yeah, excellent description. I also love everything she does with Malaysian-English (managing to make it both authentic to a native speaker, or so I'm told, and understandable to people not from the region, as well as just plain delightful).

[sophia_sol]

Oh yes, I can't believe I didn't mention that too, I love how she uses Malaysian English, and also how setting and cultural context is so often important to the stories and to her characters!

[genarti]

Yesssss, I love Zen Cho's stories and these particular stories so much!

[sophia_sol]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS

[verity]

EXTRA STORIES 👀👀👀

[sophia_sol]

I KNOW RIGHT?? defs worth it

[lokifan]

Really must get hold of this one, I've heard such good things (and I enjoyed Sorcerer to the Crown & its sequel!)

[sophia_sol]

yes if you've enjoyed other stuff by Zen Cho before then I really think you'll love this book!! I hope you'll be able to get a hold of it!