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A review by nigel_hakeem
How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A delightful read. Many of the stories dealt with the Laotian immigrant experience but never delves into the cliche or a rehashing of tropes. Thammavongsa has a really lovely style. Nothing flashy but it works really well with her storytelling. Many stories have very little dialogue and deal more with character insight. Relationships between children and parents is a theme Thammavongsa returns to often. Kids don't always see the whole picture but do understand when their parents are struggling and Thammavongsa is able to articulate these emotions in a concise and satisfying manner. Disappointment and learning to live with unfulfilled expectations comes up a lot as well.
The stories are fairly short and don't take long to get through. Would recommend to someone who wants to pick up and read a couple of stories a day.
Some of the stand-out stories were the titular How To Pronounce Knife, Mani Pedi, Chick-A-Chee, Edge of the World, and Ewwrrrkk. My favourite was Slingshot and I feel I will return to it often.
The stories are fairly short and don't take long to get through. Would recommend to someone who wants to pick up and read a couple of stories a day.
Some of the stand-out stories were the titular How To Pronounce Knife, Mani Pedi, Chick-A-Chee, Edge of the World, and Ewwrrrkk. My favourite was Slingshot and I feel I will return to it often.