Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Historical Fiction Thoughts: This is quite an interesting story, I have only heard about the Cultural Revolution through documentaries and textbooks but not usually from someone of that culture so this was quite educational for me. The popping back and forth through time threw me a little since it wasn’t warned but it didn’t happen much so it wasn’t too bad. It’s interesting to see how both politics and secrets can shape relationships and the way in which the family raises a child in an unconventional way with parents raising the grandchild. It was also quite interesting to see the Western world and traditions through an ‘outsider’ lens and see how different it can be to those of another culture to try embrace what I grew up with. Favourite Quote: “After all, wasn't it true that to love someone is to figure out how to tell yourself their story?”
Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Short Story, Horror, Mental Health Thoughts: Wright writes a traditional slasher story with the depth of addiction and attempts at character development. Adam is somewhat of an antihero as we begin with his past and the death caused by his addiction but at the same time after the slashing truly begins he does what he can to help and save the others like the hero of the story. The reason each of the group was at AA shows the different dynamics that can be present for addiction and it adds more depth to it that in the introduction, Wright states he is an alcoholic himself so he knows what he’s talking about and is better positioned to describe the condition and meetings. Favourite Quote: “I know you hate yourself, but it's okay to like yourself a little too. You can do both.”