Why read The Sorrows of Others?

Book cover of The Sorrows of Others

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A NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION 5 UNDER 35

Set in China and America, in the generations after the Cultural Revolution, The Sorrows of Others is a dazzling collection about people confronted with being outsiders―as immigrants, as revolutionaries, and even, often, within their own families.

"Writers with virtually perfect debuts are certainly…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Sorrows of Others as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Margot Livesey

Author

In this debut collection, Zhang writes so well about the peculiar loneliness of living far from home.

I grew up in Scotland, and I never get to go back there as often as I would like, or to stay as long, so I have huge sympathy for her characters, many of whom are immigrants who can’t stop thinking about the places and the people they’ve left behind.

I love that in these stories, making jello salad or getting a perm can be a major event.

From Margot's 3 favorite reads in 2023.