Book cover of The Sorrows of Others

Book description

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…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

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

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.

If you love The Sorrows of Others...

Ad

Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Want books like The Sorrows of Others?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Sorrows of Others.

Browse books like The Sorrows of Others

Book cover of On Gold Mountain: The 100-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family
Book cover of China Men
Book cover of Watercress

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,277

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like The Sorrows of Others, you might also like...

Book cover of The Bridge: Connecting The Powers of Linear and Circular Thinking

The Bridge by Kim Hudson,

The Bridge provides a compassionate and well researched window into the worlds of linear and circular thinking. A core pattern to the inner workings of these two thinking styles is revealed, and most importantly, insight into how to cross the distance between them. Some fascinating features emerged such as, circular…

Book cover of And Then They Were Gone: Teenagers of Peoples Temple from High School to Jonestown

And Then They Were Gone by Ron Cabral,

Of the 918 Americans who died in the shocking murder-suicides of November 18, 1978, in the tiny South American country of Guyana, a third were under eighteen. More than half were in their twenties or younger.

The authors taught in a small high school in San Francisco where Reverend Jim…

5 book lists we think you will like!