On the Book The Collected Stories of Jessica Zafra
Review: The Collected Stories of Jessica Zafra (2019, collection)
I love the mundane - there's a reason why I like to read through Murakami and admire how he elevates the dullest moments to magical significance. Zafra's attempt to write about the mundane, however, falls flat most of the time, leaving few emotions of consequence but more so disappointment.
I like some of the short stories - Romeo, et al.; Kind of Brown; Lamentations 5:23; The Starlet Suicides; Obituaries for Three Cats; to name a few - because there is vision to them that I failed to see in the others. I agree with one Goodreads review that the tone throughout the book is very monotonous, and there is a distinct lack of variety in the stories.
Although the book is set in the Philippines, I just cannot "smell the durian" as one of my writing professors said back in college. I can't help but wonder if I am just uncultured or poor to understand some of the references - it feels like I am reading through some posh kid's lamentations about life (see also: Catcher in the Rye).
You cannot deny Zafra has a knack for language, but it appears that her talent may lie elsewhere rather than short fiction.
2/5.
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