Ted Chiang’s Exhalation and Ken Liu’s The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories are absolute gems. They’re my favorite short story collections.

@readingwarlock

27 күн бұрын

I also thought the longest story in this collection was a dud. 😅 I’m not sure if I would’ve loved it if it was shortened (maybe). My favorites were The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling (the way it explored the idea of capturing memory) and Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom!

LOOOOOVE Exhalation and also Stories of Your Life and Others. Ted Chiang's short stories just hit the spot for me. I will say that as a HUGE fan of the movie Arrival, I was most looking forward to that short story, but it was by far my least favourite of the collection. But it doesn't even matter because there were many other absolutely fantastic stories. My favourite from that collection is Hell is the Absence of God. Brilliant. I hope you love it once you get around to it!

Ted Chiang's short story collections are the only ones I've ever enjoyed cover to cover. While I found most of the stories in Exhalation memorable, it's The Lifecycle of Software Objects that truly stuck with me. I enjoyed the slow pace, the focus on everyday life and activities. It's a great demonstration of how by making day-to-day decision we discover our values and identity. To me it's a story about the importance of autonomy.

@WillowTalksBooks

27 күн бұрын

I love that the only one I didn’t click with is the one you loved most 💜

yessss!!!! both of his short story collections are amazing. There a few that don't land perfectly with me, but SO many that I still cannot stop thinking about several years later. they are: - exhalation: a being rewiring his own brain and learning about life - understand: man given an experimental drug during recovery gets out of hand. omggggg - life cycle of software objects: avatars, social media, this is a black mirror episode. its a bit long tho... i feel like i could recommend his stuff to anybody because the stories are so different and can reach any audience.

Exhalation: Stories is such a good collection. Exhalation was my favorite, but they're all really good.

@maiiau

27 күн бұрын

Oh, also, I think The Lifecycle of Software Objects worked for me because I was so enamored with digital pets and online pet games as a kid.

@tovezuiderveen4234

27 күн бұрын

​@@maiiauthose are the two stories that impacted me the most too

Arrival is one of my favourite films ever, too. I really need to read Ted Chiang’s work!

@WillowTalksBooks

23 күн бұрын

Yay, more love for Arrival!

You made me remember why I loved this book so much ❤

I need some spoilers in order to get myself into most sci-fi stories - a challenging genre for me - and your points of view have helped me see them in a less scary light. 🌻

Two minutes in and you’ve convinced me..can’t wait to read Exhalation.😊

"The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" is one of my favorite short stories of all times. I also adored "The Great Silence" and "Omphalos". Besides "The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories", I highly recommend you my favorite collection, "Bloodchild and Other Stories" as I know you love Horror and SF.

I love Science-Fiction

what great timing, I've been wanting to try out some short story collections ^_^

I've had this book on my shelf for years and have yet to read it. It's long overdo.

Ran to my libraries app to get this on hold! Sounds like an incredible collection ☺️

I finished this collection the other day and I enjoyed it so much. Anxiety Is The Dizziness Of Freedom was probably my favourite but it's honestly so hard to pick one. The entire collection was great. The Lifecycle Of Software Objects was definitely the weakest but I still enjoyed it somewhat

thnx again for your quality video!

Sounds Like sich an interesting book! I adored Arrival and really need to read Chang‘s work.

Wow another thought provoking amazing video. I put this one on hold at library

Well! There will be no choice but to read your suggestions! Thank you so much!

Thanks for your recommendation.

My very sophisticated response to this book. Uh, that sounds so exciting and cool.😊

I had an Audible credit to use, I just used it on this.

Great review ❤

My partner and I listened to Exhalation while we were on a road trip and we never stopped thinking about the stories since. Whenever anyone asks us for a book rec, we recommend this!! Love hearing your thoughts on these stories 😊

Yes, I also thought that 100 page story was boring, and all the worse because it was the premise that I was most excited about. I love time travel paradoxes so, the one about the portal blew my mind. But to be honest, I haven't finished the book yet because I was bummed after the software one. After this video, though, I might finish it. Please, do read Story of Your Life, it's awesome.

@WillowTalksBooks

27 күн бұрын

I will if you finish Exhalation asap. The final two stories were my faves :)

Wonderful review. I also changed after reading this book. I am a Muslim and the way he portrayed Muslims and their relationship with free well was explained so well that I thought for a second that he was himself a Muslim or at least a native of a Muslim majority country. Also, do you have a book club? I really love your videos and your taste in books :)

@WillowTalksBooks

27 күн бұрын

I have a Patreon. Joining that gives you access to a Discord community where we talk about books every day :)

Small note, but thank you so much for getting the pronunciation of Denis Villeneuve's name mostly right. A lot of non-francophones are having trouble with it and not really making the effort...

@WillowTalksBooks

26 күн бұрын

I make the effort with every language. I talk about a lot of international literature and always want to get the pronunciation right. It’s common courtesy

@zachary37

26 күн бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks Agreed, and I appreciate it! I'm very excited to read this collection, I see my library has it.

This is a great video, I've got this on reserve at the library although currently working through a pile of book recommendations from yourself currently. My current read is Earthlings by Sayaka Murata.

@WillowTalksBooks

27 күн бұрын

Earthlings is truly unforgettable 💜

@chrisreadingcorner3816

27 күн бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks I'm currently about 130 pages but I am definitely feeling that so far but felt the same about convenience store woman as well.

I am going to re-read this now 😉. The longest story was my least favourite as well but found it still thought provoking and quite sad. By the way: Have you read Skyward Inn by Aliya Whitely ?

@WillowTalksBooks

27 күн бұрын

I actually ended up DNFing Skyward Inn! I was sad about that since I loved her novella The Beauty, and Skyward Inn had been on my TBR forever. But halfway through, I just kinda gave up

Reading this book is a mental orgasm.