by Xiaolu Guo
First published 2010
A mountain temple keeper has grown accustomed to his isolated routine when an unexpected visitor disrupts his quiet world. Across the globe, other souls navigate their own romantic upheavals. A wife watches her marriage crumble during an evening of mah jong. A depressed woman preparing for marriage finds herself unexpectedly moved by meeting a Hollywood star during a flight. These characters from different continents share a common struggle against modern alienation. Xiaolu Guo crafts their stories with wit and warmth, moving between Eastern and Western settings as her protagonists search for genuine human connection. Each tale captures people at pivotal moments, whether they're confronting the end of relationships or discovering new possibilities for love. The collection explores how individuals cope with loneliness in a rapidly changing world, following their attempts to bridge emotional distances and find meaning through romantic bonds.
Genres: short-stories, romance, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, slice-of-life
Setting: Eastern, Western
Period: Modern
224 pages · Kindle Edition · Vintage Digital