Short story collections work for me when they clearly coalesce around a particular theme. TOMB SWEEPING is a set of short stories all told from the perspective of a young female narrator, in many of the stories identified as East Asian. Through the stories, we see themes of missed and regained connections across cultures and generational divides; the constant energy and pressure that pervade the immigrant experience to strive for something better - sometimes realized, sometimes not; how the pace of technological change affects our concept of self-identity and belonging with others.

Perhaps because they hit closer to home, my favorite stories in this collection were those that dealt more directly with the Chinese diaspora - “Li Fan”, a brief obituary for a woman who was once a girl who had dreams; “To Get Rich is Glorious”, a reflection on gender in modern China and the costs of rapid capitalistic development; “A Visit”, a quiet study of the relationship between a daughter and her father. That said, I do think the author’s most authoritative and authentic voice is that of the American-born Chinese millennial/Gen Z-er. Though I did enjoy “Li Fan” and “To Get Rich is Glorious”, the perspectives and narratives felt a little pat, with a clear message that wanted to be conveyed. I would love to hear the perspectives of a native-born Chinese or non-Chinese reader on how these were received.

I’m always pleased to find new voices in this space and look forward to reading more of Alexandra Chang’s work. Thanks so much to @eccobooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in return for an honest review. TOMB SWEEPING is out now!