01 Jun / An Empty Room: Stories by Mu Xin, translated by Toming Jun Liu [in Library Journal]
With 20-plus books published in Taiwan and China, writer/painter Mu finally makes his English debut with a collection of 13 stories he chose from three previous titles. The result is, in a word, uneven.
Standouts outshine the less than memorable, perhaps making the latter seem that much more lackluster in comparison. “The Moment When Childhood Vanished” is a koan-like reminder of bewildering loss, “Xia Mingzhu: A Bright Pearl” challenges family bonds, “Eighteen Passengers on a Bus” shockingly pushes the boundaries of patience, and “Halo” captures the holy in humanity. The highlight is “Fong Fong No. 4,” which, in a few controlled pages, translates half a century of China’s tumultuous, wrenching past through the metamorphosis (in four phases) of a young girl’s life into middle-aged womanhood.
Verdict: Although recent notable collections such as Ha Jin’s A Good Fall, Paul Yoon’s Once the Shore, and Daniyal Mueenuddin’s In Other Rooms, Other Wonders might prove more consistent, readers who appreciate spare, elliptical stories that last long after the final page will find considerable satisfaction here.
Review: “Short Stories,” Library Journal, June 1, 2011
Readers: Adult
Published: 2011 (United States)