Lee's new collection of short stories, Wednesday's Child, is a collection of short stories she has published over the past 14 years. Several of them have been published in The New Yorker, and I reread them this time. Although the works are scattered from different periods, the theme of the whole collection is quite consistent. She writes about the memories and remembrances of Chinese immigrants in foreign countries, and reluctantly and inevitably uncovers the painful memories. When I read it, I couldn't help but ask in my heart: why do the stories of immigrants have a hidden wound, an incurable wound? The protagonist of the story always has a child who commits suicide, or a parent, or a childhood friend, and the survivors do not feel lucky, but they carry more guilt and a heavier burden, no one to talk to, and no one can explain it. Maybe it's because our pain has never been properly and adequately expressed. We are a group of people who are accustomed to hiding and burying tragedy, a group of people who weave their hearts into a mask of expressionless indifference.

I've heard a lot about the author before and this is my first book of theirs.

I was skeptical about 'Wednesday's child' because I'm not a fan of short stories. But this one surprised me. I loved how thought provoking the stories were and how engaged and encapsulated I was by them. It was an interesting read and I was thoroughly suprised.

Wednesday's Child is an interesting collection of short stories that revolve around the themes of identity, loss and motherhood, that really make you as the reader think and reflect philosophically about the mundane everyday - and how things aren't ever really 'mundane'. It's a great book to commute with as the short stories whilst interlinked in theme are ultimately stand alone, meaning you can pick up and go.

Very in keeping with Li's previous book The Book Of Goose, so if you enjoyed that, you'll be sure to enjoy this.

Thanks to NetGalley & 4th Estate for the e-ARC.

A lovely collection of beautifully written short stories, dealing with various themes. The author gives us a great insight into her characters' worlds.

I had not read anything by the author before and although this book did not manage to grab me as I thought it would, I would very much like to read other novels by Yiyun Li.

I think that, despite not having completely captivated me, it has certain very interesting themes, and it deals with them with very good depth. That is why I believe that although this book was not for me, or perhaps for the moment I am going through now, the author's pen, the way of expressing herself and transmitting the situations to us is reflective.


Thank you 4th Estate and William Collins for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thought-provoking short stories tenderly written. A drawing together of human tales of a common theme. Maybe a little deeper and more soul-searching than I would normally read but interesting nonetheless.

Wednesday's Child is a varied collection of short stories and a novella covering difficult topics from parent-child relationships to bereavement and grief. I enjoyed some of the stories more than others, which sadly brings the overall effect down for me slightly. However the writing is faultless, lyrical and moving and I felt genuine emotion throughout. Characters that feel real and raw truly make this a brilliant piece of writing, even if some were less impactful than others,

Soft, subtle and sad stories tied together by common themes of loss and motherhood. I enjoyed each story as a snapshot of emotions and characters that are delicately and powerfully drawn. From a mother listing her losses after the death of a child to another woman who is consumed by guilt from a long-ago secret, each story is absorbing and opens up emotions in a gentle but devastating way.

One of my favourite current writers, this collection of short stories explores grief in its many forms. Beautifully crafted, powerful and moving, Li can do little wrong. 4.5 stars.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

Themes that link the short stories are ones of family (motherhood especially) and identity.

Each narrator is very distinctive and not always sympathetic. However the author makes you understand the motivations arising from the backgrounds , even the most dislikeable characters.

Identity is explored through the eyes of women who are maybe isolated/displaced/ outsiders due to economic realities, racial identity (immigrants from China to America) or not being mothers.

Original, quirky and memorable.

A unique reading experience, a number of separate short stories about characters and a snapshot of their life experiences. Very well written and an insite for me how Chinese people manage in a western society. A lovely change from blood and guts murder mystery’s. Recommended.

Wednesday’s Child by Yiyun Li
Published: 5th September - out now!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Wednesday’s Child is a collection of short stories, with common themes of loss, grief, motherhood and identity. A grieving mother makes a spreadsheet of all the people she has lost. A nanny works with a mother struggling with post-parting depression. A woman receives emails twice a year from an older man she met only twice.

I really enjoyed some of these stories, and found them thought provoking, but perhaps this isn’t the book for me as it’s quite philosophical and introspective, which isn’t what I typically tend to enjoy. All the same, the reflections on grief were very relatable, which may be due to Li’s own bereavements suffered throughout the writing of these stories. One I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy a more reflective/introspective read.

I'm a huge short story fan but wasn't at all familiar with Li's work before I read this - I adored it and will certainly be seeking out more of her writing now. Set mosty in the US, these stories of Chinese immigrants and their descendants are all exemplary - the subject matter of most is heavy (in some cases very heavy) but the touch is light and it's an easy read despite the depths of the topics being explored. Each story is peopled by fully realised characters but there is a thread that runs through them all and I genuinely felt like I learned something about the immigrant experience. Highly recommended and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Loved the fact that I could dip in and out of this stunning collection of short stories. They are the perfect palate cleansers between books or simply when you don't have time to commit to a long read. I read the eleven stories over eleven nights and loved the style of writing. They were totally not what I was expecting but really liked the diverse range of topics and characters. From the 80 year old ice skater to Rosalie desperate to catch her train I enjoyed each of the stories and would recommend this to someone who wants to bask in the joy of reading after a bit of a break.

There is a view that the resolution of a conflict makes for a good short story, and that is true.

But, as Yiyun Li, demonstrates, stories with a a lack of explicit conflict can also be top class, with, occasionally, an exquisiteness that goes on reverberating long after the first reading.

Over 11 stories, there are a range of situations and varied approaches to conveying the different moods but overall this is a fine collection.

I read Book of Goose by this author earlier this year and have since read some more of her work. I love her style of writing and this short story collection was beautiful if a tiny bit uneven. One or two of them didn't hit the mark for me but the majority of them were wonderful and there were two that will stay in my mind for a long time. Written over the course of 15 years, these stories are about loss, love , loneliness , growing older and the downright strangeness that is everyday life. Original, sharp, with memorable characters and unique circumstances, this is a gorgeous and entertaining read. I would recommend dipping in and out of this collection as a breather between books or if you're in a reading rut and want something that will draw you back to reading.
Also, this cover is divine! I loved the book title and the titles of the stories, not something I would usually notice but each one was perfect.

4 star.

Wednesday's Child is a collection of eleven short stories, each featuring characters attempting to rebuild their lives after experiencing loss of some kind. Yiyun Li, the author of Where Reason End and The Book of Goose, has a beautiful and remarkable writing style. Her use of language is exquisite, especially considering the brevity of her stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh read or a book club pick.

The stories may be described as short but each one is varied and rich in content and writing.

I found I had to take my time to read these stories. I couldn't finish one and start the next straightaway as there was so much depth to the writing that the story lingered with me. It made it impossible for me to concentrate on another story so soon afterwards.

Each story has a twist of sorts. Some unexpected and even comical. My favourite was about a lady in her late 80s who had only recently stopped ice skating. She had a live in carer and the two of them began to discover so much about each other.

The writing is quite extraordinary and unlike anything I have read before. Each story stands alone and is not connected by characters but at the same time there is a bond with each story.

Went into the book rather excited and I was glad I was. The book is such an emotional and real look at identity, womanhood and motherhood, marriage, grief and
from so many perspectives. My favourite story has to be A Sheltered Woman - Auntie Mei is an intriguing woman to follow and even in such short stories, Yiyun Li puts so much life into all the characters and conversations. It's such a beautiful book of tales which I recommend so much!

Wednesday's Child is a collection of short stories spanning fifteen years of writing, and opens with the title story: Wednesday's Child.

There are eleven short stories, so I'm not going to break them down and review them individually. I really enjoyed Li's writing style, and each story have a focus on a unique individual. Li's personal history made 'Wednesday's Child' and 'When We Were Happy...' more like character studies and a look into Li's thoughts and feelings.

The collection has an overtone of sadness and melancholia (and not the Taylor Swift kind) with a focus on loss, including that of a child but does have stories with happy-ish undertones.

As a lover of spreadsheets 'When We Were Happy...' made me look at them very differently.

Side note: the cover! The cover is stunning it's just as visually attractive as the cover for 'The Book of Goose'.

Thank you to Netgalley, 4th Estate and William Collins, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.