Reviews

"Lin writes with a natural lyricism and a wondrous ability to render the spontaneity of human thought. In 'Comrade,' Bao, a film director, is at odds with the censorship machinery of the Chinese government. In 'The Empress,' a soldier laments the fall of China's last imperial dynasty. Each story is rendered with real skill and imagination, often moving between the past and present, mixing fantasy with history, and punctuated with political dissent."

"Lin examines the unease of living with memories: some brutal, others fleeting, each written with impressive foreboding. Nine dense, imaginative journeys taking the form of film synopses, sketches, and sharp political commentaries — together they demonstrate the tension between lost worlds and a volatile present. Lin's impressive debut."

"Ho Lin's debut short story collection is an imaginative, often poetic exploration of Chinese and Chinese-American identity. These stories move between fantasy and gritty urban realism with ease, and Lin's prose is consistently striking. Particularly memorable are 'Comrade,' a satirical take on Chinese censorship, and 'The Empress,' a haunting meditation on imperial memory."

"Lin's stories have a refreshingly personal quality, as if we're glimpsing pages from a private notebook — observations on what it means to inhabit two cultures simultaneously, rendered with skill and empathy. A strong debut from a distinctive new voice in Asian-American fiction."

"China Girl and Other Stories is a collection of quietly powerful tales that linger long after the final page. Lin's prose is precise and evocative, and his ability to inhabit radically different voices — from a dissident filmmaker to a last imperial soldier — marks him as a writer of serious range."

"A collection steeped in history and modern alienation, with stories that feel both intimate and expansive. Lin navigates between cultures and eras with a sure hand. The title story is particularly striking — a cross-cultural encounter rendered with warmth and a sharp eye for the absurd."

"Ho Lin writes about Asia — past and present, real and imagined — with clarity and passion. The stories in China Girl cover a remarkable range of tone and subject matter, held together by a consistent, assured voice. This is literary fiction that respects the reader's intelligence."