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The Escape to Candyland
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE HIDDEN BEHIND A POLITE SMILE?
In Yong Takahashi’s Atlanta, the immigrants, preacher’s wives, strippers, and shopkeepers who pass each other on the street all have a secret story to tell. Caught between generations of family, regrets from their pasts, conflicting cultures, and even countries, each character has a reason to fiercely guard their secret lives, even as they learn that the truth must escape. Takahashi’s characters chase their American dreams down back alleys and campaign trails, stumbling under the weight of the gifts their families have given them. A box of Boraxo hand soap. Change for the vending machine. A stranger’s driver’s license. A mother’s love. The smallest exchange could prove kill or cure when you walk the streets of Candyland.
“A beautifully wrought series of stories and vignettes.”—Pinckney Benedict, author of the award-winning Miracle Boy and Other Stories
“Dark and addictive literary confectionery . . . compelling the reader to devour the contents in one sitting––then return to savor the unsavory, again and again.”—MARI ANN STEFANELLI, The Writer’s High®
“ The Escape to Candyland covers the everyday extraordinary with . . . characters whose struggles and small victories are authentic. Not to be missed!”—Melanie Faith, author of In a Flash! Writing & Publishing Dynamic Flash Prose
“Takahashi captures a mood, reveals a moment, and gently unfolds our human condition onto the page. She transports us to another world . . . yet she reflects each of our unique situations back at us . . . the sweet agonies and bitter joys in which all of humankind is swaddled.”—Val M. Mathews, editor, The Wild Rose Press and The Exit 271 Studio
“ Escape to Candyland is a mesmerizing collection that weaves delicately through the wasteland of life’s pain and struggle . . . [and] captures the breadth of hope and love contained in the human heart.”—Zachary Steele, author of Anointed and Flutter , founder and executive director of Broadleaf Writers Association
In Yong Takahashi’s Atlanta, the immigrants, preacher’s wives, strippers, and shopkeepers who pass each other on the street all have a secret story to tell. Caught between generations of family, regrets from their pasts, conflicting cultures, and even countries, each character has a reason to fiercely guard their secret lives, even as they learn that the truth must escape. Takahashi’s characters chase their American dreams down back alleys and campaign trails, stumbling under the weight of the gifts their families have given them. A box of Boraxo hand soap. Change for the vending machine. A stranger’s driver’s license. A mother’s love. The smallest exchange could prove kill or cure when you walk the streets of Candyland.
“A beautifully wrought series of stories and vignettes.”—Pinckney Benedict, author of the award-winning Miracle Boy and Other Stories
“Dark and addictive literary confectionery . . . compelling the reader to devour the contents in one sitting––then return to savor the unsavory, again and again.”—MARI ANN STEFANELLI, The Writer’s High®
“ The Escape to Candyland covers the everyday extraordinary with . . . characters whose struggles and small victories are authentic. Not to be missed!”—Melanie Faith, author of In a Flash! Writing & Publishing Dynamic Flash Prose
“Takahashi captures a mood, reveals a moment, and gently unfolds our human condition onto the page. She transports us to another world . . . yet she reflects each of our unique situations back at us . . . the sweet agonies and bitter joys in which all of humankind is swaddled.”—Val M. Mathews, editor, The Wild Rose Press and The Exit 271 Studio
“ Escape to Candyland is a mesmerizing collection that weaves delicately through the wasteland of life’s pain and struggle . . . [and] captures the breadth of hope and love contained in the human heart.”—Zachary Steele, author of Anointed and Flutter , founder and executive director of Broadleaf Writers Association
- GenresFiction
172 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2020
9 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Yong Takahashi
8 books57 followersYong Takahashi won the Chattahoochee Valley Writers National Short Story Contest and the Writer's Digest's Write It Your Way Contest. She was a finalist in The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing, Southern Fried Karma Novel Contest, Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest, and Georgia Writers Association Flash Fiction Contest. She was awarded Best Pitch at the Atlanta Writers Club Conference.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 14, 2021
This collection of short stories set in Atlanta is one of my favorite contemporary reads from this year. The stories aren’t necessarily connected in an obvious way but the way the themes weave together completely works. I found the writing tugged at my heart with each story and always left me wanting just a little bit more after the story ended. I loved especially: the story of a man who is struggling along with his wife to conceive a child, and then discovers that through the sperm donations he made back in college, he has biologically fathered many—including one darling little girl whose mother is dying. The immigration stories, and the pressures and hurt on all involved. A girl forced to practice the piano. The photographer who makes a generous gesture to a girl on the streets that most wouldn’t consider, and the lovely result at the end. The younger sister from Japan who works in her mother’s restaurant and dares to make a different decision. This is such a beautiful collection. Highly recommended!
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
March 20, 2020
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Escape to Candyland is dark, heart breaking and brilliantly written. After reading the first story I didn't want to put it down. I found myself stealing minutes throughout the day to absorb another story every chance I got. I actually finished the entire book within a few hours. Once I started it was like I couldn't stop, nor did I want to.
Life isn't always what it seems and people aren't always who they appear to be. The Escape to Candyland takes us through the lives of a variety of characters through a series of short stories that make your heart break. From preacher's wives to strippers everyone has a story and this incredible book allows us to see a glimpse inside their lives and the secrets they hide. Takahashi will break your heart many times throughout the 19 short stories contained inside this book. Each character is captured like a photograph making you care for them as if they are people you know. Raw and emotional, these amazing stories will surely show you the darker side of human nature.
The writing is simply incredible. There were a couple stories in the beginning that felt slightly rushed but the last 3/4 of the book more than made up for it. I highly recommend reading this book. It is a very fast read and worth every second.
The Escape to Candyland is dark, heart breaking and brilliantly written. After reading the first story I didn't want to put it down. I found myself stealing minutes throughout the day to absorb another story every chance I got. I actually finished the entire book within a few hours. Once I started it was like I couldn't stop, nor did I want to.
Life isn't always what it seems and people aren't always who they appear to be. The Escape to Candyland takes us through the lives of a variety of characters through a series of short stories that make your heart break. From preacher's wives to strippers everyone has a story and this incredible book allows us to see a glimpse inside their lives and the secrets they hide. Takahashi will break your heart many times throughout the 19 short stories contained inside this book. Each character is captured like a photograph making you care for them as if they are people you know. Raw and emotional, these amazing stories will surely show you the darker side of human nature.
The writing is simply incredible. There were a couple stories in the beginning that felt slightly rushed but the last 3/4 of the book more than made up for it. I highly recommend reading this book. It is a very fast read and worth every second.
January 3, 2021
I loved this book. It is a collection of short stories and each one captivated me from the very beginning. The characters in these stories are funny, vulnerable, and broken, but still hopeful. I didn't expect the stories and the characters intertwine with each other, and when I realized this, it made the book even harder to put down. I couldn't wait to see where the next story was going!
I am sad to be finished and definitely will keep this lovely book on my desk to read again. I look forward to reading more from Yong.
I am sad to be finished and definitely will keep this lovely book on my desk to read again. I look forward to reading more from Yong.
December 28, 2020
An Eclectic Mix of Stories
The Escape to Candyland is an eclectic mix of stories, featuring characters, many of whose lives intertwine. Much of the action is set in Atlanta and features familiar locales which I, as a native of the city, know rather well, including Buford Highway and Hapeville. I found the stories compelling and the situations heartfelt and meaningful. A definite through line exists with characters in some cases pushed to their limits, yet somehow managing to hang on and keep moving. I recommend this work to anyone interested in stories about the human condition and characters who are often haunted by their past, yet trying to make the best choices despite harrowing odds.
The Escape to Candyland is an eclectic mix of stories, featuring characters, many of whose lives intertwine. Much of the action is set in Atlanta and features familiar locales which I, as a native of the city, know rather well, including Buford Highway and Hapeville. I found the stories compelling and the situations heartfelt and meaningful. A definite through line exists with characters in some cases pushed to their limits, yet somehow managing to hang on and keep moving. I recommend this work to anyone interested in stories about the human condition and characters who are often haunted by their past, yet trying to make the best choices despite harrowing odds.
March 16, 2020
I love that each chapter is a personal narrative of different characters all of whom have shared experiences either directly or indirectly. As the book progresses you start to see how all of the voices are entwined and there a lot of their lives have been negatively impacted by the same 2 recurring names... Freddie and Pastor Leach.
My only disappointment is that I don’t know what happens to all of the voices in the book, though they have a dedicated chapter, their stories touched me and I was immediately invested in that character.
My only disappointment is that I don’t know what happens to all of the voices in the book, though they have a dedicated chapter, their stories touched me and I was immediately invested in that character.
December 28, 2020
Wonderful. Think "Winesburg, Ohio," but set in the twenty-first century and told from the perspectives of immigrants and the impoverished, the overlooked and underprivileged. A refreshing double-take at the people you pass by on a daily basis.
February 28, 2020
This is a collection of interesting short stories, giving us insight into the lives of Asian-Americans and beyond. Secrets implicit in arranged sham marriages, abusive families, gambling addiction, and more fill the pages here.
"Donor Number 2000-799" for instance deals with infertility. "Photograph" tells the story of a young portrait photographer who comes face to face with American snobbishness at its worst, but who extends kindness to a homeless woman and her daughter. "Clean Slate" is a fascinating tale about a character who is both a hoarder and suffers from OCD.
I would have liked more character development in some of the stories, and there were several times I was unsure if a character was Asian-American or some other race. But overall these stories provide an entertaining mix.
"Donor Number 2000-799" for instance deals with infertility. "Photograph" tells the story of a young portrait photographer who comes face to face with American snobbishness at its worst, but who extends kindness to a homeless woman and her daughter. "Clean Slate" is a fascinating tale about a character who is both a hoarder and suffers from OCD.
I would have liked more character development in some of the stories, and there were several times I was unsure if a character was Asian-American or some other race. But overall these stories provide an entertaining mix.
March 29, 2020
“The Escape to Candyland” is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. The various vignettes of people trying to get by come together into a magnificent panorama of what a person will do to protect themselves and what they attain. Characters chase their dream at any cost, in order to protect themselves from the possibility of what could be worse. As the lives of each character crisscross and zig zag in Takahashi’s Atlanta, even the smallest action bears the utmost significance, as its effect is felt across generations, cultures, and families. Takahashi artfully weaves together the stories, eventually culminating into a haunting idea of the significance of every action. I thought I’d put it down after a story or two, but I ended up reading the book cover to cover, and then revisiting my favorite vignettes again and again. This book is a must read.
February 24, 2020
An excellent read with an engaging prose style.
February 6, 2020
I didn’t know what to expect from Yong Takahashi’s “The Escape to Candyland,” but I am so glad I read it. Wow. It is a must read.
It is at once captivating, enlightening, haunting, and memorable.
I thought I’d read the first story to see what it was about, but I found myself moving on from one chapter to the next. Even after finishing the book, I’m wondering “what happened to Donor Number 2000-799?” and “did the job work out at the coffee shop?”
“The Escape to Candyland” exposes everyday people’s secrets and gives us a slice of life view into the characters’ lives in short, easy to read vignettes. Yong gives us a glimpse into different cultures and unfamiliar circumstances, yet makes it seem like a neighbor next door or someone, as an Amazon reviewer mentioned, you might pass on the street.
She weaves the stories in such a way that it seems as though you’ve met them ─ and now you’re invested in what happens to them. That was my experience.
I don’t know when I’ve been as moved by a book. I follow Yong Takahashi on Facebook, and that’s where I found out about her new book. I suspect it is the first of many to come from this promising new author. I eagerly await the next one.
It is at once captivating, enlightening, haunting, and memorable.
I thought I’d read the first story to see what it was about, but I found myself moving on from one chapter to the next. Even after finishing the book, I’m wondering “what happened to Donor Number 2000-799?” and “did the job work out at the coffee shop?”
“The Escape to Candyland” exposes everyday people’s secrets and gives us a slice of life view into the characters’ lives in short, easy to read vignettes. Yong gives us a glimpse into different cultures and unfamiliar circumstances, yet makes it seem like a neighbor next door or someone, as an Amazon reviewer mentioned, you might pass on the street.
She weaves the stories in such a way that it seems as though you’ve met them ─ and now you’re invested in what happens to them. That was my experience.
I don’t know when I’ve been as moved by a book. I follow Yong Takahashi on Facebook, and that’s where I found out about her new book. I suspect it is the first of many to come from this promising new author. I eagerly await the next one.
February 10, 2020
Surprises and intrigues. Yong Takahashi captures a mood, reveals a moment, and gently unfolds our human condition onto the page. Her short story collection transports us to another world, zooms into other lives, yet she reflects each of our unique situations back to us. She doesn’t shock. She doesn’t rattle the cages or scream from the rooftops. She purposefully and gently reveals our true selves. Through the stories in Escape to Candyland, Yong explores the sweet agonies and bitter joys in which all of humankind is swaddled. ~Val M. Mathews, Editor, The Wild Rose Press and The Exit 271 Studio
May 14, 2020
This collection of vignettes is a very quick read, but the author managed to make the glimpse of each person feel comprehensive to me. The stories don't have an obvious relationship to one another, and they represent different emotions or experiences. I empathized with many of the characters, especially the immigrant who wanted nothing more than to bring his partner and son to the US and the portraitist who takes a homeless woman+baby into her home, something that gives her a certain level of fulfillment. Very much a recommended read.
November 14, 2020
The recommendation for The Escape to Candyland by Yong Takahashi slipped into my feed on Twitter one day. Even with the limited space of 240 characters, I was immediately intrigued by the story.
The Escape to Candyland follows the inhabitants of Atlanta, Georgia, through their daily lives. The unique storytelling seems as if these were a collection of individual short stories, yet as we get to know the town and the storylines, we see that they are all somehow interlinked.
Every person in this town seems to have a unique voice and an individual story to tell.
I love how Ms. Takahashi introduces us to a variety of characters. They are young, old, male, female, straight or queer, sober or not. The backgrounds are diverse, and each person’s history is tenderly crafted.
One of my favorite characters is Ellen, whose delicate storyline had me experience her struggles and fears as I was right there with her.
Often, I stumble across novels that portray mental health struggles in a rather stereotypical mind frame. This is not the case in Ms. Takahashi’s novel. Instead, I could put myself into Ellen’s shoes, and see the world and her daily struggles from her perspective. I truly felt for her as she interacted with others to the best of her ability. Only to have them interpret her in a completely different mind.
As stated above, the novel guides us through the lives of various characters, allowing us glimpses into the lives, the thoughts, of a myriad of contrasting upbringings and aspirations. A truly multicultural read.
I connected with the author on Twitter, where she describes herself as “created in Seoul, cultivated in Detroit, crushing boundaries in Atlanta.” She is a skilled wordsmith, who does not need frilly phrases and instead offers a clear, straight to the point prose, just as raw as the world she created. I, for one, cannot wait to read more by this talented writer.
The Escape to Candyland follows the inhabitants of Atlanta, Georgia, through their daily lives. The unique storytelling seems as if these were a collection of individual short stories, yet as we get to know the town and the storylines, we see that they are all somehow interlinked.
Every person in this town seems to have a unique voice and an individual story to tell.
I love how Ms. Takahashi introduces us to a variety of characters. They are young, old, male, female, straight or queer, sober or not. The backgrounds are diverse, and each person’s history is tenderly crafted.
One of my favorite characters is Ellen, whose delicate storyline had me experience her struggles and fears as I was right there with her.
Often, I stumble across novels that portray mental health struggles in a rather stereotypical mind frame. This is not the case in Ms. Takahashi’s novel. Instead, I could put myself into Ellen’s shoes, and see the world and her daily struggles from her perspective. I truly felt for her as she interacted with others to the best of her ability. Only to have them interpret her in a completely different mind.
As stated above, the novel guides us through the lives of various characters, allowing us glimpses into the lives, the thoughts, of a myriad of contrasting upbringings and aspirations. A truly multicultural read.
I connected with the author on Twitter, where she describes herself as “created in Seoul, cultivated in Detroit, crushing boundaries in Atlanta.” She is a skilled wordsmith, who does not need frilly phrases and instead offers a clear, straight to the point prose, just as raw as the world she created. I, for one, cannot wait to read more by this talented writer.
April 15, 2020
Yong Takahashi writes a fresh view of southern culture as seen by a variety of characters, some Asian, some not, in a series of interrelated short stories. As an American citizen born in Alabama who is now a resident of China, I am always interested in this fusion of southern culture and eastern culture. In the story Clean Slate, the now dysfunctional adult daughter of a deceased Korean mother who was obsessed with germs and cleanliness, is forced by her employer to get therapy for this inherited obsession because her co-workers find her unbearable. Before her death, the mother made her daughter practice the piano relentlessly in her determination that she get into Julliard. "Getting in would prove she had been a good mother, which was the biggest prize a Korean mother could achieve."
Other stories touch on issues such as domestic abuse both physical and psychological, unwanted pregnancy, gambling, and the challenges of finding a job for those over fifty. The author deftly illuminates difficulties in American life without politicizing or creating talking heads. In "The Winner," the author examines how addiction twists a person's ability to engage in reasonable decision making. A young mother pushes her baby's stroller into a run-down casino and nags the wait staff to watch her child while she plays the slot machines.
"'It's not healthy for the baby with all this smoke. Go home.' I look away.
Please. I don't have anyone to watch him. I need to make rent money. I pawned my wedding ring already. I know the machine's going to hit soon. I can feel it.' She shakes in her oversized clothes."
Stories of desperate, ordinary people make up this poignant collection of tales.
(I purchased this book from SFK Press.)
Other stories touch on issues such as domestic abuse both physical and psychological, unwanted pregnancy, gambling, and the challenges of finding a job for those over fifty. The author deftly illuminates difficulties in American life without politicizing or creating talking heads. In "The Winner," the author examines how addiction twists a person's ability to engage in reasonable decision making. A young mother pushes her baby's stroller into a run-down casino and nags the wait staff to watch her child while she plays the slot machines.
"'It's not healthy for the baby with all this smoke. Go home.' I look away.
Please. I don't have anyone to watch him. I need to make rent money. I pawned my wedding ring already. I know the machine's going to hit soon. I can feel it.' She shakes in her oversized clothes."
Stories of desperate, ordinary people make up this poignant collection of tales.
(I purchased this book from SFK Press.)
January 31, 2021
This cleverly written anthology is a series of short stories set in the Atlanta area. The subjects of each story are people you pass on the grittier side of street yet barely notice- yet they each face demons and conflict in their personal lives. The girl ringing you up at the Chinese restaurant, the woman dancing on a pole at a seedy strip bar, the man who is seemingly childless but has actually fathered dozens through sperm donation. The fascinating thing about this story isn't the fact the characters are extraordinary. It's that they are so very ordinary.
Some characters and locations thread there way into other stories in the book. Other stories are seemingly stand alone. I enjoyed this effect, and found myself reading eagerly in anticipation of another connection. When there wasn't one, Id feel slightly disappointed.
It feels strange to say I "enjoyed" this book, considering its rather dark and gritty content- but I did. I actually tore through the entire book in one day because I kept wanting to read more. I suppose if there is anything to criticize here, it's that there wasn't enough. I wanted more stories, more follow up on some of the characters. The author is true to her subject matter here though- when we pass these characters on the street, we also don't get a neat, orderly epilogue spelling out what happens next and how it all eventually ends.
Some characters and locations thread there way into other stories in the book. Other stories are seemingly stand alone. I enjoyed this effect, and found myself reading eagerly in anticipation of another connection. When there wasn't one, Id feel slightly disappointed.
It feels strange to say I "enjoyed" this book, considering its rather dark and gritty content- but I did. I actually tore through the entire book in one day because I kept wanting to read more. I suppose if there is anything to criticize here, it's that there wasn't enough. I wanted more stories, more follow up on some of the characters. The author is true to her subject matter here though- when we pass these characters on the street, we also don't get a neat, orderly epilogue spelling out what happens next and how it all eventually ends.
May 2, 2020
The Escape to Candyland is an interesting collection of short stories. Most are told from the lens of immigrants or marginalized characters, and I appreciated this POV as the guiding principle in the collection. Many of the tales (most taking place in the greater Atlanta area) share characters or plot points which makes some of this read like the broken pieces of an unfinished novel. Yet other stories don’t seem to fit in with the grander scheme of the collection.
While overall this didn’t gel for me as much as I would’ve liked, there are some fascinating characters and anecdotes in here, some shocking…some sad…some hopeful. Don’t let my hang-ups on how the collection fit together stop you from reading this. There’s enough good stuff here to make me want to read more from Yong Takahashi
“The Winner” stood out in my mind especially with its depressing, soulful take on gambling addiction. But a line from “Sacred Spaces” was probably the most powerful and captures the spirit of the collection the best:
“We’ve lived our lives like compressed balls of yarn, twisted and knotted together, unable to separate ourselves from each other. Once I let my secret go, all the others will unravel.”
While overall this didn’t gel for me as much as I would’ve liked, there are some fascinating characters and anecdotes in here, some shocking…some sad…some hopeful. Don’t let my hang-ups on how the collection fit together stop you from reading this. There’s enough good stuff here to make me want to read more from Yong Takahashi
“The Winner” stood out in my mind especially with its depressing, soulful take on gambling addiction. But a line from “Sacred Spaces” was probably the most powerful and captures the spirit of the collection the best:
“We’ve lived our lives like compressed balls of yarn, twisted and knotted together, unable to separate ourselves from each other. Once I let my secret go, all the others will unravel.”
May 15, 2020
The title of this book is what captured my attention first. I immediately wanted to know what Candyland was and why people were escaping to it. The book wasn't at all what I expected, but it was a wonderful surprise full of captivating and unique stories.
The book is a collection of short stories about a particular neighborhood in Atlanta. It provides stories from several different characters some of which are even connected. Each story is from a different viewpoint, which can be confusing at times. The characters' stories are real and unique. As you read, you can almost feel their emotions as if they are your own. These characters also experience some interesting life changes or traumas that help you look at things from a different viewpoint.
Overall, this book is hands down one of the most unique books I've ever read, and it's worth every second of reading. I urge you to take a look at it, even if it's not your usual genre and especially if you like writers like Flannery O'Connor (this collection reminded me of her writings). I promise the characters and their stories will leave a lasting impression on you just like every great book should!
The book is a collection of short stories about a particular neighborhood in Atlanta. It provides stories from several different characters some of which are even connected. Each story is from a different viewpoint, which can be confusing at times. The characters' stories are real and unique. As you read, you can almost feel their emotions as if they are your own. These characters also experience some interesting life changes or traumas that help you look at things from a different viewpoint.
Overall, this book is hands down one of the most unique books I've ever read, and it's worth every second of reading. I urge you to take a look at it, even if it's not your usual genre and especially if you like writers like Flannery O'Connor (this collection reminded me of her writings). I promise the characters and their stories will leave a lasting impression on you just like every great book should!
March 31, 2020
I really enjoyed The Escape to Candyland. The interesting character vignettes, as well as the prose and style of the book, make it hard to put down. It gives the reader a fascinating glimpse into the private lives of various characters who are somehow, loosely, connected to one another. Although there are definitely many examples of hurt and tragedy, I felt an overarching theme of hope weaving through all of the chapters and the book as a whole. You are left wanting to know more about these people and where their life paths take them.
April 2, 2020
This book was intriguing writing at it's best. It touches on a universal tension through a humbled minority background, creating confidence achieved through each experience. These stories engage, enlighten, and inspire empowerment. Each page stimulates a new question, a different path, with an elegance of a level of tolerance, and a breaking point for change. The vulnerability shown is marred with strength and resolve.
April 28, 2020
This is an interesting read. It follows people through snippets of their lives, each chapter a vignette focusing on people in their daily lives, who often have experienced some form of emotional or physical trauma. The characters’ lives are interwoven throughout the book so that you will recognize a name from a previous chapter as they are intertwined with another individual further into the book. It is unlike any book I’ve read and definitely worth picking up.
January 23, 2022
Let me preface this with that typically hate short stories. Perhaps it's because I always want more and it's so hard to have a satisfying read in such a limited space...unless...you're reading Yong's work. She has a remarkable ability to draw you in, immerse you fully and then shock you with twists and turns you never expected. The stories are also so gribbing that I found myself gutted but unwilling to stop reading and that is the ultimate reader experience.
April 7, 2020
Takahashi’s The Escape to Candyland presents its own subtle layers of struggle. Some of the slightly bitter tales reveal semi-sweet moments in time, if you can only unearth them. Delve into the brokenhearted, the weak-willed, or the fanatical just long enough to wonder what you would do in their shoes.
April 7, 2020
Takahashi’s The Escape to Candyland presents its own subtle layers of struggle. Some of the slightly bitter tales reveal semi-sweet moments in time, if you can only unearth them. Delve into the brokenhearted, the weak-willed, or the fanatical just long enough to wonder what you would do in their shoes.
April 23, 2020
I could not stop reading.
Dark, with glimmers of hope, gloomy, yet mesmerizing. Each brilliantly written, succinct chapter is a story in a story. It was at once depressing and enthralling. You get sucked in and want to keep reading. The author's focus is those on the periphery of our day to day lives. I won't look at anyone the same way again!
Dark, with glimmers of hope, gloomy, yet mesmerizing. Each brilliantly written, succinct chapter is a story in a story. It was at once depressing and enthralling. You get sucked in and want to keep reading. The author's focus is those on the periphery of our day to day lives. I won't look at anyone the same way again!
April 11, 2020
The mix of so many peoples stories was great but I really wanted more time with a few of them. The stories ended quite abruptly and left me wanting more. I loved that the book was set around Atlanta which was fun to hear all about my city. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of this book.
April 18, 2020
Anthology of lives
In this anthology we learn of the lives of many people. All are in some way connected. It's a true to life story with lots of angst. I found it easy to read. It's not a book for everyone but does deal with everyday lived of many.
In this anthology we learn of the lives of many people. All are in some way connected. It's a true to life story with lots of angst. I found it easy to read. It's not a book for everyone but does deal with everyday lived of many.
October 12, 2020
Dark and compelling short stories
A loosely connected series of short stories. Dark but compelling read. Everyday stories of the struggles of individuals living in and around Atlanta.
A loosely connected series of short stories. Dark but compelling read. Everyday stories of the struggles of individuals living in and around Atlanta.
January 26, 2021
An interesting, honest, and raw read. Book is divided in small portions on various characters whose lives overlap with each other. Ms. Takahashi explores many darker shades of human existence with skill. A bit gritty, but no different than life itself. A good read.
March 28, 2020
Well written and fairly interesting. Reminded me of the Joy Luck Club. Definitely a somber work.
February 24, 2021
A very pacy collection of interesting short stories. I would recommend if you want something quick to read with a lot of variety!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews