Self-Portrait with Ghost audiobook

3.5 starsSelf-Portrait with Ghost is a strange and elusive collection, slippery and compelling, defying easy understanding and so drawing your attention all the more.First: Jin's writing is so impressive, at times keen and direct, at others more reflective and analytical. Her stories are elusive in the sense that they don't easily give you that aha moment at their end, that moment that clinches together the whole point of the story and, in doing so, makes it immediately understandable. Instead, they make you look twice, go back and try to put your finger on what eluded you the first time, or else try to make sure that what you got out of the story was in fact in line with what it was trying to do. More than anything, they're just really interesting stories: I didn't fully "get" all of them, but rather than that alienating me, it just drew me to them all the more. I didn't "get" all of them, but I wanted to--and that's what ultimately made them so compelling to me.Though all distinct in their own ways, these stories also feel like they're echoes of each other, particularly in the way that some of them reconfigure themes and ideas from other stories. "Suffering" and "Self-Portrait with Ghost," for example, both deal with the troubled (?) distinction between reality and unreality, what is real and what is not. In the former story, the narrator attempts to give us an account of Ling, a woman overtaken by an increasing sense of paranoia; in the latter, the narrator encounters the ghost of her dead friend, who forces her to question her approach to her academic work. "Philip is Dead" and "First Love" are another pair that felt complementary to me, both stories that explore how romantic relationships shape--or indeed warp--your sense of self. Where "Philip is Dead" examines this in the context of artistic practice, "First Love" delves more into the nature of want and longing."Alone, she inched toward that feeling. It was painful, unbearable, to not have another against which to orient herself. It was also the closest she felt to free."Thematically, the stories of Self-Portrait with Ghost are concerned with how we know ourselves through others: in contrast to others, in opposition to them, in imitation of them, or simply alongside them. It's a collection that's interested in how we construct our sense of self not just through relationships--friends, lovers, family members--but also through narrative and art more broadly. In some stories like "Suffering," "First Love," and "The Three Women," this is more of a thematic focus, whereas in a story like "The Odd Women," it's very much literalized through the inclusion of speculative elements (the only story that's overtly speculative). When it comes to thematic focus, the title of the collection also effectively gestures at what it's interested in exploring: "Self-Portrait with Ghost" speaks to how self-portraits, this conception of our selves by our selves, can be based on illusory images we may have of ourselves, or even of others. (That's my interpretation anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)"Who are they, and who is he? The patches on Ling's face are real--this I can see. So she has summoned me in, to read her life, so what is boring and endless might achieve the grace of plot. Because I do pity Ling, pity her suffering and its intractability, how she's wound her life around herself in these most exquisitely foolproof chains. I pity her so much, I envy her. Would my own mind ever be capable of such imaginative feats as these?"My favourite stories were "Suffering," "First Love," and "The Odd Women," though honestly I felt like all of them had something that I liked or was drawn to. "The Odd Women" is the real standout here, in my opinion. It's the longest story, and the most ambitious one, and it absolutely sticks the landing--which is doubly great, because it's also the concluding story, ending the collection with a nice flourish.Self-Portrait with Ghost was a collection whose stories I wasn't necessarily emotionally invested in, but rather one that intellectually engaged me; a "thinking" book more than a "feeling" book--and a really great one at that.

These are quirky stories, some of which I liked more than others. IMHO, however, the one story which should not be missed is the last one "The Odd Women." It is extraordinary.

Phewww.....That was indeed, a bloody collection! I can't fathom how much the last story impacted me, to a point that I got goosebumps just thinking about it. "It was useful to fracture yourself, but what happened when you wanted again to be whole? And how is it possible to still feel lonely in a house full of bodies? There's something about Meng Jin's writing that feels ethereal. If you're reading it in one glance without thinking about it too much, you'll find that the story is mundane, and has no absolute plot; but when you delved in deeper, there's so much to the story than just the surface. Jin dives into the subject of self-identity, to a point that it felt suffocating in some stories; how we can't seem to find ourselves in the midst of chaos in the world. The recurring theme for all the stories are the question of loneliness, and how as oneself; we try to make ourselves useful to others in order to not 'lose' ourselves altogether. The elements of magical realism, mixed with representation of Asian culture makes the collection of stories unique. Whilst there are some stories that made you feel like ...... "Am i the dumb one?" ; I feel that its best to appreciate the writing as it is told without thinking too much about it. Amongst the 10 stories, my TOP FAVOURITE would be the last of the story , which is entitled Odd Women, and I absolutely LOVED how Jin plays around with the characters and the possibility of oneself to have different powers. It has hints of fantasy and I feel that Jin wrote out and concludes the whole collection beautifully with the last story; on how humans still searches for oneself through multiple lenses and it can lead to a question of identity crisis and the constant feeling of never being enough. This story had impacted me so much, I still think about it until now and get goosebumps. Another top stories that I liked is the title of the book the itself, which is Self-Portrait with Ghosts. I love how art is one of the constant topics that is written by the author, and the line between reality and what is not is interpreted differently by the human mind. I love that there's a sense of warmth and nostalgia to the story but also ; its somewhat told the story as a whole; how perception can either be humans best friend or worst nightmare.Overall, this collection of short stories are a hit and miss for some, but mostly, it had impacted me and left me something deep to think about. You might need to dive deeper into some stories, but mostly, Jin's writing is definitely exquisite. Loved it! Personal Ratings : 4🌟 Biggest thank you to Times Reads for this copy! I absolutely loved it :)

Self Portrait with Ghost is a collection of ten short stories written by Meng Jin, most set against the backdrop of a global pandemic and the turbulent years of Trump presidency. While the collection tackles a wide range of topics, which include art, grief, racism, pandemic, relationship and belonging, identity seems to be the common thread that connects all of the stories in this book. Each story is rich and precise in its portrayal of identity, whether in connection to oneself or others. I also loved how this collection brims with subjectivity and ambiguous narratives, which in my opinion makes for a good, refreshing discussion with friends. ”Death is the certainty of life. The one thing every person can be sure to accomplish, regardless of circumstances of birth.”There was not a single story in this book that I didn’t like but there were two in particular that I kept thinking about. The first one, Self-Portrait with Ghost is about a writer who encounters the ghost of his aunt who has been dead for sixteen years. Her aunt was labelled “crazy” by the society and she wonders whether she had ever made light of what her aunt went through when she was alive. The second story, Odd Women, was the real deal. It follows three women with a unique ability (or curse, you decide) that allows each of them to become immaterial at will, adopts shape that reflects the needs of other people and divides oneself into many entities; and how they live with these abilities. See what I mean? Smart.In conclusion, Self-Portrait With Ghost reminded me why I love reading fiction: I get to experience magnificent writing, imaginative story telling and the various human condition and emotion with which I may be able to relate and identify with. I have not read Meng Jin’s Little Gods, but clearly I need to get a copy. Thank you Times Read for the review copy. Appreciate it.

What a wild ride. It took me 2 weeks to savour this short book and now I'm behind my Goodreads challenge😅Full review to come.

I've enjoyed Meng Jin's 'Little God' which was published about two years ago, and this is the reason why her second book "Self-Portrait with Ghost" automatically makes it to the list. Unlike her first book "Little God" which is an immigrant literature primarily based on the event of Tiananmen Square massacre, 'Self-Portrait with Ghost' consists of 10 short stories, all derived from the points of view of ordinary Chinese women from different background, spanning across China to San Francisco. To set your expectation right, her collection isn't about the sensationalised Chinese immigrants experience in the US nor a feminism wake against patriarchal system in the modern society. Essentially, Meng Jin "Self-Portrait with Ghost" chronicles the sophiscated sense of "self" which has always been the core of Western literature and each story ends with open-ended closures that leave the readers with a handful of potential interpretations. Artistically, many of her stories - some of my favourites : Suffering, Self-Portrait with Ghost, First Love and In the Event - demonstrate an humanistic and existential perspective on personal uncertainty beneath the surface of women's lives, including the feeling of paranoia and sense of insecurity in fraying relationship, and how these women make of their lives amid constant changes. Meng Jin also offers readers a deeper reflection of her identity as a Chinese American (albeit in piecemeal manner) through the portrayal of how the White American "otherness" and casual racism experienced in the past shaped the worldview of her characters. Overall, a book not to be missed. 4 stars.

Self-Portrait with Ghost explores the expansiveness of moment and emotion. Navigating space and time with a visceral artistry that feels downright cinematic, Jin constructs people and places painfully lifelike in the paradox of their desire to be both known and unknown. The complexity of their desire is disregarded, as Jin peels her characters for us like potatoes. They exist in a constant state of motion, flitting between tension, harmony, and inversion: death and resurrection, visibility and invisibility, singularity and plurality, running to and from loneliness. They are, as she writes, "arrows readied and in flight," their internal lives churn and roil and they thrill on the secret of their storms, believing the waves will bring them to a shore they cannot name but have desperately been seeking.Jin has the rare ability to chronicle the slow chaos of an unraveling life with the impossible precision of a clinician and a poet. Her gaze is clear and calm like a hunter's. Over and over again she returns to her mark: What it is that makes us who we are—the impossible, ephemeral, and vaporous; echoes and shadows, forgetting and prophesying; desire and revulsion.

I'm extending my gratitude to Mariner Books and Meng Jin for sending me this Advanced Reader Copy of Self-Portrait with Ghost which is set to publish on July 5, 2022. I chose a great time to read this collection of tales, what with it being May where we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander voices and also due to the fact that May seeks to highlight short-stories. It was a win-win. These somewhat haunting and intimidating stories detail the author's many interactions with "ghosts" and how they are perhaps -- perhaps not all the time physically but a lot of the time we find ourselves mourning the loss of chance with an old friend or the person you used to be. Presented with different outcomes, but similar themes of loss, understanding, and growth, Meng Jin takes the reader on a ride through what it feels to live and overcome uneasy encounters being of the Asian-American background. I felt these stories were beautifully done and I look forward to reminiscing and re-reading on a sunny day in the future. 5/5

This collection of short stories captures so much humanity and raw emotion from characters seeking self worth, seeking purpose and revival from their horrific pasts, seeking clarity on their identity, control for their lives, ability to be joyful when the world around them is falling apart, seeking forgiveness for naivety, answers in a time of hopelessness and doom, comfort and peace with themselves and the choices they have made and the person they have become. Meng Jin makes you feel deeply connected to each character’s lives with all the beauties and complexities of humanity. Thank you Kismet books in Verona, Wisconsin for the advanced reader copy!

A beam of sunlight washed over her porcelain skin as she retreated into the cocoon of silky fabric and plush pillows. Life was not worth thinking of today when the unconscious form was more appealing in the early morning light. The sunbeam was relentless in its pursuit of waking her mind and try as she may to fight off its persistence, she loses the battle and forces her body to break free of comfort and instead break into conscious thought.Self-Portrait With Ghost is a collect of short stories focusing on the complexities of women and how they adapt and change themselves to fit into societies definitions of normal and acceptable. Stories navigating how to get through life’s trials and tribulations… isolation vs. intimacy. Tales of love and the exploration of new and old relationships, also the discovery of one’s self and how it’s okay to not be okay. A rhythmic, dynamic collection of stories sharing how powerful and also how powerless women are in this world… especially poignant in today’s world.As with all short story collections, I enjoyed some more than others, but each one had a powerful underlying message and I highly recommend giving this collection a read.TW: Death, Mention of Suicide, Self-Harm, Abortion, Infidelity, Grief, Mental Illness.*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

Beautiful, beautiful collection of stories. A patient, creative, loving consideration of reality, self consciousness, and human connection.

Thought provoking and complex characters and some of the most precise, unexpected diction I’ve encountered in a long while.

An excellent voice.

Adorei! O último conto é incrível.

*I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*4.25I have to admit, that I requested this based primarily on the cover, and then once my request was accepted I decided I should try out Meng Jin's debut Little Gods before going into this, and I'm very glad I did. Jin has a very unique writing style and it will not work for everyone. Her prose is beautiful but disjointed in a way that makes the narrative feel distant while at the same time invoking so much raw emotion. It's hard to describe, but I am a fan.As with most short story collections, your mileage may vary. This collection contains 10 stories and I read about 2 per day as that was all my brain could handle. There were several stories that I fully admit to going over my head, but each one made me sit and think upon completion. This was clearly written during the Trump administration and Covid lockdown. In the early stories, the themes explored concern relationships and intimacy and womanhood and identity and as the collection continues, themes move into isolation and community and climate disaster. The last few stories specifically mention/contain pandemics. IN THE EVENT in particular details a woman who is constantly thinking about different ways the world could end and I needed to go take a walk after that one because her anxiety catastrophizing was too relatable. Other stories I really enjoyed were the titular, SELF-PORTRAIT WITH GHOST, THREE WOMEN, and THE GARDEN.Overall, I really liked this and know I will be returning to several of these stories again and again. I highly recommend and will definitely be on the lookout for whatever Meng Jin writes next!

Self-Portrait with Ghost: Short Stories by Meng Jin was written during the turbulent years of the Trump administration and the first year of the pandemic, these stories explore intimacy and isolation, coming of age, and coming to terms with the repercussions of past mistakes, fraying relationships, and surprising moments of connection. I highly recommend Self-Portrait with Ghost: Short Stories!Each story speaks so clearly to the loneliness epidemic that confronts our world. I would read one short story and promise to stop and wait until another day to read the next one. InsteadOne phrase that will always remain with me is: “The hallucinatory quality of grief." As a widow, the phrase struck a chord that will forever resonate in my soul.This is the seventy-third book I have read this year.The Goodreads summary provides an overview,Meng Jin's critically acclaimed debut novel, Little Gods, was praised as "spectacular and emotionally polyphonic (Omar El-Akkad, BookPage), "powerful" (Washington Post), and "meticulously observed, daringly imagined" (Claire Messud). Jin turns her considerable talents into short fiction in ten thematically linked stories.Moving between San Francisco and China, and from unsparing realism to genre-bending delight, Self-Portrait with Ghost considers what it means to live in an age of heightened self-consciousness, seemingly unlimited access to knowledge, and little actual power.Page-turning, thought-provoking, and wholly unique, Self-Portrait with Ghost further establishes Meng Jin as a writer who "reminds us that possible explanations in our universe are as varied as the beings who populate it" (Paris Review).

First, thank you for sending me the Advance Reader's Edition, it was a read I'll not forget for a while! I've always said that a good book is the kind that when you leave it, you think of the characters later and their stories, what would become of them if the story was still going on today. This book hit that mark. Some themes in it are things that you'll need to know about the culture to understand, other things are just purely human. This book had charm and trauma both wrapped in a little purple bow, announced to the world with a voice that can reach very far. Far it did.If you're easily triggered by darker topics such as mental health, harm to self/others mentally and physically, I'd say pace yourself with this book. It is so, so worth the read. It asks the ugly questions people don't even like asking themselves and shows wounds to the world that are crying to be seen. This book demands attention. I predict it's going to be one of those books that divide the reading community down the middle on love or hate it. That's SO good for a book like this to do, because that means people are talking about it. They're addressing situations, stigmas, racism and the dark parts of mental health we tend to ignore. No one tells you that healing opens wounds so they will heal right the next time, sometimes healing is ugly. No one tells you exactly what growing pains are. This book holds no punches. It's a needed book. I can't wait to see the conversations sparked by it.