Issac Stone Fish reviews The Pearl Jacket

The Pearl Jacket and Other Stories: Flash Fiction from Contemporary China, by Shouhua Qi, was recently reviewed by Issac Stone Fish. Fish’s review, originally published in the Asian Review of Books, has since popped up on other websites such as UPIasia.com and the Red Room. He discusses the books' many stories. One in particular is the story of the “Parrot.” Fish gives an analysis of the story by saying, “The collection ends with the dystopian "Parrot," about a poet whose parrot spews prophecies: "Now, including yourself, there are only 13 people left in this town. That's reality, you understand?" The poet examines the town and finds the parrot's words to be true. Returning home, the parrot's mouth (its body has disappeared) exclaims that the other townspeople have died. The poet concludes all that's left for him is to become a parrot. Possibly symbolizing the death of individuality, this story, like the best of the genre, leaves the reader desiring something longer.”