Light but fun Vietnamese ghost stories. The stories of young Americans in Vietnam are particularly strong (“Skin and Bones”, “Guests”), as is the title story (“The Frangipani Hotel”) ( )

I had a very different opinion of this in 2015. These were the only stories that rose above 2 stars:
4 ⭐ Skin and Bones
Really cool story. I can relate to the protagonist; i love to eat. I have to count points on Weight watchers, because if I don't, my weight creeps up and up.
Thuy and her sister are sent to their grandma's in Vietnam, right before the school year starts again, for three weeks. Thuy is fat and her mama thinks that the food in Vietnam will make her lose.
It should have worked, except for the day that thuy's nose led her to the Banh mi stall. But who was the vendor?

3 ⭐ Little Brother
A story about a zombie that's really gross, but pretty good.


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Kupersmith's short stories start out with seemingly "normal" familiar scenes and situations. There is a run-down Vietnamese hotel, a night shift in a Houston market, a delivery driver on his regular run--nothing strange here, is there? But then there is a shift and weird things happen. I don't like this sort of comparison but I kept thinking of the stories of Saki (H.H. Monro). This book has been sitting on my shelf since March 2014 when I won it on the blog Books à la Mode

- sorry I let go unread for so long. I really like it.

Contents: Boat story; The Frangipani Hotel; Skin and bones; Little brother; The red veil; Guests; Turning back; One-finger; Descending dragon. ( )

The Frangipani Hotel is a collection of ghost stories that creep up your spine even hours after you’ve read them. These vignettes of modern-day Vietnam and its people, the survivors and the refugees, aren't gruesome or gory; instead they evoke a sense of the ancient and unknown.

I received this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.

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ATTENTION! Nebula nominators and World Fantasy Award voters! You want to read this book!
Yes, I know it says "The Frangipani Hotel: Fiction." And the cover is ever so tastefully vague and understated. A more accurate title might be: "The Frangipani Hotel: Dark, Lush and Horrific Ghostly Tales of Vietnam." If the cover artist really wanted to reflect the content of the book, there'd be a creepy zombie walking through the fog, next to that quaint boat.

But, Kupersmith is clearly a new young author to watch. She does a fantastic job of melding Vietnamese folklore with the complex, rich realities of the country. Her writing style is graceful, and captures the nuances of horror - using understatement to great effect, contrasting the beautiful with the grisly.

My only complaint is that this collection of short stories is all too brief. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

Contents:
Boat Story
Reception
Skin and Bones
Little Brother
The Red Veil
Guests
Turning Back
One-Finger
Descending Dragon

Copy received from NetGalley and Random House, which does not affect my review in any way. Thanks! ( )