My (Almost) Life as a Hikikomori: Stories

Chen is a wonderful storyteller. He uses simple language to bring to life characters and places and to some extent made me feel like I was inside the story.I like the way he tells his stories, starting out with an idea that keeps to hooked and then let's you in into the wider picture later on in the story.Some of the stories had very deep imaginations that left me amazed. One story creeped me out, I didn't get to finish it because I think Chen was in a different zone while writing that particular one. I couldn't manage imagining one eating another person's body parts even in a metaphorical manner haha!All in all, this was an amazing and intriguing read. I would recommend it to anyone who's interested in short stories and storylines that have a suspense filled ending.

These stories by Alexandro Chen are imbued with a sense of loneliness and melancholy, as characters strive for connection but are frequently interrupted by their obsessions and compulsions and perversions. The language within is beautiful and restrained, with a style reminiscent of classic Murakami. Well worth reading.

Memorable stories with strong themes, quirky characters, and tough lessons. The lonely vibe in “Sushi Stop”'s cityscape makes me nostalgic. “Cuddle Cafe” introduced me to a cute line of companion-work I never delved into but now adore. The shock of “Raw Love” was unparalleled. A book that makes me wonder if I’ll ever fall in love with a subway stranger or wander Shinjuku with the same melancholic wonder.