Who's Irish?: Stories

Some of these stories were outstanding, all were good. The title story was great. This book is an excellent commentary on American society, and the experience of being an immigrant. This collection, like many other short story collections explores the theme of "East meets West," for lack of a more politically correct term. It explores some valuable questions in todays society. Jen's writing style is also excellent, and much improved since "Mona in the Promised Land."

I am a working mom with little time to read fiction. But the need exists. Amy Tam never did it for me. Maxine Kingston Wong was too ethereal. Finally, I found an Asian American writer with an East Coast sensibility! Gish Jen's new book of short stories is a delight. There are treasures in this volume. For me, she is the most down-to-earth and funny(!) Asian American woman writing today. "House, House, Home" is one of the best short stories that I have ready anywhere, anytime. The short story format (some are more polished than others, but all are worth the time) makes for good summer reading.

I may have preferred this anthology of short stories to her last work (Mona in the Promised Land) because I tend to lean in that literary direction but I also noticed an improvement of Jen's writing style. Where as in the last novel I felt as if she wandered in certain sections, in each of her stories in Who's Irish? she seemed both eloquent but more straight to the point. Like Amy Tan, Jen is an Chinese American writer that is talented enough to relate her ideas and themes to the reader without him or her having to be of the same ethnic background. She did this exceedingly well in the short story House, House, Home with the protagonist Pammie.

A friend gave me this book to read on vacation. I'm not familiar with the author, but this collection was full of witty, moving, and intelligent stories. Mostare bite-sized gems, perfect for when there are lots of distractions around, with a couple longer ones for rainy days. While I have no particular interest in Asian-Americans, I found this book very convincing & engaging in its portrayal of different enthnicities and how they (we?) all interact.

Jen's collection includes "Birthmates" which John Updike selected for his recent "Best American Short Stories of the Century." This is one of the few literary stories I've read with any insight into the business world and it shatters many a stereotype. My favorites, however, were the title story "Who's Irish?" and "Just Wait" (though I liked them all -- not a dud in the collection). In "Who's Irish," Jen subtly balances the humor and pathos of both intergenerational and interracial conflicts. The two grandmother characters are forever memorable! Reading "Just Wait," I was on the floor laughing at the sibling dynamics, but found much to chew on later. "Chin", the darkest story of the collection, illustrates the broad variety in this collection. The final story, "House, House, Home" goes far beyond the surface issues of a single mother in suburbia to provide insights into what attracts, and separates, men and women. The ending was unbelievably moving. This is a long story and I would not have minded it being a novel. Jen seems to have a talent for treating weighty subject matters within the confines of "ordinary life" (nothing exotic here). She also takes amazing risks with racial material without stumbling -- I find her characters to be complex & painfully authentic (you'll scream when you get to Duncan's mother). As with her last novel, Jen's voice in these stories is unique, intelligent, funny but not off-putting. Highly recommended.