Hi, book blogging friends! I wanted to make this guide on a hot new release, A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh and Elise Chapman. I look forward to finding this book in my local library, and when I do, I’d love to read-along with some bookworm buddies. If you wanna have a fun discussion, continue reading.
Wait, what book are we reading?
A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh and Elise Chapman
Star-crossed lovers, meddling immortals, feigned identities, battles of wits, and dire warnings. These are the stuff of fairy tale, myth, and folklore that have drawn us in for centuries.
Fifteen bestselling and acclaimed authors reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia in short stories that are by turns enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate.
Compiled by We Need Diverse Books’s Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, the authors included in this exquisite collection are: Renee Ahdieh, Sona Charaipotra, Preeti Chhibber, Roshani Chokshi, Aliette de Bodard, Melissa de la Cruz, Julie Kagawa, Rahul Kanakia, Lori M. Lee, E. C. Myers, Cindy Pon, Aisha Saeed, Shveta Thakrar, and Alyssa Wong.
A mountain loses her heart. Two sisters transform into birds to escape captivity. A young man learns the true meaning of sacrifice. A young woman takes up her mother’s mantle and leads the dead to their final resting place. From fantasy to science fiction to contemporary, from romance to tales of revenge, these stories will beguile readers from start to finish. For fans of Neil Gaiman’s Unnatural Creatures and Ameriie’s New York Times–bestselling Because You Love to Hate Me.
Let’s Discuss
- Do you enjoy folklore retellings?
- Which fairytale retellings do you find exhausted and over-represented?
- Was there any particular author that drove you to read this anthology?
- What are your opinions on YA Anthologies; are they well written, or are they disappointing?
- How well did you find the South-East Asian folklore represented in A Thousand Beginnings and Endings?
- Do any of the short-stories remind you of other books (can you recommend any)?
- Do any of these short-stories inspire you to travel to south-east Asia?
- If this anthology could be adapted into a TV mini-series, who would you dream to be cast?
- Who was your favourite couple/romance?
- Which short-story was your favourite?
Do you agree with any of these reviewers?
Tasya (The Literary Huntress) rated the book an overall 5/5 stars, but found some still fell into ” cheesy-Asian-trope-with-the-hair-streak,“.
Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd) rated the book 4/5 stars, claiming it was unforgettable and an urgent read for any YA fan.
Ren (A Bookish Balance) rated A Thousand Beginnings and Endings with 3/5 stars, purely because the book alluded to classic romantic retellings, but found the delivery too modern and misleading.
Kayla (BooksandLala) rated this 4/5 stars but was disappointed by Renée Ahdieh‘s short story, Nothing Into All. Of all the reviews I’ve read, Kayla is the only one who has reported a low rating from Ahdieh’s contribution.
Have you read this book? Is it on your TBR? Tell me your thoughts on A Thousand Beginnings and Endings below.
Cal's Reading Corner 