The Frangipani Hotel

The Frangipani Hotel cover
Good Books rating 3.9
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Technical
  • ID: 7729
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-16
  • ISBN: 9780812983470
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2015-02-17
  • Reviews: 3

The Frangipani Hotel is a captivating debut collection of short stories that intertwines traditional Vietnamese folk tales with the modern experiences of characters grappling with the legacy of the Vietnam War. Each story is a blend of the supernatural and the mundane, featuring characters who struggle against the burdens of the past, whether they are immigrants or those who remained in Vietnam. The collection is based on tales told to the author by her grandmother, providing a rich cultural backdrop that is both evocative and chilling. The stories transcend their genre, offering a profound exploration of the postwar experience and the enduring impact of war on individuals and communities. The author's voice is a fresh and exciting addition to American fiction, with a depth and range that captivates readers. /n/n The Frangipani Hotel is praised for its subversive cleverness and the subtle purpose behind its playful and at times scary narratives. The stories are described as magical, beautiful, and modern, invoking the ghosts of the land left behind. The collection is an astonishing feat for a young writer, with each story shimmering with life and offering a unique perspective on the immigrant experience and the lives of those who stayed. The author's ability to combine traditional storytelling with a postmodern sense of anxiety and darkness results in a captivating and haunting read that lingers long after the last page is turned.

Reviews
Diacritics · 2015-03-26
fantastical 4.20

The stories are fantastical yet thought-provoking, blending magical realism with themes of Vietnamese displacement.

The reviewer found the stories in The Frangipani Hotel to be fantastical and thought-provoking, appreciating the blend of magical realism with themes of Vietnamese displacement. They noted that the narrative often replaces traditional folk tales with a contemporary magical realist perspective, making the collection both engaging and culturally insightful. The reviewer enjoyed the unique approach to storytelling and the depth of the themes explored.


Quick quotes

    These stories are fantastical yet thought-provoking, often taking the narrative of Vietnamese displacement and replacing with a magical realist perspective.

    The reviewer appreciated the blend of magical realism with themes of Vietnamese displacement.

    The collection is both engaging and culturally insightful.

The New York Times · 2014-05-23
thought-provoking 4.00

The inhuman element in the stories makes the characters more human and humane. The collection is thought-provoking and avoids clichés.

The reviewer appreciated how the inhuman elements in Kupersmith's stories lead to a deeper exploration of human nature, making the characters more relatable and humane. They found the collection thought-provoking and praised the author's ability to avoid clichés. The stories were seen as unique and engaging, offering a fresh perspective on familiar themes.


Quick quotes

    The inhuman element in Kupersmith's stories leads us away from these clichés, making the characters more human and humane.

    The collection is thought-provoking and avoids clichés.

    The stories were seen as unique and engaging, offering a fresh perspective on familiar themes.

Fantasy Literature · 2014-04-01
engaging 3.50

The stories are engaging and well-written, but none of them left a lasting impression. The prose is fluid and precise, making the collection enjoyable overall.

The reviewer found most of the stories in The Frangipani Hotel to be solidly engaging and well-written. They appreciated the fluid and precise prose, which made the collection enjoyable to read. However, they noted that none of the stories struck them as particularly memorable or left a lasting impression. The reviewer enjoyed the overall experience but felt that the stories did not stand out in a significant way.


Quick quotes

    While I found most of the stories in Violet Kupersmith's The Frangipani Hotel to be solidly engaging, I can't say any of them struck me with any particular force.

    Kupersmith's prose is fluid and precise, making the collection enjoyable overall.

    The stories are engaging and well-written, but none of them left a lasting impression.