‘Things Olivia Would Like to Avoid (If Possible)’
— Reneé Bibby
Jennifer Yu’s flash fiction is a short list of unpleasantness. Each item is an intricate examination nuanced social interaction and the tense unpleasantness that can occur in such small moments. Something as simple as walking at a speed that will intersect your path with a stranger’s; lingering the right amount of time before shopkeepers are compelled to harass you; the power dynamics of waiting in line to place a cheeseburger order. O’s list of things will surprise you with their simplicity and their precision by giving voice to the crushing formless anxiety we feel negotiating public spaces and social rules. It feels almost too revealing, too close to home. Which is what makes it worth the read.