You may have been able to guess by the eerie-looking bunny presented in inverted colors on the cover that this tale is anything but light and happy. Bora Chung’s fascinating and unique short story collection, Cursed Bunny, displays the most disturbing truths about the nature of mankind through a fantastical yet realistic narrative. By including ten short stories, Chung is easily able to capture the reader’s full attention by making her audience feel disgusted and uncomfortable, yet highly intrigued and captivated. This slender beast of a book contains many themes that leave a lasting impression on the reader that may cause them to need a deep breath – and maybe even a drink – between stories.

One reoccurring theme that comes across in many of Chung’s short stories is that of humanity’s innate inclination toward selfishness despite the repercussions it may have on other people. How can a species be so empathetic and psychopathic all at once? Could it be, that the step toward curing the human condition requires that we accept this cosmic curse?