I loved this collection of fables and stories! Daniel Olivas has an easy writing style that pulls you in and brings worlds to life around you. The stories in this collection are magical, cautionary, reflective, and strident in turn. Olivas creates lush worlds using a spare writing style, which I find particularly compelling.

The stories were well curated. They work together to describe Chicano and Mexican experience and culture, the mythology and complexity of religion, and the particular stress of the politics of the last six years. At times this collection felt like a novel. And I loved that.

How to Date a Flying Mexican is a delight from beginning to end, a collection of short stories that surprises and rewards with a blend of whimsy, Chicanx sensibility, identity exploration, and a touch of magical realism. I'm not usually a big fan of short stories, but once I began reading How to Date a Flying Mexican, I couldn't stop until I'd read the whole book (hello, early morning reading hangover!). Whether you read it in one sitting as I did or parcel the stories out to yourself one or two at a time, this is a collection that's worth tracking down.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

TW: mentions of rape, domestic abuse, incest (though none of it is graphic or detailed)

This is an enchanting collection of short stories and modern fables. I immediately felt immersed in the world that Olivas created, and despite the unique nature of each story they do seem to fit within the same fantastic universe. There were definitely some stories that appealed to me more than others, but regardless of my personal tastes I felt that each story was still strong and well-written,

I will say that there were a few instances of dialogue that felt stilted, or unusual phrases repeated that brought me out of my reading flow, however, I don't feel that these were large enough issues to detract from the entirety of the collection.

I truly enjoyed these stories and I would wholeheartedly recommend them to family and friends. I come from a Mexican-American household, which made it easy for me to relate to many of these characters and to feel at home in the world that Olivas built. However, I feel that this is a world that anyone could easily become immersed in, regardless of their cultural background.

This was my first book to read by this author but I cannot wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Such a great story and fast read. Highly recommend!!!

This is a solid collection of fables, stories, lists, and other short, magical writings from author Daniel A. Olivas. I found some of the stories amusing and some sad, but mostly I was intrigued by those that ended abruptly--and there were several--and why the author had made those choices. These short pieces tantalize, provoking the reading into wondering "what next?", all while feeling appropriately complete.