Through the lens of the surreal and the mundane, author Anthony Wong explores what it means to be alone — and in the process, what it means to change. Written at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, A Shape and a Run is a collection of short stories centered around the concept of isolation: its origins, manifestations, and effects on people. Wong artfully taps into the often debilitating emotions that spring from within this shared state of loneliness. Though feelings of apathy and grief may have gained hold of the public consciousness, this book charts the ability to ultimately shift one’s mind from hopelessness to hopefulness.In this turbulent world we’re living in, Anthony Wong’s A Shape and a Run strives to reaffirm a sense of agency that the times seem to have taken away. It emphasizes how even if one is alone, or feeling alone, they can find solace in the things in life that still make it worth living.