Reviews

Was ich euch nicht erzählte by Celeste Ng

slentz97's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Could be artificially low because I listened to audiobook on a long car drive. Maybe would have liked it better if I read it and not all at once

carlyxdeexx's review against another edition

5.0

I guess my love for Celeste Ng has been confirmed. This book feels more micro than LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE, but both books share some key similarities: starting from a central event near the end, exploring familial complexities and discomforts and how people are shaped by them, jumping between third-person limited perspectives of each character. In both books, we’re given a simple tragedy, like a single line on a page, and then we are gradually provided with the nuance surrounding the tragedy, the many other lines and shading that form a large, hyperrealistic sketch.

I will agree with some of the other reviewers who mention the book’s downward spiraling, its saddening and maddening trajectory. It can be difficult to read, seeing the signs coming together, desperately wanting the characters to talk candidly with each other, knowing they can’t or won’t for some reason or another, which is always how that works. I was surprised at the small burst of hope in the ending, the hope that comes with time and patience and the careful peeling away of layers. Is that a spoiler? I dunno. Better safe than sorry I guess.

I hope to see more novels by Ng, or a short story collection—I noticed she has some short stories under her belt. Her writing is compelling, poetic, lucid, and I love how deeply rooted her work is in the personal and in relationships.

vhungw's review against another edition

5.0

my heart needs closure

mfox1015's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A heartfelt novel about what can go wrong when you are blinded by your unrealized ambitions. 

sarahczw's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gljes927's review against another edition

informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

cami_reading's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

rileythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

rosemwood's review against another edition

4.0

This is Celeste Ng debut novel. It is told in past, present and future and each family character has their own perspective. It is a very slow emotional story almost like stories within the main plot with tiny details that all come together at the end. A family driven drama where you see the lineage and upbringing shape their lives and how it all comes together.

agiraffe's review against another edition

challenging informative mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0