Reviews

But the Girl by Jessica Zhan Mei Yu

starrybooker's review

4.5

A really beautifully written book that grapples with ideas about academia, racism, otherness, feeling unmoored in your identity, parental expectation, and, of course, Plath. I loved the way Jessica Zhan Mei Yu wove academic considerations of Plath’s writing with her character’s childhood memories, and the way she gives ideas proper room to breathe in the narrative. 

The slow paced, pondering style probably won’t be for everyone but I really loved it. At times I felt the plot, as purposely thin as it was, could do with being a little tighter, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. 

violacocacolax's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

there was one too many lines in this book that i found way too relatable (very beautiful written btw) 

rafqa_touma's review

4.0

The life of the author has often been framed as an idyll: brooding academia, intellectual prestige, craftsmanship forged through grandiose pain. Authors who seek to elude the general public’s fascination with their lives seem to draw more intrigue than their work. Jessica Zhan Mei Yu’s debut But The Girl delves into this, through the perspective of a nameless young Malaysian Australian writer who is increasingly troubled by her lifelong love for Sylvia Plath.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/aug/25/but-the-girl-by-jessica-zhan-mei-yu-book-review-an-impressive-debut 

djtrees's review

3.75

Not sure if i liked it or not. Hmm
More or less than this score. More probs. But bit slow. But good...

bethcourtney's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad slow-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

2.5

jaclyncrupi's review

4.0

A writer on an artist’s retreat not doing any writing but thinking a whole lot about her migrant parents and grandmother is possibly the only writer protagonist for me. If you liked The Idiot you’re highly likely to like this. I thought it was in interesting conversation with Anam too in the way it uses fiction to potentially grapple with family history and memoir.

alexanderjamie's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

Jessica Zhan’s But the Girl is a fascinating look into modern academia, familial relations and how we express love, and second generation immigrants. 

It’s short and Zhan is quite sharp in her comments throughout the book, presenting a different perspective on family from the eyes of Girl as well as the way we engage with art and books. I felt Zhan does a good job in her characterisation of Girl and gives her a distinct voice — well contrasted in the character of Clementine. (It does feel vaguely biographical though I’m can’t confirm that).

Overall, the book adds to current discourse and was overall a good read. Also didn’t realise that we are never told Girl’s name — quite interesting in hindsight. 

kashmore's review

funny reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

macriss's review

hopeful reflective 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

2.0

lostcanticles's review

4.0

“The person who had raised me had been raised up. I put the key in the ignition. I had to raise myself now.”

This was such a hit for me, for the most personal reasons. Aside from that, I loved the prose very much, though it took awhile for me to get into. There were just sentences, paragraphs that had me staring off into space.