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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
This was a weird one. Episodic, with some chapters making more sense to me than others. I get the sense that if I knew anything about Chinese storytelling conventions, the book would have hit harder for me. Still, it was worth reading for me because it’s so different from anything else I’ve read. Like culture shock in a book.
emotional
reflective
actual rating: 3.5
I think there were probably a few things that went over my head with these stories and exactly how they were all connected and what exactly was up with the narrator, but I though the mythology was fascinating and it was just so compelling to listen to that I have to give it a 4 stars. Does a very good job blending fairy tale elements with urban fantasy to create a really interesting world. I'm not sure if my slight issues with comprehension were because I'm not familiar with Chinese mythology or if I missed something somewhere, but it's such a unique book that I didn't even mind.
I think there were probably a few things that went over my head with these stories and exactly how they were all connected and what exactly was up with the narrator, but I though the mythology was fascinating and it was just so compelling to listen to that I have to give it a 4 stars. Does a very good job blending fairy tale elements with urban fantasy to create a really interesting world. I'm not sure if my slight issues with comprehension were because I'm not familiar with Chinese mythology or if I missed something somewhere, but it's such a unique book that I didn't even mind.
I can't do a proper review here, because I didn't understand the book. I don't know if the translation wasn't very good, or if it was so reliant on cultural references and wordplay that it would be tremendously difficult to translate well, but whichever it was, what I got from this was the story of a poor journalist/novelist with an abusive and invasive professor and a drinking problem who was writing what I'm sure were metaphors for real life struggles, but mostly seemed to end in suicide.
Indeed, the focus on suicide and self mutilation was what seemed to me the central theme--a sort of rending or rendering of the adolescent Chinese mindset where it seemed everyone saw themselves as wrong in some way. That, and of course the somewhat aggressive allegory for what it might mean to be "civilized" and how governments may enforce civility.
I'd love to have someone who is fluent in Chinese language and customs to read this and share their thoughts!
CONTENT WARNING:
Indeed, the focus on suicide and self mutilation was what seemed to me the central theme--a sort of rending or rendering of the adolescent Chinese mindset where it seemed everyone saw themselves as wrong in some way. That, and of course the somewhat aggressive allegory for what it might mean to be "civilized" and how governments may enforce civility.
I'd love to have someone who is fluent in Chinese language and customs to read this and share their thoughts!
CONTENT WARNING:
Spoiler
suicide, mutilation, genocide, murder, loss of loved ones, torture, alcohol use, physical and verbal abuse
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Real rating: 2.5
Liked the world-building, but I don't know what it is about this book that just had a strange atmosphere. I didn't really care about the protagonist and lots of details/interconnectedness just felt murky and strange. The characterization and writing style fit the vibe of the city and what the book is generally about, but still just feels strange.
Liked the world-building, but I don't know what it is about this book that just had a strange atmosphere. I didn't really care about the protagonist and lots of details/interconnectedness just felt murky and strange. The characterization and writing style fit the vibe of the city and what the book is generally about, but still just feels strange.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was an interesting idea but I would have given up if I didn't have the audiobook. In the end, the story was just dumb. I dont get it.
Listening to this book felt like listening to a series of inter-connected short stories, each focusing on a different type of strange beast in a fictional Chinese city. The unnamed narrator researches and writes about each type of beast. Threaded throughout each story is her relationship with her professor, family, and friends - both current and memories. She's also a successful novelist who spends a lot of time at the local bar.
Lots of good questions are raised in this sci-fi noir-like novel. Who is the "beast" and who is the human? What is identity? Who do you trust and why? What is love? I have a feeling I would have picked up on a lot more had I been reading instead of listening while driving around, but I enjoyed the story and the performance.
Thanks to Libro.fm for the ARC.
Lots of good questions are raised in this sci-fi noir-like novel. Who is the "beast" and who is the human? What is identity? Who do you trust and why? What is love? I have a feeling I would have picked up on a lot more had I been reading instead of listening while driving around, but I enjoyed the story and the performance.
Thanks to Libro.fm for the ARC.