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braveprincess11's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
Though I’m not sure I fully understood it, I had a great time reading this & I’m blown away by Kevin Chong’s ability to balance so many layers of metafiction
As always, check content warnings before reading 💛
As always, check content warnings before reading 💛
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Child abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Body horror and Bullying
Things that I’d consider content warnings that aren’t available as tags: Graphic child neglect Without spoilers: The moderate kidnapping tag is for a situation entered by the child’s own will, in which he is technically free to leave at any time, but chooses not to for fear of the unknown. Though he chooses to enter the situation, and not to leave, this situation would legally be considered kidnapping.savvylit's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Double Life of Benson Yu is a heavy metafictional novel that grapples with abuse, grief, trauma, and depression. At first, readers are immersed in Benson's fictionalized early life. However, Benson's real adult life and feelings begin to slowly creep in and overpower his reframed narrative. Adult Benson continuously struggles to acknowledge what really happened between himself and his mentor, C. Reimagining his younger self forces Benson to think of events that he had suppressed, and his life begins to crash down around him.
Ultimately, The Double Life of Benson Yu is an empathetic and damning look at the way unacknowledged trauma can shape individual lives. Chong is incredibly talented at layered and complex characterization. I often found myself consistently devastated by both young/fictional Benson and real/older Benson as they each experienced a myriad of dark moments throughout the story. This book reminds readers that sometimes life can be unjustifiably cruel. But don't let that keep you from reading it - just be sure to take your time with some of the more difficult subject matter.
Many thanks to @atriabooks @tlcbooktours & @tlcdiversity for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ultimately, The Double Life of Benson Yu is an empathetic and damning look at the way unacknowledged trauma can shape individual lives. Chong is incredibly talented at layered and complex characterization. I often found myself consistently devastated by both young/fictional Benson and real/older Benson as they each experienced a myriad of dark moments throughout the story. This book reminds readers that sometimes life can be unjustifiably cruel. But don't let that keep you from reading it - just be sure to take your time with some of the more difficult subject matter.
Many thanks to @atriabooks @tlcbooktours & @tlcdiversity for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Grief, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Cancer, Death, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, and Adult/minor relationship
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