Scan barcode
rebecca_mangulins's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, and Mental illness
karina5162's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
This was weird and confusing and I could not put it down. There are certain aspects/characters that remain a bit underdeveloped, but the main cast and the overarching plot was very compelling and mostly makes up for that. Also, the voice actor for this did a phenomenal job, especially with the main characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pedophilia
natalie12345's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A unique story that had some good moments but overall a little too confusing, especially in Part One. The narrator felt a little flat, I was neither rooting for him or against him by the end. I wish there had been a bit more of a conclusion regarding his struggle to confront his abuser and come to terms with what happened to him. I especially disliked the lack of a resolution with Avril's subplot. Leaving this story about abuse with an underage trans girl in an unsafe relationship like that was frustrating. I don't mind unhappy endings but it seemed more like she was forgotten.
novelvisits's review
3.0
Thanks to @atriabooks and @simon.audio for advanced copies of #TheDoubleLifeOfBensonYu.
I recently listened to
I recently listened to
bgood_xo's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
graceesford's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Abandonment
Moderate: Pedophilia, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Racism, and Child abuse
sdugal's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
mikayllawilson's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
hootreads's review
challenging
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
4.5
emjay2021's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I love the cover design of this book.
The book itself was intriguing but very confusing. Is it the book or is it me? I couldn’t tell, so I’m not going to rate it. I don’t always do well with experimental fiction, even though I actually do enjoy reading it from time to time, and I did enjoy reading this. There are some strongly metafictional aspects of the book and other parts of it are fairly straightforward narrative, and they’re mixed together so it’s a bit confusing. I certainly felt empathy for what the two protagonists (*or are they*) were experiencing. The bits set in Chinatown in the 1980s were very atmospheric, and Benny in particular is an affecting character. The adult graphic novelist, Yu, is hard to like, yet I couldn’t help feeling for him because you know why he’s so messed up. Anyway, this book is quite the trip; if you like experimental fiction masquerading as a straightforward narrative at first, give it a try. CW: Physical and sexual abuse of a child (not graphic, mostly alluded to).
The book itself was intriguing but very confusing. Is it the book or is it me? I couldn’t tell, so I’m not going to rate it. I don’t always do well with experimental fiction, even though I actually do enjoy reading it from time to time, and I did enjoy reading this. There are some strongly metafictional aspects of the book and other parts of it are fairly straightforward narrative, and they’re mixed together so it’s a bit confusing. I certainly felt empathy for what the two protagonists (*or are they*) were experiencing. The bits set in Chinatown in the 1980s were very atmospheric, and Benny in particular is an affecting character. The adult graphic novelist, Yu, is hard to like, yet I couldn’t help feeling for him because you know why he’s so messed up. Anyway, this book is quite the trip; if you like experimental fiction masquerading as a straightforward narrative at first, give it a try. CW: Physical and sexual abuse of a child (not graphic, mostly alluded to).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship