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oliviaclaire's review
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? It's complicated
3.75
Imposter Syndrome was an interesting read and much more character led than I had anticipated. I think I had expected a sort of cat and mouse thriller but Wang manages to balance the pace of the plot by writing characters that make interesting and occassionally surprising decisions based on their personal circumstances and ethics. This makes the story feel more fleshed out as the characters build their own interpersonal relationships and find themselves conflicted when faced with mounting difficult choices in areas like women in tech, work/life balance, loyalty vs self interest and international espionage. Even though I might not have agreed with or taken the same actions as some of our cast, I never thought any of them were acting out of character at any point which speaks to Wang's ability to build her characters well.
However, the lack of 'cat and mouse' does make for an especially slow burn and the ending isn't the crescendo you would expect from most books billed as a 'thriller'. I would suggest this is a read for someone who enjoys excellent characterisation and a nuanced view of women in tech, racism in the United States and other issues connected to the rise and rise of Silicon Valley.
However, the lack of 'cat and mouse' does make for an especially slow burn and the ending isn't the crescendo you would expect from most books billed as a 'thriller'. I would suggest this is a read for someone who enjoys excellent characterisation and a nuanced view of women in tech, racism in the United States and other issues connected to the rise and rise of Silicon Valley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism
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