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eb2114's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
amlibera's review against another edition
4.0
Cooking, magic, a set of quirky characters in a Chinese neighborhood of San Francisco -- Lim's books are comforting and whimsical. There's a romance but really the romance is the neighborhood and the connections.
sylvimblack's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
courtlisull's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rants_n_reads's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alicia_welshimer's review
emotional
reflective
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
2.0
kenzee06's review
3.0
*I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway*
This book was...interesting. When I started this book, I didn't realize it was magical realism, so imagine my surprise when the main character starts crying literal crystals (the true meaning of literal, not the way we currently use it as emphasis). I ended up having to reread that line a few times - and then came on here to read some reviews to make sure I had it right.
What I enjoyed:
The writing itself. I thought the prose was really beautiful. "If my regrets and wishes were fireflies, the brilliance of their dance would turn night into day." Did the flowery language get a little overdone? Yes. But lines like that...wow. This was a debut novel, so I can imagine she'll be getting the balance right soon enough.
The food. I actually researched how to make dumplings - I've got the supplies now y'all. There was one section where there were three recipes in a row - and that was too much - but other than that, I really liked how detailed the food descriptions were. We knew the ingredients, the cooking process, how it was supposed to taste, and the affect it had on the people who ate it.
The magical realism. The idea that food can be healing, can change a person's mood, especially when it's cooked specifically for you by someone who cares really appealed to me. And I loved how the motivations behind the cooking affected it's outcome. It was only when Natalie set aside her own selfish motivations that her cooking truly did what it was supposed to. That pleased me.
Celia. That woman is a gem. I liked everything about her, from her fashion sense to her personality.
The cover - so pretty!
What I didn't like/didn't quite do it for me:
The magical realism. Wait, what? Yes, it was a pro and a con in this book. There were some pieces that didn't really make sense or at least weren't fully explained. What was the purpose of the crystal tears? Why did it seem like only Natalie saw the affects of everything - the food, the sidewalk cracks, the kiss fireworks, the steaming skin? It felt disjointed. Some of the magic felt clearly defined and directly related to the story and the rest kind of felt like it was there to take up page space. And the ghost...we'll get to that later.
Daniel subplot. This was disappointing for me because I love romance (I actually liked Daniel too). Even though it was definitely instalove, I felt like there was a lot of potential here. But this wasn't a romance book, so very little time was spent developing this plot thread. That's fair. But I'd have cut it out then. It needed more page space to work, otherwise it should not exist.
The ghost. This is the same issue as Daniel for me. I wanted more, damn it. It was such a cool subplot (especially when we find out who the ghost really is) but I don't feel like it got enough page time for me to get as invested as I could've been.
I really think the plot just needed tightening in general. There were so many plot threads that I thought didn't get fully fleshed out or were just unnecessary.
Natalie. Yes, the main character. I think that kept me from fully enjoying the book. I just couldn't get behind her. For most of the book she was terribly selfish, childish, and kept making the same mistakes over and over again. Girl, come on, you're an adult!
Overall, 3.5 stars.
This book was...interesting. When I started this book, I didn't realize it was magical realism, so imagine my surprise when the main character starts crying literal crystals (the true meaning of literal, not the way we currently use it as emphasis). I ended up having to reread that line a few times - and then came on here to read some reviews to make sure I had it right.
What I enjoyed:
The writing itself. I thought the prose was really beautiful. "If my regrets and wishes were fireflies, the brilliance of their dance would turn night into day." Did the flowery language get a little overdone? Yes. But lines like that...wow. This was a debut novel, so I can imagine she'll be getting the balance right soon enough.
The food. I actually researched how to make dumplings - I've got the supplies now y'all. There was one section where there were three recipes in a row - and that was too much - but other than that, I really liked how detailed the food descriptions were. We knew the ingredients, the cooking process, how it was supposed to taste, and the affect it had on the people who ate it.
The magical realism. The idea that food can be healing, can change a person's mood, especially when it's cooked specifically for you by someone who cares really appealed to me. And I loved how the motivations behind the cooking affected it's outcome. It was only when Natalie set aside her own selfish motivations that her cooking truly did what it was supposed to. That pleased me.
Celia. That woman is a gem. I liked everything about her, from her fashion sense to her personality.
The cover - so pretty!
What I didn't like/didn't quite do it for me:
The magical realism. Wait, what? Yes, it was a pro and a con in this book. There were some pieces that didn't really make sense or at least weren't fully explained. What was the purpose of the crystal tears? Why did it seem like only Natalie saw the affects of everything - the food, the sidewalk cracks, the kiss fireworks, the steaming skin? It felt disjointed. Some of the magic felt clearly defined and directly related to the story and the rest kind of felt like it was there to take up page space. And the ghost...we'll get to that later.
Daniel subplot. This was disappointing for me because I love romance (I actually liked Daniel too). Even though it was definitely instalove, I felt like there was a lot of potential here. But this wasn't a romance book, so very little time was spent developing this plot thread. That's fair. But I'd have cut it out then. It needed more page space to work, otherwise it should not exist.
The ghost. This is the same issue as Daniel for me. I wanted more, damn it. It was such a cool subplot (especially when we find out who the ghost really is) but I don't feel like it got enough page time for me to get as invested as I could've been.
I really think the plot just needed tightening in general. There were so many plot threads that I thought didn't get fully fleshed out or were just unnecessary.
Natalie. Yes, the main character. I think that kept me from fully enjoying the book. I just couldn't get behind her. For most of the book she was terribly selfish, childish, and kept making the same mistakes over and over again. Girl, come on, you're an adult!
Overall, 3.5 stars.
linireads's review against another edition
4.0
I've been following Roselle Lim on Twitter for a while, ever since her cute preorder campaign for Natalie Tan's Book of Luck And Fortune. It's been a few years now, but I finally got around to this book.
Natalie Tan has spent the last seven years running. On paper, she was discovering herself and chasing her dream of becoming a chef, but that was not the whole truth. When her mother dies, she returns to her roots and discovers a faded and struggling Chinatown. Her grandmother's restaurant was once the heart and soul of the community. Can Natalie face her fears and doubts, confront the past, reconcile the present, and breathe life back before it is too late?
There's a quiet magic that runs through the story, in how Natalie sees the world through the power of her food and of her grandmother's recipe book. These recipes are woven into the storytelling and look absolutely delectable.
It is a book I want to love, for all the side characters are endearing, but I didn't connect with Natalie nor did I like the instant love interest.
Natalie Tan has spent the last seven years running. On paper, she was discovering herself and chasing her dream of becoming a chef, but that was not the whole truth. When her mother dies, she returns to her roots and discovers a faded and struggling Chinatown. Her grandmother's restaurant was once the heart and soul of the community. Can Natalie face her fears and doubts, confront the past, reconcile the present, and breathe life back before it is too late?
There's a quiet magic that runs through the story, in how Natalie sees the world through the power of her food and of her grandmother's recipe book. These recipes are woven into the storytelling and look absolutely delectable.
It is a book I want to love, for all the side characters are endearing, but I didn't connect with Natalie nor did I like the instant love interest.