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janeaustentatious2's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hasanah's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
christyellen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
True events from my life time made this book interesting and emotional, but hard to follow at times due to jumping between decades.
flowerwineandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
A book full of beautiful metaphors. I highlighted so many quotes. The story was intriguing and twisting without being too difficult to follow (even the parts about quantum physics were explained well enough for the layman). All the characters had so much depth in their flaws and developments and human-ness. Each one had a very fatal law that was thoroughly explored by the author and brought to light.
I love that the main character is dead throughout the main course of the book, yet it is her story. She tried to erase her past, and in doing so sabataged her own future it seems. Her potential was so brilliant and always there, and it is so excruciatingly painful to watch her amount to so much less by the end due to the circumstances of her life.
The balance in all the themes was my favorite part. The end at the beginning, the beginning at the end; one friend trying to be smart to improve his lot in life and seemingly succeeding, the other trying to be smart just to be smart and seemingly failing; a mother trying to run away from her past and away from her daughter, a daughter trying to have a past and have a mother; a blind man married to a deformed woman.
I also loved the way Meng Jin wrote this book through the perspectives of almost secondary characters while the perspective of the sort of main character could only be seen through their eyes and their interactions with her.
I had to reread the last chapter to get all of the nuances, and I feel like I would gain even more depth just by rereading this whole book.
I love that the main character is dead throughout the main course of the book, yet it is her story. She tried to erase her past, and in doing so sabataged her own future it seems. Her potential was so brilliant and always there, and it is so excruciatingly painful to watch her amount to so much less by the end due to the circumstances of her life.
The balance in all the themes was my favorite part. The end at the beginning, the beginning at the end; one friend trying to be smart to improve his lot in life and seemingly succeeding, the other trying to be smart just to be smart and seemingly failing; a mother trying to run away from her past and away from her daughter, a daughter trying to have a past and have a mother; a blind man married to a deformed woman.
I also loved the way Meng Jin wrote this book through the perspectives of almost secondary characters while the perspective of the sort of main character could only be seen through their eyes and their interactions with her.
I had to reread the last chapter to get all of the nuances, and I feel like I would gain even more depth just by rereading this whole book.
humito's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jeanneyhd's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book challenges the way the reader thinks about their parents' "past lives," or life before children. The plot is not about the main character's development, but rather the development of her mother through her eyes and what she can uncover after the mother's death. This is a great read for children of diaspora, children who aren't well connected to their parents, and for children who still seek a deeper meaning in life.
victoriathuyvi's review against another edition
3.0
I love the concept behind the story, but all of the characters felt lackluster and in the end, I didn't really care about any of their lives. Just an overall ambivalence.