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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The methodical, wry, dramatic voice of this story is PERFECT. Jade is hilarious and interesting and this story is exactly the right length.
Liked this author's style but wasn't convinced by the ronance story.
I've had Zen Cho on my radar for a while, so I was really excited to find that she has this story posted free to read on her blog, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. I thought that Jade was truly charming. Her unique perspective on the world never failed to be amusing, and I liked that she stood by her values, even when things got tough.
I also really liked the exploration of relationships that goes on. In some ways, I hesitate to call this a romance because it's not about courtship and sex so much, but it is about finding a person who's right for you, who values things that you value. To me, that qualifies it. There was also a lot of societal and racial commentary hidden in this story, and I really appreciated that as well.
If this is an indication of what I'm going to get from Zen Cho's other works, looks like I need to keep her high on my radar indeed.
I also really liked the exploration of relationships that goes on. In some ways, I hesitate to call this a romance because it's not about courtship and sex so much, but it is about finding a person who's right for you, who values things that you value. To me, that qualifies it. There was also a lot of societal and racial commentary hidden in this story, and I really appreciated that as well.
If this is an indication of what I'm going to get from Zen Cho's other works, looks like I need to keep her high on my radar indeed.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a very quick read. I'm not sure what I was expecting*, but this was a straight up romance with an odd and annoying self deprecating (but simultaneously finding herself hilarious and beautiful) leading lady and a tropey floppy haired literary type as the dashing young man. Cringey kissing descriptions, stereotypical Chinese Auntie, bespectacled nice-guy-in-the-background....not my thing at all. No doubt will be made into a lavish film with a cast of only very beautiful people who clip their words, which will appeal to fans of Downton, Call the Midwife, and other such. Not for me.
*I think I was expecting proper peril
*I think I was expecting proper peril
Well, I've rarely read a more misleading summary (and, now that I think of it, title) of a book.
There are a lot of great ideas at work here, and the choice of the epistolary format works very well for a novella. It was just not what I expected, based on the summary. Jade has a unique and funny voice, and there were all the lovely touches of a "modern marriage," some lesbian loves, mental illness, open sexuality, and accepting the choices of those you loved. However, I was missing an emotional investment in the characters - this is due to the nature of Jade's...irreverent?...voice. She lacked an emotional connection to things and if it was there she just told me about it, I didn't see it.
Overall, it was worth the read and it was super fun to read a book with an Asian and South Asian characters (not American, but British, so I suppose the second "a" in AAPI is incorrect here).
There are a lot of great ideas at work here, and the choice of the epistolary format works very well for a novella. It was just not what I expected, based on the summary. Jade has a unique and funny voice, and there were all the lovely touches of a "modern marriage," some lesbian loves, mental illness, open sexuality, and accepting the choices of those you loved. However, I was missing an emotional investment in the characters - this is due to the nature of Jade's...irreverent?...voice. She lacked an emotional connection to things and if it was there she just told me about it, I didn't see it.
Overall, it was worth the read and it was super fun to read a book with an Asian and South Asian characters (not American, but British, so I suppose the second "a" in AAPI is incorrect here).
Could my love of Zen Cho sink even deeper? I'm not sure, but this novella left me giddy with all the good things. It's sharply written, bringing to mind the lackadaisical wit of Wodehouse while containing such a familiar kindredship of an Asian woman in a white country.