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gstwilson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
Firstly, the edition I have (Vintage/Penguin Random House paperback) is 226 pages, not 240 pages as listed on the publisher's website. Publishers don't usually include front matter and blank endpapers in page count, so I have no idea why that's the case in this instance. I've tried multiple times to get this corrected on Storygraph, but to no avail. It doesn't really matter at the end of the day, but I like tracking percentage read, and this sort of thing messes with those statistics.
An interesting and thoughtful read, though it took me far longer to finish than I'd have expected, and didn't go in the direction I thought or hoped it would. The blurb suggests a very different novel, rather than what is truly an exploration of loneliness and grief. I can say I'm pleased to have read it nonetheless. I think it's well written for what it is, (though the translation isn't always flawless) and I'm keen to read more by An Yu.
It's a real pity that the final chapter, a short story in its own right following not the main character, was the most touching and left me wanting more.
An interesting and thoughtful read, though it took me far longer to finish than I'd have expected, and didn't go in the direction I thought or hoped it would. The blurb suggests a very different novel, rather than what is truly an exploration of loneliness and grief. I can say I'm pleased to have read it nonetheless. I think it's well written for what it is, (though the translation isn't always flawless) and I'm keen to read more by An Yu.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Grief, Suicide, Death of parent, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Death
kari_f's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“He made me see true simple fact that we are not tied down to this world; we are in pursuit of it.”
This book, a blend of magical realism and literary horror, left me with many questions… but much like the main character by the end, I felt okay with the not knowing. I’ve found over the last few years that I really the occasional bizarre book that involves a gradual descent into madness or existential breakdown, and this book fits well into that category.
There is not a lot of action; instead the main character travels along a path of self-reflection, where we don’t always know what is reality and what is part of her surreal fever-dream-esque fantasy life. Readers may leave the story asking themselves what they just read, and for me that feeling is perplexing and enjoyable! And those are often the stories that I continue to think about long after they’re over.
I think that the audience may be a sort of niche one for this type of book, but if you’re into stifling environments and slow descents into madness (like The Death of Jane Lawrence or Our Wives Under the Sea), you may enjoy it as much as I did!
Thanks so much to RB Media and Netgalley for this advanced copy!
This book, a blend of magical realism and literary horror, left me with many questions… but much like the main character by the end, I felt okay with the not knowing. I’ve found over the last few years that I really the occasional bizarre book that involves a gradual descent into madness or existential breakdown, and this book fits well into that category.
There is not a lot of action; instead the main character travels along a path of self-reflection, where we don’t always know what is reality and what is part of her surreal fever-dream-esque fantasy life. Readers may leave the story asking themselves what they just read, and for me that feeling is perplexing and enjoyable! And those are often the stories that I continue to think about long after they’re over.
I think that the audience may be a sort of niche one for this type of book, but if you’re into stifling environments and slow descents into madness (like The Death of Jane Lawrence or Our Wives Under the Sea), you may enjoy it as much as I did!
Thanks so much to RB Media and Netgalley for this advanced copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Child death
Minor: Suicide
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