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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
jdansereau's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Suicide
amanda_reads89's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
noiraet's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Child death and Misogyny
cassie7e's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A witness to domestic decay; the complexity of relationships; the ebbs and swells of unexamined grief. Not a book about plot or resolution, but about getting through.
And also, why do (real and fictional) people keep marrying people they hardly know?!
And also, why do (real and fictional) people keep marrying people they hardly know?!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism
paperbackinmybackpack's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Pregnancy, and Child death
max63815's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Overall it wasn’t for me, here are a couple of quotes that I do quite like though:
“The more time I spent with the piano, “ he continued, “the more it seemed like my hands didn’t belong to me. The sounds didn’t come from me. I became frightened to the point that every time I was sitting at the piano, I couldn’t help but feel there wasn’t a ‘me’ at all. So I stopped playing.”
“How’s work been?”
“Still not making much money.” She smiled. “But I like it. Little money means little work, so I can go home and relax.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
sydthewitch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A lovely book exploring identity, desire, and non-violent trauma with a splash of magical realism. This book holds deep compassion and hope, if a little slow-paced and frustrating at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide, Child death, and Death
gossameralbum's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
"But then I can’t help but think, if I can already watch each day of my life play out like an old recording, am I still alive?’"
"How do we endure living with a mind that can’t stop, starting the moment we’re born until the day we die?"
there were beautiful quotes like these here and there, however the whole thing with mushrooms and the color orange felt a bit incomplete and devoid of meaning, or maybe i didn't get it. it was beautifully written though.
"How do we endure living with a mind that can’t stop, starting the moment we’re born until the day we die?"
there were beautiful quotes like these here and there, however the whole thing with mushrooms and the color orange felt a bit incomplete and devoid of meaning, or maybe i didn't get it. it was beautifully written though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Suicide, Child death, Confinement, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Infidelity
Minor: Abortion
lidia7's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child death, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcohol and Grief
Minor: Death of parent