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biobeetle's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Pregnancy
savvylit's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Does Song Yan really know her husband? Does she really know herself? These two questions define the narrative of Ghost Music. Author An Yu then utilizes magical realism to answer these questions to delightful effect. The talking mushrooms and a spectral music mentor gradually nudge Song Yan to rediscover the individuality that she hadn't realized she'd left behind as soon as her marriage began.
This was my first read by An Yu and I'm now eager to check out her other book, Braised Pork. Yu has a beautiful, sincere authorial voice that left me wanting more. Here are two of my favorite quotes from Ghost Music to (hopefully) demonstrate what I mean:
"...the heart is not a magical armour that can withstand anything; it is real and beating and capable of being wounded. Sometimes it can be as hard as a diamond and other times as frail as rice paper. I felt mine tear."
"Empathy is a liar. It seduces us with the impression of selflessness, yet whatever feelings we think we can fathom are confined by the extent of our own hearts. We are living on our own, in our separate bodies. That was something I didn’t know how to accept."
Many thanks to @netgalley and @groveatlantic for the advanced reader copy of Ghost Music in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was my first read by An Yu and I'm now eager to check out her other book, Braised Pork. Yu has a beautiful, sincere authorial voice that left me wanting more. Here are two of my favorite quotes from Ghost Music to (hopefully) demonstrate what I mean:
"...the heart is not a magical armour that can withstand anything; it is real and beating and capable of being wounded. Sometimes it can be as hard as a diamond and other times as frail as rice paper. I felt mine tear."
"Empathy is a liar. It seduces us with the impression of selflessness, yet whatever feelings we think we can fathom are confined by the extent of our own hearts. We are living on our own, in our separate bodies. That was something I didn’t know how to accept."
Many thanks to @netgalley and @groveatlantic for the advanced reader copy of Ghost Music in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
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