Reviews

Bestiary by K-Ming Chang

jess_mango's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Bestiary tells the story of three generations of Taiwanese American women. We hear from Grandmother, Mother and Daughter. It is a story about migration, tradition, culture, and love.

After her mother tells her a story about a tiger spirit, Daughter wakes up one morning to find that she has sprouted a tiger tail. The story is one of magical realism and is a fantastic melding of folklore and a modern immigrant and queer love story. With the help of her lover, Daughter tries to unwind her family history and how it is linked to folklore. The story is loaded with strange and quirky things and the language is stunning and lyrical. It is definitely a twisty tale full of allusions and metaphors. I just got drawn into the flow of the story. This clever take on fables & family is a magical read.

Overall, I consider this an impressive debut novel! K-Ming Chang is an author that I will be keeping my eye on.

What to listen to while reading...
Youth by Glass Animals
Your Best American Girl by Mitshi
Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko
Let it Happen by Tame Impala
Myth by Beach House

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

xtie's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Queer fiction! Holes! Putting things in holes! Moldy crab! I liked it more and more as the book settled in my brain. The folkloric style and intertwining of stories and temporalities grew on me.

rad_hika's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

4.0

jinbin's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-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

3.75

jenmarta's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense slow-paced

2.0

janeaustentatious2's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

lucita_knjige's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

DNF at page 107.
I love weird books but this is too weird for me. Quite hard to follow, the prose is... Different to say the least. Thematically it's intriguing but just so so weird.

nicolembradbury's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Hands down the weirdest thing I have ever read in the best way. Chang really goes “there”. If something is gross, it is described in the most minute details, and if something is erotic, Chang unravels the thoughts I would argue many have but are too afraid to admit. A beautifully abstract and super queer story that left me feeling so full.

cariii's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

mabel60510's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25