Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- i always enjoy a short story collection that cleverly and subtly weaves connections between narratives that at first seem disparate
- but this was largely boring and didn't really hit any memorable highs for me
- rich & vivid descriptions of its setting are a plus
slow-paced
It's a book about a lot of things...relationships, history, a city, the future, climate change, new technologies, just to name a few. it starts off at one pint and then you're swept away somewhere else before you even realise what's happening to you.
The part about the world of the future seems scary, but also hopeful somehow. It was a very different kind of book
The part about the world of the future seems scary, but also hopeful somehow. It was a very different kind of book
These episodes could almost take place in any current South East Asian city. Time, monsoon winds and rain, earthquakes, heat and disease hinder the relentless changes of war. The scenes, the food, the family struggles could easily be from the Philippines, with just minor changes in spices and religion. Even the slightly scifi section did not strain credibility. Recommended for westerners seeking an impressionist look at life in SEA, far more realistic than the crap spread by tourist propaganda, unless all one wants is an "exotic" escape filled with subservient boys and girls eager to suck your cock while they rob you blind and laugh at your money-faced lives, though they envy you, as well.
Unfortunately this book didn’t pique my interest like I thought it would after reading the description. The story line was confusing to me, and it jumped around to so many people I didn’t feel like there was really a story here (more little anecdotes here and there). Yes I read it quickly, but I have a weird thing where I need to finish the book I started (even if I don’t love it).
Rating: 2/5 stars
Will I be surprised if someone decides to DNF this? Not really.
[b:Bangkok Wakes to Rain|40308310|Bangkok Wakes to Rain|Pitchaya Sudbanthad|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534156331l/40308310._SY75_.jpg|62591300] is one of those books that doesn't really revolve around one central storyline, but it's about a few people's lives and experiences (and their stories get intertwined one way or another).
Although this book was UNDOUBTEDLY so well-written, this was a major snooze fest for me personally. Here's my thought about books having multiple characters with different stories: The characters MUST be memorable. Unfortunately, this wasn't. In fact, I don't see the point of reading about their seemingly ordinary lives. As much as I'd like to believe that "the ordinary is the divine", reading about these characters' ordinariness begged to differ.
It's dreadfully boring that halfway into the book, I was just reading it just for the sake of finishing it.
I'm sure by the time I get to talk about this book with the rest of the book club members, I'd forget majority of the book's content. Except the character that was named after a swine.
2 stars (instead of 1) because the author's lyrical writing was still great.
My god glad that was over.
Will I be surprised if someone decides to DNF this? Not really.
[b:Bangkok Wakes to Rain|40308310|Bangkok Wakes to Rain|Pitchaya Sudbanthad|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534156331l/40308310._SY75_.jpg|62591300] is one of those books that doesn't really revolve around one central storyline, but it's about a few people's lives and experiences (and their stories get intertwined one way or another).
Although this book was UNDOUBTEDLY so well-written, this was a major snooze fest for me personally. Here's my thought about books having multiple characters with different stories: The characters MUST be memorable. Unfortunately, this wasn't. In fact, I don't see the point of reading about their seemingly ordinary lives. As much as I'd like to believe that "the ordinary is the divine", reading about these characters' ordinariness begged to differ.
It's dreadfully boring that halfway into the book, I was just reading it just for the sake of finishing it.
I'm sure by the time I get to talk about this book with the rest of the book club members, I'd forget majority of the book's content. Except the character that was named after a swine.
2 stars (instead of 1) because the author's lyrical writing was still great.
My god glad that was over.
A strong debut novel, the parts on exploring life after death - or life during death? Or ever-life? - stood out to me as the most interesting and thought-provoking chapters. After-bodies is an entirely cool concept and I stan it. I also enjoyed the glimpse into Bangkok's possible future(s) through the imagery of water - the river, floods, pools etc that really tied up neatly at the end of the novel.
One thing that did confuse me was the colonial era chapters with the Reverend and missionary. I'm not sure if I missed the point entirely, but I struggled a little to see how it connected to the greater narrative. Otherwise I found a great deal of pleasure in reading something about a Southeast Asian country (as I usually do!!) and can't wait to see what else Sudbanthad will come up with in the future.
One thing that did confuse me was the colonial era chapters with the Reverend and missionary. I'm not sure if I missed the point entirely, but I struggled a little to see how it connected to the greater narrative. Otherwise I found a great deal of pleasure in reading something about a Southeast Asian country (as I usually do!!) and can't wait to see what else Sudbanthad will come up with in the future.