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beccajdb's review against another edition
Bizarre tense changes and a stilted, plodding style that reminded me of a school journal project…I did this, then this and then I wrote this.
menniemenace's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
This book was so dry. It's really interesting, rough, and somehow able to pull at your heartstrings, but it is dry.
The last 33% were so hard to get through. Pure suffering and pain, but also they were the parts where the stories connected. I wish they didn't. I liked the characters better when they were floating in an out of each others' lives.
This book was so dry. It's really interesting, rough, and somehow able to pull at your heartstrings, but it is dry.
The last 33% were so hard to get through. Pure suffering and pain, but also they were the parts where the stories connected. I wish they didn't. I liked the characters better when they were floating in an out of each others' lives.
faraiylia's review against another edition
2.0
Promising start, but the plot never quite hits the spot for me. I also found it hard to resonate with the characters. The male characters were emotionally devoid and dull and the female characters were just kind of..irritating.
eskimonika's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emkatec's review against another edition
medium-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
4.5
diannagendron's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like had I read this in paper-book form, I would have flipped back through it once done, to try and better connect the dots that lead up to that ending. Alas I broke my nook the morning after finishing this novel, and I think I'm still chewing on it. It's staying with me, and I always appreciate that quality in a book. I'd love to give it another perusal, just to make sure I 'got' everything. I am so utterly fascinated with Shanghai right now, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time in modern China. Aw really brought the setting & characters alive for me (discounting the pointedly enigmatic Walter), and I was more than content to spend time with them then, and there.
fishface's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars
Plot points were fairly transparent, although the mysterious lack of character names for each perspective did help maintain the mystique. It could have been more suspenseful however- from the minute Walter proposes Yinghui takes out a loan it becomes apparent he is going to steal from her, so the revelation of his personal grudge wasn't impactful like it could have been. Justin was my favourite character: I too want to shut myself off from the world. He was thriving, in his own way, once the family business collapsed and I feel like that's an interesting take on a character.
neen_mai's review against another edition
4.0
Depressing and sad. Stories of several Malaysian migrants in Shanghai seeking happiness, success and love. Relatable yet sometimes quite absurd.
chantellekitty's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5