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stories's review
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I persisted, though I’m not sure im glad for it. The end of part 1 convinced me to give it another chance.
Some interesting snippets of philosophy, although I think my personal values lie too far from the assumed norm as Tuan seemed to accept a lot of surprising elements without blinking. (Maybe that’s cultural?)
Some interesting elements of scifi dystopia worldbuilding, in places harshly underscored by global responses to Covid-19 in the post-publication world… and then places of bizarre bandaids where I’m honestly not sure if Tuan was intended as an unreliable narrator or what.
Strange, unfounded characterisation shifts and a baffling obsession with “tits and ass” shoehorned at random were my biggest objections. The plot was… not great, but I suppose it kept me guessing.
Suicide warnings are no joke and the plot philosophising may have swayed Tuan, but I’m still left unconvinced, so as a text the philosophy angle didn’t thrill me either. (Maybe that was the point? If so, it wasn’t clear enough for me either.)
Some interesting puzzle pieces but the picture just doesn’t add up for me.
Some interesting snippets of philosophy, although I think my personal values lie too far from the assumed norm as Tuan seemed to accept a lot of surprising elements without blinking. (Maybe that’s cultural?)
Some interesting elements of scifi dystopia worldbuilding, in places harshly underscored by global responses to Covid-19 in the post-publication world… and then places of bizarre bandaids where I’m honestly not sure if Tuan was intended as an unreliable narrator or what.
Strange, unfounded characterisation shifts and a baffling obsession with “tits and ass” shoehorned at random were my biggest objections. The plot was… not great, but I suppose it kept me guessing.
Suicide warnings are no joke and the plot philosophising may have swayed Tuan, but I’m still left unconvinced, so as a text the philosophy angle didn’t thrill me either. (Maybe that was the point? If so, it wasn’t clear enough for me either.)
Some interesting puzzle pieces but the picture just doesn’t add up for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Ableism, Gun violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Antisemitism
Minor: Sexual violence, War, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Pandemic/Epidemic, Eating disorder, Cancer, Medical content, Self harm, Alcohol, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Genocide
First person suicide experiences
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