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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly I really wanted to love this book, but I struggled to connect with the characters and the way it was written.
I enjoyed the romance elements.
“However tired I am, however hard it is: I know I can keep going, because I’m alive.”
Decir que me ha encantado es quedarme corta. Este libro me ha acompañado durante medio año; he tardado tanto en leerlo, entre otras cosas, por el puro placer que era perderme entre sus páginas, que necesitaba alargar todo lo posible, y sé que se va a quedar conmigo para siempre. Es brillante y está escrito de forma preciosa, y por eso engancha desde sus primeros capítulos. Desde sus reflexiones sobre la naturaleza de la bondad y la crueldad humana, o el género y su relación recíproca con la sociedad y la autopercepción, hasta su inteligente tesis sobre el destino, el sufrimiento y el deseo, la autora teje un maravilloso entramado de personajes que brillan (pun intended) con tanta intensidad y se sienten tan vivos y reales que resuenan en lo más profundo de tu alma. O, por lo menos, de la mía.
El corazón de la novela es la forma en la que conecta a los dos protagonistas, Ouyang y Zhu, con sus respectivos deseos y destinos entrelazados, y cuenta su épica historia llena de paralelismos con una deliciosa simetría que es inmensamente conmovedora y no deja indiferente. Vamos, es que tienes que ser una piedra para no contagiarte de la pasión que destila este libro. Para bien y para mal, porque el precio por querer siempre es sufrir.
Decir que me ha encantado es quedarme corta. Este libro me ha acompañado durante medio año; he tardado tanto en leerlo, entre otras cosas, por el puro placer que era perderme entre sus páginas, que necesitaba alargar todo lo posible, y sé que se va a quedar conmigo para siempre. Es brillante y está escrito de forma preciosa, y por eso engancha desde sus primeros capítulos. Desde sus reflexiones sobre la naturaleza de la bondad y la crueldad humana, o el género y su relación recíproca con la sociedad y la autopercepción, hasta su inteligente tesis sobre el destino, el sufrimiento y el deseo, la autora teje un maravilloso entramado de personajes que brillan (pun intended) con tanta intensidad y se sienten tan vivos y reales que resuenan en lo más profundo de tu alma. O, por lo menos, de la mía.
El corazón de la novela es la forma en la que conecta a los dos protagonistas, Ouyang y Zhu, con sus respectivos deseos y destinos entrelazados, y cuenta su épica historia llena de paralelismos con una deliciosa simetría que es inmensamente conmovedora y no deja indiferente. Vamos, es que tienes que ser una piedra para no contagiarte de la pasión que destila este libro. Para bien y para mal, porque el precio por querer siempre es sufrir.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
God. It’s the first time in a long time I’ve read a book as exciting as it was challenging. I know NOTHING of Chinese history or customs and I took it all in like a sponge until the names felt as familiar as relatives and I could see the cities clearly in my imagination. Ever since I “saw” Ma for the first time I recognized her as an equal. The relationships and parallels in this book between characters, the way their destinies intertwine it was exciting. Shelley Parker has such a clear and yet specifically nuanced way of describing emotions. Those were probably my favorite things. I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed the war aspect because the strategies are a more abstract concept to me than reincarnation or Buda but the characters. Oh the characters! Their inner conflict and their angst has had me hooked. One book down one to go!
The beginning hooked me but by the halfway point it started to feel repetitive and I realized I didn’t care anymore. Might return to it sometime.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
read this for a book club. its a great book for that because there can be wildly differing opinions or things people liked or didn't like, but for myself i probably would have put the book down if it weren't for the book club. the pacing was off (I only cared about one storyline and found myself zoning out when i had to read the others), the messaging about faith and fate was pretty broad and uninspiring and like "anything goes" (fate exists, but you can change your fate. faith has rules that bind you but you can break them for a good reason. i mean yes, but no for me. and its also not a unique take on the topic). the non-binary aspect of two of the main characters was interesting, but since they were forced into being non-binary im not sure how the queer community feels about those characters. i thought the book presented many interesting things for you to think about for yourself and where you are at with those topics, but it didn't give me much to sink my teeth into.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes