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alymaravilla's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
varsha_r890's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
nicolehm_'s review against another edition
3.5
If you don’t enjoy short stories that are a little vague and up for interpretation, then you won’t enjoy this, but they were all a little bizarre and I had fun with them.
My favourite were: The Wall, Radio Drama, Aminah, and March in a Small Town
My favourite were: The Wall, Radio Drama, Aminah, and March in a Small Town
mbest75's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
chaays_reading's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
feiya's review against another edition
I am halfway through this book, but I decided not to finish the books I held on to in 2020. Hence I will be putting it down for now, as it isn't a particularly heartl-lifting book, and has a perfectly haunting aura which I found a solace in during the last year. But 2021 is a clean slate. And I am to yet pick my first book of 2021.
greeniezona's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This was an entirely random pick at the library. I think I recognized the cover style of Two Lines Press. After I checked it out, I almost didn't pick it up to read, as the featured goodreads reviews are not great, but I am glad I had faith in Two Lines Press, because I really enjoyed this collection and feel I learned so much about Malaysia in the process. These are the kinds of short stories where things are not tied up neatly at the end, but I found them each so immersive.
The stories center women, most of whom are incredibly constrained -- whether by university administration, Muslim reeducation camps, or actual cement walls. The imagery is intense and evocative, and while mostly set in present day, many of the stories verge into the surreal.
Because this is both translated and set in a culture I am unfamiliar with, I am sure there were layers of this book that missed me entirely. An author interview I found online about the collection did help a bit with context and what she was trying to do with these stories, but even coming into the stories with very little foreknowledge, the stories told me enough that I felt bewildered only where I believed they wanted me to be bewildered.
I would love to see more of Ho Sok Fong's work translated into English.
The stories center women, most of whom are incredibly constrained -- whether by university administration, Muslim reeducation camps, or actual cement walls. The imagery is intense and evocative, and while mostly set in present day, many of the stories verge into the surreal.
Because this is both translated and set in a culture I am unfamiliar with, I am sure there were layers of this book that missed me entirely. An author interview I found online about the collection did help a bit with context and what she was trying to do with these stories, but even coming into the stories with very little foreknowledge, the stories told me enough that I felt bewildered only where I believed they wanted me to be bewildered.
I would love to see more of Ho Sok Fong's work translated into English.