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fashi0nablefr0g's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
The second half of the book was incredibly rushed. There was no "plot twist" in the end, no sort of redemption or even real downfall of the main character. The cycle continues and you finish the book with no new ideas or knowledge, nothing to show other than time you wasted reading it. The final 50% was just a series of "shocking" events shoved in one after another, the author desperately trying to link them together to add depth after a flat first half. The only thing that kept me picking up this book was the desire to get it over with, but it was very nearly one I didn't finish.
Graphic: Death, Bullying, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, War, Vomit, Violence, and Sexual assault
melniksuzuki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Death, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual assault
Minor: Xenophobia, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Islamophobia, and War
willow_axolotl376's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual assault, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape
katrinalamothe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Toxic friendship, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Xenophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gaslighting, Slavery, Emotional abuse, War, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Bullying, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Vomit
Minor: Islamophobia, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
forestfloor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was most impressed by Kuang's ability to write from June's perspective as the villain while walking the line between making her neither flat and one dimensional, nor a sympathetic anti-hero. Despite most of the characters having their negative traits far more readily described and explored that their positives, they all still felt like they were whole people, past the limitations of June's perspective.
I found it so interesting to follow June's fluctuating reliability as a narrator, particularly as her mental health degrades. Her descent into anxiety and delusion was so evocative, and again - it's so impressive that even as she's breaking down she is clearly not the victim.
I have heard some people found the ending to be too predictable - I would have described it as believable, but your appreciation of it may vary depending on how much of a surprise you like the reveal of your mysteries to be.
Overall an absolutely brilliant exploration of whiteness, writing and publishing. Cannot wait to read more of Kuang's other works.
Graphic: Violence, Cultural appropriation, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and War
sarasbookmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Death, Colonisation, Physical abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Stalking, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, War, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Vomit
marina_michelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Bullying, Rape, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Grief, Xenophobia, Racism, Cursing, and Vomit
Moderate: Stalking and Classism
Minor: War and Colonisation
cpachet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Rape and War
rnbhargava's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Murder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content, Eating disorder, Medical content, Dysphoria, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, War, Drug use, Grief, Biphobia, Classism, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Rape
The entire narrative of this book is about a White American woman excusing and justifying her actions against a college friend and writer colleague who is Chinese American plus the varying moods and swings in action to conceal what she is doing. We are in the mind of the white woman character the whole time and it’s intentionally uncomfortable to be in this character’s head. Pace yourself if you need to though this novel isn’t that long.curious_oyster's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Suicide