readingjaunt's review
5.0
I’ve never read a book with so much pissing in it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Animal death, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Excrement, Sexual assault, War, Domestic abuse, Gore, Blood, and Violence
njc0620's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-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
3.75
atgerstner's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
shetlandpony's review
2.0
I was eager to get into this book—a magical realism book about an Asian lesbian? Don’t mind if I do! But i felt quickly drained as I read on. I’m sure there was a purpose to all of the mentions of all the references to shit, cum, piss, farts, spit, mucus, but I genuinely can’t think of any reason for it. The worst part is that I think there are real glimmers of something good and beautiful in this book, but it is so bogged down by graphic detail that it’s hard to pick up on it.
sulaspaperback's review
3.0
incredibly beautiful writing but also verryy gross (SO MUCH PISS AND SHIT) this book was so difficult read bc of how unconventional/gross/poetic it is but i’m glad i finished it. truly unlike anything i’ve ever read!
squidbee's review
challenging
reflective
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
3.5
bronca_siwanoy's review
DNF at page 60. I really loved the blurb and what the book set out to do but I wasn’t expecting the way it was written. The words are beautiful but I found it hard to flow with the narrative and I got lost. Wasn’t for me but I can see it’s a lovely piece of writing.
maksipad's review
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I like weird books and this fits in that category for sure. The prose was absolutely beautiful and I really loved the story. However, it was also fairly slow and I could only read small chunks of the book before I had to put it back down for awhile. Also, as others have mentioned, there are manyyy bodily function references.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Abandonment, War, Xenophobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Dementia, and Gun violence
Moderate: Gore, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/injury detail
luckykosmos's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Complicated thoughts on this one, because the prose is gorgeous, but sometimes it just doesn't hit. I read in reviews the amount of ~bodily fluid~, so I took a step back to see how often it added to the story even if it wasn't necessary. It felt 50/50, and the 50 it didn't add, it just took me out of things so everything felt disjointed. The themes were good, but I think it could have been pared down so the reader could focus on the story and the prose. I do want to read more, because I loved how strange and magical the core of the story was, but I hope that certain elements are reined in.
siobhanward's review
challenging
dark
slow-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
3.0
So I'm going to start off by mentioning that this book is full of detailed, graphic descriptions. If that's not your vibe, this book is worth taking a pass on.
That said, I really liked the idea of this book, but I struggled a lot with the stream of consciousness narrative. I really waver back and forth on this kind of narrative, but typically I find them challenging to read since there isn't necessarily a plot to follow. What I could follow, I enjoyed, but there were some parts that were almost jarringly out of place and I struggled with. I like the direction Chang was going with this book, but I found some of the execution to be lacking.
That said, I really liked the idea of this book, but I struggled a lot with the stream of consciousness narrative. I really waver back and forth on this kind of narrative, but typically I find them challenging to read since there isn't necessarily a plot to follow. What I could follow, I enjoyed, but there were some parts that were almost jarringly out of place and I struggled with. I like the direction Chang was going with this book, but I found some of the execution to be lacking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror