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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
The main characters were flawed and believable, it was really interesting to get expat/visitor glimpses of Singapore. I liked this, I'd read more from this author.
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
Love the way the author writes and how the characters were portrayed. Such a fresh voice!
Special thanks to NetGalley for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. My rating is a 4.5 stars. I loved the debut novel by Kehinde Fadipe. The tone is lyrical and nuanced.
"Forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian soon learn that unfinished history can follow you anywhere, no matter how far you run from home." And yet this story was so much more, families, expat life, where do you and land on the class totem pole with regards to work. We get a glimpse into racism, implicit and explicit biases, sexism, the good ol' boys network and everyone trying to claw their way to the top.
I will be looking for more from this author.
"Forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian soon learn that unfinished history can follow you anywhere, no matter how far you run from home." And yet this story was so much more, families, expat life, where do you and land on the class totem pole with regards to work. We get a glimpse into racism, implicit and explicit biases, sexism, the good ol' boys network and everyone trying to claw their way to the top.
I will be looking for more from this author.
"The Sun Sets in Singapore" is a compelling novel that explores themes of identity, otherness, mental health, and the complexities of modern life. It offers a glimpse into Singaporean and Nigerian cultures while providing a well-told story of friendship, honesty, and togetherness. If you enjoy stories of travel, immigration, corporate drama, and the intricacies of human relationships, this book is a must-read. Fadipe's ambitious debut is sure to leave a lasting impression, and I highly recommend it to those looking for a thought-provoking and immersive reading experience.
emotional
reflective
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:
No
emotional
hopeful
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 stars rounded up. I liked the setting in Singapore, having absolutely no previous knowledge of the city. I liked the themes the book touched on without being too preachy. I also like that therapy was the solution for a lot of the characters' issues, because they definitely all needed it. I like endings where all pieces are wrapped up nicely, and better when they are happy and/or satisfying endings.
3.5 stars rounded up. I don’t really know how to categorize why I liked this book, or what I wished it had more of, but the writing was solid and the characters were compelling despite being flawed people.
Totally fine book, but for a book about messy drama between a trio of characters, the book never felt... that dramatic? The Sun Sets in Singapore is in the same vein as Celeste Ng or Liana Moriarty, the NPR / NYT -friendly melodramas that touch on family, class, race, while still delivering some kind of juicy drama. Derogatorily, "elevated chick lit", I've seen this called, and while I don't think that's fair, it does kinda get at the heart of things. The characters are interesting and complex, but the drama only gets occasionally exciting, and more damning, the prose doesn't shine. It's all Fine!
Surprised by how little insight there is in Singapore as a location / culture. Singapore is not a "character in the book", as you'd say.
The word "ex-patriate" always bugged me because it's what white people use to say "immigrant". Maybe that's flipped on its head here?
Surprised by how little insight there is in Singapore as a location / culture. Singapore is not a "character in the book", as you'd say.
The word "ex-patriate" always bugged me because it's what white people use to say "immigrant". Maybe that's flipped on its head here?