Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.98 AVERAGE
2.98 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
fast-paced
I skimmed most of it's and it's the type of literary vagueness I'm not really a big fan of. Also not in a mood for some mother-daughter deepness etc
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Pregnancy
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just an okay read for me. I struggled to really get invested in this debut that explores the complicated mother-daughter relationship between an Asian American immigrant and her daughter and the grief that comes when she dies unexpectedly. Recommended for fans of books like The light of eternal spring by Angel Di Zhang and Banyan moon by Thao Thai. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Quitter’s Paradise is one of those books that was brimming with so much melancholia that it actually (for me personally) translated as comfort. There’s something soothing about knowing that your experiences are shared by others, and to see your own thoughts written so clearly.
This story mainly follows 26 year old Eleanor who has dropped out of her PhD program. She struggles with accepting her mother’s recent passing; doing her best to avoid confronting or thinking about it. As Eleanor continues to convince herself that everything is fine, pieces of her life begin to crumble in response. We get a glimpse into her past, as well as her family’s. We see the way that her childhood and familial relationships have shaped her as a person. Something I enjoyed about this book was the way that these reflections about her mother, father and sister, come not only from Eleanor’s observations, but from each of their own perspectives as well. It’s fluid in the way that it weaves back and forth; giving us a deep understanding of each individual family member, and how they combine and take up space as a whole.
A Quitter’s Paradise is beautifully written, endearing, funny, relatable and truly heartbreaking. It poignantly touches on topics of grief, loss, family, and the shapeshifting phenomena that so many women experience. I think this could definitely be considered a “less plot, more vibes” type book, but it was intimate and gripping from beginning to end.
Thank you so much to Elysha Chang and Zando Projects for sending me an ARC!
This story mainly follows 26 year old Eleanor who has dropped out of her PhD program. She struggles with accepting her mother’s recent passing; doing her best to avoid confronting or thinking about it. As Eleanor continues to convince herself that everything is fine, pieces of her life begin to crumble in response. We get a glimpse into her past, as well as her family’s. We see the way that her childhood and familial relationships have shaped her as a person. Something I enjoyed about this book was the way that these reflections about her mother, father and sister, come not only from Eleanor’s observations, but from each of their own perspectives as well. It’s fluid in the way that it weaves back and forth; giving us a deep understanding of each individual family member, and how they combine and take up space as a whole.
A Quitter’s Paradise is beautifully written, endearing, funny, relatable and truly heartbreaking. It poignantly touches on topics of grief, loss, family, and the shapeshifting phenomena that so many women experience. I think this could definitely be considered a “less plot, more vibes” type book, but it was intimate and gripping from beginning to end.
Thank you so much to Elysha Chang and Zando Projects for sending me an ARC!
Parts of this book worked for me, while other parts really didn't. This is a character-driven story, which I usually don't have a problem with, but Eleanor's character didn't feel entirely realized. It felt like I never got to see her true personality or any indication of what she wanted. The story is told through three different perspectives, in three different time periods, which allowed the story to tackle a few different topics and themes. I don't know that the novel accomplished what the author set out to do, with the different themes but the book was entertaining.