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2.98 AVERAGE
2.98 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
A Quitter's Paradise is a debut novel by Elysha Chang that follows Eleanor Liu who is struggling to come to terms with her mother's death. Her grief starts to unravel all parts of her life - her marriage, her career, and her relationships with her estranged family. The novel in parallel follows both Eleanor's current struggle with grief over the death of a mother she never truly knew, and flashbacks of how her parents immigrated to America from the military villages of Taipei. Elysha Chang beautifully interweaves these stories and alternates between points of views throughout the novel.
I loved the writing and found the non-linear timelines very engaging. I found the exploration of Eleanor's complicated relationship with her parents to be the highlight of the novel. We see how Eleanor's childhood affects her present life, through her complicated relationship with her husband and her propensity to hide parts of herself in order to please others (even though in the long-run it only negatively affects her and the people around her who care for her). Despite the occasional disconnection caused by the abrupt time jumps at times, the book is an enjoyable read, highlighting Chang's remarkable writing skills and I am excited to read more from her!
Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Projects for providing me with a digital arc in return for an honest review.
A Quitter's Paradise comes out June 6th!
I loved the writing and found the non-linear timelines very engaging. I found the exploration of Eleanor's complicated relationship with her parents to be the highlight of the novel. We see how Eleanor's childhood affects her present life, through her complicated relationship with her husband and her propensity to hide parts of herself in order to please others (even though in the long-run it only negatively affects her and the people around her who care for her). Despite the occasional disconnection caused by the abrupt time jumps at times, the book is an enjoyable read, highlighting Chang's remarkable writing skills and I am excited to read more from her!
Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Projects for providing me with a digital arc in return for an honest review.
A Quitter's Paradise comes out June 6th!
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"A Quitter's Paradise" follows Eleanor as she navigates the aftermath of her mother's death and her declining career. The story intertwines past and present narratives, delving into Eleanor's present life, her job, and her romantic and familial relationships, while also exploring the perspectives of her young parents and sister. Despite the title suggesting a lighthearted read, the book falls short of expectations, lacking coherence and relevance between the past and present narratives. It does have a few standout moments like how they describe Eleanor's persisting unsatisfaction at work and her parents' journey as immigrants. However, on the whole the characters remain underdeveloped, and the abrupt ending leaves many loose ends unresolved.
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death of parent