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xtie's review
3.0
I really wanted to like this. The first trouble I had was with the doll sex, which was a bit too murakami (lol) for my taste - I had to skip over scenes to make it bearable. I’m not averse to weirdness, but these gave me whiplash! The main stumbling point I had was that I felt the HK/nevers metaphor was both far too simple and easy, but also a bit too mechanical and drawn out. It felt disruptive (my brain kept stretching to identify the correct “real” location or reference) but also sometimes restrictive — like the fantasy was being held down by these unhelpful pins! I can’t really imagine this being a very enjoyable experience for a reader not deeply familiar, let alone vaguely acquainted with HK.
jtisgreen's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
neontulips's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nightlungs's review
4.0
Fucking excellent lol. janet frame took over as my crutches for the last few chapters. Need to learn more about Hong Kong and reread, extremely detail rich, if u enjoyed paprika and ex machina and also midnights children (me) read this
4/5 because the sex which was supposed to be cloying sweaty phantasmic achieved that too well
4/5 because the sex which was supposed to be cloying sweaty phantasmic achieved that too well
sarahgarlicnan's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-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
4.0
A really special view of disappearing political and social life in hong Kong
allornothing292's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bookglutton's review against another edition
Stunning writing but I’m abstaining from rating it just yet because I feel like I’m missing a lot of the historical context
hannahmarierobbins's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
Owlish is a strange, magical-realistic exploration of shifting society through a man's midlife crisis. The professor at the heart of the story develops an obsession with a life size doll who he takes to a secret place to live out his fantasies with. As their interactions progress, the doll seems to be getting more and more life-like. Coppélia meets Murakami.
graciado's review against another edition
Somewhat slow; I was interested in the animation of the inanimate dancer, but did not really enjoy the obfuscation for the sake of it.