Reviews

Cinema Love by Jiaming Tang

phoebesbookshelf's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

Thank you to John Murray Press for this arc!
This debut novel is a remarkable piece of historical/contemporary queer fiction. Using the infrastructure of Manhattan’s Chinatown to navigate the immigrants’ memories and experiences, Tang crafts a story that is tightly packed, but wonderfully crafted. Full of deliberate contradictions and a cast of characters that, though it took me a while to feel attached to, are lively yet melancholic, Tang has written a book that I flew through. 

dasnof's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Infidelity

Minor: Xenophobia and Racism

laura_sackton's review against another edition

Adored. Loved.
Everything I crave in queer fiction.
Quiet, beautiful, full of history and memory, complicated characters.
Love.

msnancy_isreading's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

ems_shelflove's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

stingrae02's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

carolita1128's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

georgiaahxo's review against another edition

reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

impulsefiction's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

keaross's review against another edition

3.75

Densely packed. Would love to read again.