Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I was loving this book for the vast majority of the time I spent reading it. When I left it at home instead of toting it along with me to classes I was devastated! It was headed for a 5 star review! Then it took a turn for a the worst.
This book was received this year at San Diego Comic Con.
First off--The Walled City was a real place. Which I found out through looking it up because as a high school student--surprise! They don't teach you about that. Nope. ANYWAY. Even without the research I could tell this book was set in a Chinese setting. Because...it's obvious, actually. Jin. Dai. Mei. In my eyes they are easily Chinese names. My only complaint is that in some cases it was Japanese honorifics being used instead of Chinese ones. I mean, I'm not as familiar with those honorifics but still. It felt odd and for all I know was fixed for the final copy.
But this story tugged at my heartstrings at all the right times. The fault of this book is truly ending. You see, I was reading Tess of the D'Urbervilles in class as I read this (NO, I am not comparing these books--just giving an explanation) and there is no way for Tess to have had a happy ending in that book. In the Walled City--I felt that there needed to be something more than a happily ever after with a few emotional scars.
(SPOILER-ISH THINGS and OPINIONS AHEAD)
.
.
.
.
.
.
Dai *should* have died. There needed to be tragedy for this story to be properly executed. Leaving it so Dai and Mei could be together with good ol' Jin alongside them is just so...bland and cliché. That's where this novel turned for the worst for me.
This book was received this year at San Diego Comic Con.
First off--The Walled City was a real place. Which I found out through looking it up because as a high school student--surprise! They don't teach you about that. Nope. ANYWAY. Even without the research I could tell this book was set in a Chinese setting. Because...it's obvious, actually. Jin. Dai. Mei. In my eyes they are easily Chinese names. My only complaint is that in some cases it was Japanese honorifics being used instead of Chinese ones. I mean, I'm not as familiar with those honorifics but still. It felt odd and for all I know was fixed for the final copy.
But this story tugged at my heartstrings at all the right times. The fault of this book is truly ending. You see, I was reading Tess of the D'Urbervilles in class as I read this (NO, I am not comparing these books--just giving an explanation) and there is no way for Tess to have had a happy ending in that book. In the Walled City--I felt that there needed to be something more than a happily ever after with a few emotional scars.
(SPOILER-ISH THINGS and OPINIONS AHEAD)
.
.
.
.
.
.
Dai *should* have died. There needed to be tragedy for this story to be properly executed. Leaving it so Dai and Mei could be together with good ol' Jin alongside them is just so...bland and cliché. That's where this novel turned for the worst for me.
2.5 stars
I was let down by this book.
I was expecting a novel full of rich historical background and emotional complexities. What I came out of this novel with was a feeling of indifference. This "Walled City" might as well have been any other dystopia setting. I did not feel the class differences strongly. I did not get a good sense of the personalities of any of the main characters. I felt that there were not enough interesting characters. Is this a standalone? Even if not, there was much to be desired. Who was the druglord, truly? Sing? Dai and Jin and Mei Yee's backstories were not elaborated at all.
Frankly, I don't think I meshed well with Graudin's writing style, but that was the least of problems in this book. Many of the aspects of the book just fell flat. Pass.
I was let down by this book.
I was expecting a novel full of rich historical background and emotional complexities. What I came out of this novel with was a feeling of indifference. This "Walled City" might as well have been any other dystopia setting. I did not feel the class differences strongly. I did not get a good sense of the personalities of any of the main characters. I felt that there were not enough interesting characters. Is this a standalone? Even if not, there was much to be desired. Who was the druglord, truly? Sing? Dai and Jin and Mei Yee's backstories were not elaborated at all.
Frankly, I don't think I meshed well with Graudin's writing style, but that was the least of problems in this book. Many of the aspects of the book just fell flat. Pass.
got halfway through and hardly anything had happened, and the characters weren’t engaging enough to keep me wanting to know what would happen to them
“There are three rules of survival in theWalled City: Run fast. Trust no one. Always carry your knife.”
I finally got a chance to read take some time to read this yesterday and finish it this morning. It was so good! I love this authors writing and how she tells such a great story. The characters are written well. I would have finished this sooner but was forced to do other things that kept me from reading which was hard because I just wanted to immerse myself in this world until I knew the characters were going to be all right.
In the authors notes she shares that their was a walled city in Hong Kong and shares photos of it which I liked that added addition. I had no clue there was something like this but wasn’t surprised. Even now we still have human trafficking where they still target children.
Great story with great characters. Read this book now!!! 😁
I finally got a chance to read take some time to read this yesterday and finish it this morning. It was so good! I love this authors writing and how she tells such a great story. The characters are written well. I would have finished this sooner but was forced to do other things that kept me from reading which was hard because I just wanted to immerse myself in this world until I knew the characters were going to be all right.
In the authors notes she shares that their was a walled city in Hong Kong and shares photos of it which I liked that added addition. I had no clue there was something like this but wasn’t surprised. Even now we still have human trafficking where they still target children.
Great story with great characters. Read this book now!!! 😁
3.25 stars
I’m so torn. On one hand I LOVED the setting, not even how it was portrayed but the creepy realness of a lawless city in the middle of a major city. But all that love was based on the knowledge that this was a real (and relatively) modern place rather than the book itself. If it weren’t for that and the names, this could’ve literally been set in any country because little to no heritage was represented in my opinion.
Overall I really enjoyed the story because it was fun and pretty badass but Chma was the best character tbh.
Also fuck instalove. No. Bad.
I’m so torn. On one hand I LOVED the setting, not even how it was portrayed but the creepy realness of a lawless city in the middle of a major city. But all that love was based on the knowledge that this was a real (and relatively) modern place rather than the book itself. If it weren’t for that and the names, this could’ve literally been set in any country because little to no heritage was represented in my opinion.
Overall I really enjoyed the story because it was fun and pretty badass but Chma was the best character tbh.
Also fuck instalove. No. Bad.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a really fast, enjoyable read. It wasn't complex or difficult to understand, but rather focused on a super action packed story from the perspective of the 3 main characters. There were quite a few weird analogies, though. The book is set in China, but I felt it odd to say someone's skin is "as white as rice noodles" and other similar very culturally specific analogies
This book takes place in a real city, but the setting is so amazing I kept expecting magical realism rather than historical fiction.
okay really its more of a 3.75 but that's not an option ?????
i rlly liked it but felt like it could have been better as a duology
like
we didnt Really get to know the characters i felt like and that's a bummer
it was like they had this One Trait and that was their only trait
but i loved the plot
i rlly liked it but felt like it could have been better as a duology
like
we didnt Really get to know the characters i felt like and that's a bummer
it was like they had this One Trait and that was their only trait
but i loved the plot
DNF, I don't think I can rate it lower based on the amount I've read.