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caspertfq's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
orb12um's review against another edition
2.0
I’ve been recommended this book countless times, seen it plastered everywhere and told that it’s unique brand of storytelling is gripping. Bizarrely, this book seems to have received all the praise and plaudits that it seemingly despises.
This whole novel seems to be about punching down from the point of an author to a readership. While navigating contemporary issues such as cancel culture and what makes a bestseller in an interesting way, the rest of the book appears to be dunking on the stupidity of the proletariat.
Kuang attempts to elicit sympathy towards the main character, but this character is clearly undeserving of our sympathy it makes me feel rather disgusted at the writing. June and Athena in the novel are presented differently, one having the success and one piggybacking. But even when they both get it, they’re so distasteful, so irreverent of other people’s opinions and so financially incentivised one can’t help that Kuang is dismissing literary criticism throughout the whole book. There exists a sense of superiority in the novel about those who make it as authors, how all the readers want to do is bring down the author and make them feel shit for some perceived micro aggression and this makes Kuang appear bitter to the industry and bitter to the reader.
It dismisses haters opinions and endorses the opinions of those who love it. The hypocrisy is mind bending.
This is a book which fetishises authors, dismisses readers and renders the subject of English literature unrequited. Ergo I hate it.
This whole novel seems to be about punching down from the point of an author to a readership. While navigating contemporary issues such as cancel culture and what makes a bestseller in an interesting way, the rest of the book appears to be dunking on the stupidity of the proletariat.
Kuang attempts to elicit sympathy towards the main character, but this character is clearly undeserving of our sympathy it makes me feel rather disgusted at the writing. June and Athena in the novel are presented differently, one having the success and one piggybacking. But even when they both get it, they’re so distasteful, so irreverent of other people’s opinions and so financially incentivised one can’t help that Kuang is dismissing literary criticism throughout the whole book. There exists a sense of superiority in the novel about those who make it as authors, how all the readers want to do is bring down the author and make them feel shit for some perceived micro aggression and this makes Kuang appear bitter to the industry and bitter to the reader.
It dismisses haters opinions and endorses the opinions of those who love it. The hypocrisy is mind bending.
This is a book which fetishises authors, dismisses readers and renders the subject of English literature unrequited. Ergo I hate it.
libroandthings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Junie is definitely the kind of friend we all encounter during whatever stage we are in life; the envious, typical, 'you are so much better than me' friend whose real agenda is strictly unknown. But in this case, Junie is the main character and we get her (messed up) point of view. The way she narrates every scenario there is? It's so annoying, so hypocritical—to the point where I end up putting the book down to breathe and roll my eyes. That one page where Junie just went on and on by how 'reverse racism' existed is insufferable as well, but for some reason, the thrill and the want for a reader to find out which more stupidity Junie had done or will do is the major reason why I physically cannot stop reading. Athena may have her own set of flaws as well, but we actually can't find out if any of it is true because again, Junie is twisted, she hates Athena as much as Athena hated her. The staircase scene was slightly scary too, very much one of the chapters in the book a reader would groan to while reading. Ending is somehow satisfying, because Kuang finally shows how Junie is very much desperate and pathetic, facing her social downfall in the near future—her biggest fear.
onceuponahope's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5
the way r. f. kuang writes exactly like THOSE people who always bring up “reverse racism” and how it’s “so hard not to be a minority these days” because they have a severe victim complex is genuinely insane. could not put this down and i’m gonna be exhausted tomorrow because i stayed up to finish this but it was 100% worth it.
the way r. f. kuang writes exactly like THOSE people who always bring up “reverse racism” and how it’s “so hard not to be a minority these days” because they have a severe victim complex is genuinely insane. could not put this down and i’m gonna be exhausted tomorrow because i stayed up to finish this but it was 100% worth it.
viktoreeya's review against another edition
It’s interesting cuz of the protagonist’s audacity, but a little silly how every white person is an over the top racist. Soft dnf cuz my library hold ran out.
s_c's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
myra_bella's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hazel_oat's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
i sat down to read a few chapters and ended up reading the entire book in one sitting so ... highly recommend
originalwannabe's review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The themes of plagiarism, publishing and racism were captivating but unfortunately the main character was so unlovable I found it hard to get through. I hope for more character development but she stayed selfish and immature throughout. The plot made me want to know the ending, but the characters made that difficult.
sarkstheobscure's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0