DNF @ 38%.

After months of telling myself I'll get back to it, I've finally summoned up my courage to admit to myself I will NOT be finishing this book. Which is a real pity, to be honest.

The book starts out super strong. It's my first time reading Chinese literature, and the playfulness and rhythm immediately had me hooked. But the abrupt change from Monkey's antics to the human realm of emperors and monks left me reeling, and I just struggled to maintain my interest.

Add onto that that the rest of the book becomes episodic, and I've had enough experience with Don Quixote to know that episodic stories are definitely not my cup of tea.

I'd definitely recommend the first half to almost everyone just for the experience of reading a different style of writing than what we're normally used to, and the brilliant storytelling. But the second half is a hard pass for me.
adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Whimsical but got repetitive. Probs too dumbdumb to understand the deeper meaning

I really enjoyed this one, it was part of the Adventure summer reading program and it was fun to compare this to the Odyssey.
adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Monkey is a little shit. 
adventurous funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes