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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A fine enough work of historical fiction... period pieces, man, they're not hitting for me these days. The plot was interesting enough, and I appreciated the structure and framing overall. But this didn't really keep my attention. Just a lot of privileged Europeans traipsing around southeast Asia and being critical of various cultures but in the name of "progress" and feminism. But perhaps this book attempted to make a slight mockery of them? I may not have been paying enough attention for a more nuanced perspective. Idk, so maybe a 2.5?
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Honestly, I just expected more of a commentary on colonization. Instead it’s a story about a white woman who gets tired of her husband who is having a homosexual affair (never explored). It’s well written but it’s slow and uninteresting.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Somerset Maugham, the character (or Willie), didn't seem anything like the Somerset Maugham I had imagined (whose voice is familiar from memoirs, short stories, and novels). I kept thinking that I'd give a lower rating just because of that (while reading the book), but the ending and the way the story was framed were superb. The writing also got so much better in the second half. All these aspects made me change my mind.