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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Shout out to @Annie for gifting me this book! It’s exactly the sort I’ve been really into lately (i.e. collections of character studies of complicated, interconnected people) and reminds me in many ways of a less well-written (but still very well-written), less insufferable Goon Squad. My only wish is that it’d been longer, as a lot of the characters’ stories are really interesting but leave you hanging in a way that can feel scattered and disjointed
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Shanghailanders reads like a collection of interconnected short stories offering glimpses into the life of the Yang family. Capturing their family going backward in time was a very interesting premise, and I started the book enjoying it. Nevertheless, after each snapshot in time, I was always wishing for more. I wanted to know more about what happened. While the story is about the Yang family, I wasn't that interested in their rich problems and felt myself drawn more to the lives of the nanny or the driver, even the lady working for the train company. I guess those were the characters I wanted to hear more about.
Thanks to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Thanks to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Follows the story of a family and the people around them. Written with the perspective of switching through different character. Also, each chapter goes back in time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Abortion
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It had a slow start but I found the book captivating and an interesting look into all of the characters lives. The ending felt rather abrupt and without closure but I feel like that was kind of the point.
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes