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challenging
dark
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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
-some of the twists in this book worked for me and others did not The house explosion, for example, was difficult to follow at first and not believably executed. The pedophilia plot line never resolved/didn't lead to anything other than really graphic and hard go read depictiond of rape. I loved the concept of this book but the execution could have been better if it was focused less on aesthetic and more on verisimilitude/urgent writing
I bought this after I read that Kevin Kwan recommended it as one of his favorite books last year. It was unpredictable and imaginative and definitely captivating. I read the whole thing in a day— it’s a hard book to put down! The linked stories tie together neatly, and I always appreciate when an author ends a story by sort of zooming out on a giant puzzle that you didn’t even realize was being built around you. The narratives are deftly woven together in ways that are both charming and also genuinely horrifying. Lots of parallels between characters that think they have nothing in common, lots of echoes secreted here and there, puzzle pieces that you can’t see until the very end. All of this praise, and I can’t quite put my finger on what was lacking for me. I put the book down with a lot of questions and a bit of confusion about some of the protagonists’ intentions. I think the reader is meant to come away without that feeling of satiation, and it speaks to the larger theme of life’s unpredictability…but for whatever reason, I just wasn’t totally in love with it. The writing was beautiful, and these characters felt so real and flawed and absolutely human. Overall, a good read for someone who wants to get a little bit of drama and intrigue tied into family struggles and the experience of being a Korean or Vietnamese youth in southern California. I feel like nobody reads these so this probably isn’t worth it, but I would say that I was caught off guard by the brutality and death sort of early on in the book, as well as some very, very plaintive pedophilia and grooming. So definitely a little bit of a TW for that.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
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
There were very few times when I could predict what was going to happen in this book because it was wild from start to finish. Still, I don't think anything in the book was unbelievable/unlikely to happen in real life which added to the appeal. Even with all of the sadness in the book, Mira Park's storyline was priceless.
The main thing I didn't like about the book is that it dragged on in its description of characters sometimes without adding anything to our understanding of the characters or the plot. I wouldn't recommend this book to other people unless I knew they were into really dark books and wouldn't be triggered by the content.
The main thing I didn't like about the book is that it dragged on in its description of characters sometimes without adding anything to our understanding of the characters or the plot. I wouldn't recommend this book to other people unless I knew they were into really dark books and wouldn't be triggered by the content.
dark
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story was weird in a way that was difficult to read. I would have enjoyed first-person narratives from characters like Mrs. Park or Raymond who are side characters that drive a decent amount of the plot. The story still would have been weird, but it would have been more enjoyable to read.
dark
mysterious
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
This is unlike any book I've ever encountered. As soon as I learned that the action in Lurkers mostly happens in a neighborhood on Santa Claus Lane, I knew we were going to click. This book is absurd..... but is it? Nothing quite left the realm of reality, but it manages to be deeply disturbing in all of the most hilarious ways. Honestly, I really enjoyed all of the characters Tan created in this novel, but the precocious Park sisters are hard to beat. The stuff that came out of their mouths was just so funny. Honorable mention goes to Kate, who had the zingiest one liners. This book will definitely stick in my brain as the book that most frequently had me stopping mid-laugh because whatever I was laughing at........ was also completely effed up. It was a wild ride!
Can't wait to see what Tan puts out next. I'm here for it.
My thanks to Soho Press and NetGalley for the review copy!
Can't wait to see what Tan puts out next. I'm here for it.
My thanks to Soho Press and NetGalley for the review copy!
dark
emotional
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
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes