Scan barcode
corvo_1795's review
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jelena666's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hxukvgr's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Abortion, Infertility, Misogyny, Blood, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
michael5000's review
4.0
Although the intent is rather serious, with the convulsions of modern Chinese history traced through their impact on rural villagers over the course of two or three generations, what I actually received was a long series of vivid, colorful anecdotes of Chinese country life. It reminded me a bit of "All Creatures Great and Small."
chiarap's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
onyxisalive's review
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Honestly, a little disappointing.
It had a really intriguing premise, but was not executed well. I wish this story was told from the perspective of Gugu not Tadpole - it felt like a pointless decision to tell it from his perspective. It made the story about him instead of her; robbing us seeing her emotional development properly (it felt odd to have him tell her story, only for him to make it about himself).
This book also does not have speech marks which makes it, at points, difficult to understand, due to the first person perspective, if something is a line of dialogue of a commentary (this is also due to spacing). Most of the time, however, when I clocked something was a line of dialogue, it was easy enough to tell who was saying it.
The beginning was interesting, but due to the critiques stated earlier, towards the end things felt a little convoluted, due to earlier confusion created by formatting, and the end also felt lacklustre due to the emotional development of the characters being poorly shown.
All in all, lots of potential, had a plot and characters that sounded interesting, but was not executed well.
It had a really intriguing premise, but was not executed well. I wish this story was told from the perspective
This book also does not have speech marks which makes it, at points, difficult to understand, due to the first person perspective, if something is a line of dialogue of a commentary (this is also due to spacing). Most of the time, however, when I clocked something was a line of dialogue, it was easy enough to tell who was saying it.
The beginning was interesting, but due to the critiques stated earlier, towards the end things felt a little convoluted, due to earlier confusion created by formatting, and the end also felt lacklustre due to the emotional development of the characters being poorly shown.
All in all, lots of potential, had a plot and characters that sounded interesting, but was not executed well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement
bldinmt's review against another edition
2.0
The first 3/4 of this book would earn a 3-star. If the ending had rocked my world I could even have seen it working up to a 4-star. Buuuuuuuut, the ending was so peculiar, including-but-not-limited-to the transition to play format from novel format. I guess that "fits" sense since Tadpole is a playwright, but I don't much care for reading plays. I didn't see it coming...and then I found the content quite strange as well. I'm not savvy enough with Chinese literature to know if this was a lack of cultural understanding on my part or what that made it a bit baffling. The last 1/4 of the book was so strange that it brought the final rating down to a 2-star. Oh well.
eganmorrisonrooney's review
challenging
funny
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0