Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Ghost Town by Kevin Chen

4 reviews

jinmichae's review

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It's about a small town and the toll gossip can take, about missed chances and dreams set aside. And maybe making a future, despite everything. 

I'm glad I read this despite the reviews. It helped to write down the names and traits of the main characters, (much like I did for War and Peace). Once I knew who everyone was, I barely put it down: I wanted to know what happened next, why characters had done what they'd done, and the secrets they hinted at.

For whatever reason, it hit the right spots for me by having a cast of very human, flawed characters. But I can also see how others would find it hard to get into. It's not a fairy tale: it's an unflinching look at a family falling apart, just like the town around them, and maybe coming together again in the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Sexual assault, Suicide, Outing, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Violence, Animal death, Self harm, Physical abuse, Blood, Eating disorder, Murder, Sexual content, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Xenophobia, Excrement, and Sexism

Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Addiction, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Abortion

Minor: Cancer, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, and Vomit

eyesofcrows's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

It’s such a good story that’s able to share focus on both the present and the past. Sure there are confusing parts—on par for the course when it comes to translated books—and even repetitive, but it comes from so many different perspectives. To understand what happened is to put all those different perspectives together. 

An ambiguous ending, sure enough, but an ending promising a resolution nonetheless. Keith’s coming home jumpstarts this decades long standstill  on this fragment of everyone’s lives. All of their hardships are detailed that I am able to see the views of most of the characters. I may disagree with some of their actions but I can also visualize the path that led them there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Homophobia, and Sexism

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Rape

Minor: Cancer

seaschells's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexism, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage

thewordsdevourer's review

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Objectively, Ghost Town is an excellent book from a literary standpoint. Subjectively, however, I did not enjoy this as much as I should have, owing to its much-darker-than-expected tone and inadequate focus on the main character.

The factor that determines a reader's enjoyment of this book, in my opinion, boils down to their expectations of it. I think the current English edition is quite misleading: the cover does not do it justice, with both the art and font looking too juvenile for the book's tone and subject matter. I also wish I knew beforehand that the novel does not focus as much on the supposed main character as his family and the town he comes from. If I had had more accurate knowledge about the book before diving in, my feelings would be more positive, rather than feeling its 'lack' or being a little taken aback by its dark themes.

The novel itself, however, is mostly commendable, its structure and plot akin to an onion with layers on top of layers to be discovered the more one reads on. It is tightly plotted, with constant reveals and surprises throughout, shedding more light not only on the story itself but also the characters. The rural Taiwan setting is also great, the atmosphere, sense of place and culture so distinct and palpable one is immediately transported. The themes are deftly explored as well.

Nevertheless, there are parts that read like fillers and could be trimmed, as they endlessly meander and slow down the pace. I also wish more focus was on Keith; there is so much about the family - both in the past and present - to wade through, that Keith feels like a bystander at times, let alone the main character. I think his constant rumination in the present and the sense of detachment in his narrative voice also distance him from the reader, thus it is quite difficult to feel connected to him. But then again, maybe this is Chen's way of saying that Keith is now no different from a ghost. 

This is a well-plotted book packed with details not only about the characters but also the Taiwan setting. If only the reader's expectations were better managed, their enjoyment would be less affected by its content and dark tone, and the lacking focus on the main character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Homophobia, Death, Misogyny, and Rape

Moderate: Suicide, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Mental illness, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, Excrement, Self harm, and Murder

Minor: Colonisation and War