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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
This is a book about journeys, internal and external, not by choice but because that is the great transformation of a human life. It's a mysterious story of tides washing in and out, realities washing in and out, history washing in and out... it has a very flowy, lyrical feel in that way (but also a lack of groundedness).
Our main characters are Lina and her father, who are in a mysteruous in-between place, fleeing their homeland due to some persecution, and separated from her brother, her mother, and an aunt. Then we welcome Du Fu, Spinoza and Hannah Arendt, as well as their alter egos, Jupiter, Bento and Blucher, kind of "twins" to the historical characters and carriers of their stories. All this in a mysterious place called The Sea, where shorelines don't stay in one place and dont hug the same body of water, and buildings transform and expand, where sounds are heard across centuries.
Thien made some difficult plot choices towards the end--not that they were wrong choices, but difficult to giving the reader satisfaction.One I won't even mention here, but the new family towards the end, the two sisters? Where did they come from and how are we supposed to care about them that late in the game?
Overall, I did want to keep reading, and it's a good introduction to a new generation about the greats of past generations, but something fell short about it.
Our main characters are Lina and her father, who are in a mysteruous in-between place, fleeing their homeland due to some persecution, and separated from her brother, her mother, and an aunt. Then we welcome Du Fu, Spinoza and Hannah Arendt, as well as their alter egos, Jupiter, Bento and Blucher, kind of "twins" to the historical characters and carriers of their stories. All this in a mysterious place called The Sea, where shorelines don't stay in one place and dont hug the same body of water, and buildings transform and expand, where sounds are heard across centuries.
Thien made some difficult plot choices towards the end--not that they were wrong choices, but difficult to giving the reader satisfaction.
Overall, I did want to keep reading, and it's a good introduction to a new generation about the greats of past generations, but something fell short about it.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
This book was beyond boring. I fell asleep every time I touched it.
I could not grasp onto a plot, it read a little like Calvino, very philosophical and I wasn't up for something I had to really think my way through.
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
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:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated