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mweis's review against another edition
1.25
*I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I don’t feel comfortable publicly rating this because I don’t think I am smart enough for this book, and because my ratings tend to weigh more heavily on enjoyment I don’t want to give this a low rating because I felt dumb. I did appreciate the insight into this author’s perception of Chinese society and spent quite some time thinking about this book and how it related to my own experience with Chinese culture.
This is a darkly satirical novel told in a fragmented manner. On the surface it’s a love story between a Buddhist jade nun and a Daoist master, but it’s also a commentary on corruption and division and faith and organized religion and humanity.
The author’s note and translator’s note at the end did help me appreciate what this book is trying to do, so I do recommend checking those out to see if this might be a book for you. I also loved the paper cuts interwoven through the story and how that legend connected to the rest of the story.
I don’t feel comfortable publicly rating this because I don’t think I am smart enough for this book, and because my ratings tend to weigh more heavily on enjoyment I don’t want to give this a low rating because I felt dumb. I did appreciate the insight into this author’s perception of Chinese society and spent quite some time thinking about this book and how it related to my own experience with Chinese culture.
This is a darkly satirical novel told in a fragmented manner. On the surface it’s a love story between a Buddhist jade nun and a Daoist master, but it’s also a commentary on corruption and division and faith and organized religion and humanity.
The author’s note and translator’s note at the end did help me appreciate what this book is trying to do, so I do recommend checking those out to see if this might be a book for you. I also loved the paper cuts interwoven through the story and how that legend connected to the rest of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Injury/Injury detail
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