Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu

4 reviews

ccisanoldman's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-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

This book was a wonderful and quite frankly (in the end) hopeful sequal to to the three body problem. The main characters are filled will flaws and are put through hardship. From
the wallfacer project to the near-suicide of wallfacer Luo Ji
it was very developed and detailed. Also where the problem comes in. Way too damn long. So much beautiful detail, and yet I have to glaze over some of it to keep me from boredom. Overall great.

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meganpbell's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really do love the hard, challenging science in this sci-fi, the big ideas about the nature of the universe and human and alien culture and behavior, however bleak, but Liu’s characters are sacrificed to this and are just so flat and shallow. That would be fine if it weren’t for the ridiculously misogynistic way he writes about women. I.E. science professor’s “dream girl” is “slender,” (Liu’s fav word to describe women), “angelicly” beautiful, “naive,” 20-something who immediately falls for him…shocking 🙄 Add to that the popular opinion that it’s a real slog to get to the pay off…I won’t be reading the last one.



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shermansays's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-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? No

4.5


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geraldinerowe's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This is the second in the Three Body Problem trilogy, and the scope of the novel is vast. Having said that, it didn't need to be this long. It had some exciting scenes, but far more long, turgid parts and a few completely unnecessary episodes. It also had a rather hurried ending for a book which went round the houses the rest of the time. Nor was I entirely convinced by the philosophical proposition upon which the entire novel hangs. But it had lots of fascinating ideas that will keep you thinking long after you've finished the book. I loved it and will be reading the (even longer) concluding part. (I should also mention the main character has some rather problematic attitudes towards women in places which you're asked to overlook. It's nothing major, but I could never quite shake it.)

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