Scan barcode
spepp's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Though it struggles at times, specially regarding the way it handles the childhood sessions, when it lands it lands. It's also a type of book that only makes sense/connects its dots after you finish it. It has a whole internal cycle to it that is really beautiful, but like all books of its kind: it ends leaving a lot hanging and I'd be lying if I said that type of stuff didn't get to me. Still, the writing is so strong (even at its weakest moments) and feels so biographical (to the point where I was unsure if I was reading a fiction or not) that it just carries you along if you allow yourself to it. Also, I felt like reading something other than Three Kingdoms, hehehe.
Favorite stories: "The Diarist", "My Brother in the Basement", "The Universe, Concealed"
Favorite stories: "The Diarist", "My Brother in the Basement", "The Universe, Concealed"
lvfl's review against another edition
4.0
This book has been sitting on my wishlist for a couple years, and had perfect ratings from Amazon reviewers. I think those perfect ratings may have set the bar for my expectations too high. I liked it, but it won't make it onto my top books list.
His stories are tragic, yet I felt removed from them. It had the feel of a memoir, but I wanted to feel the emotions a little more. I also would have liked it better if he had better shown how his brother in childhood was related to the same brother in adulthood--they seemed like two completely different people.
His stories are tragic, yet I felt removed from them. It had the feel of a memoir, but I wanted to feel the emotions a little more. I also would have liked it better if he had better shown how his brother in childhood was related to the same brother in adulthood--they seemed like two completely different people.
pumpkinghost24's review against another edition
4.0
3.5, really, and that's because the other is funny and signed my book when he came to class. The book was really too disjointed and disconnected, I feel, to be called that. It works as individual essays or even a collection of them, but not as a book for me.
More...