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faithharmony's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Rape
foxonabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Characters: 5 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Writing: 4 | Plot: 4 | Intrigue: 3.5 | Logic: 5 | Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rating: 4.43/10 | Star Rating: 2.5/5
I should start off by saying that the book is definitely readable and at 224 pages, it’s quick to get through. I also think Mas is good at worldbuilding. However, I think the book’s length holds it back from being a good book since Mas is covering so much in very few pages.
I think the book as it is now is a strong basis for a more developed book. I genuinely do wonder, had Mas been encouraged to extend the book by a couple of hundred pages, would the characters and plot have been better developed? I also wonder if there would have been more subtle, nuanced showing throughout the book since Mas would have had the space and time to do so.
Therein lay the difference between fact and fiction: in the former, there was no possible emotional investment. One was simply presented with information. Fiction, on the other hand, aroused passions, provoked outbursts, overwhlemed the mind.
Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
joy_ong's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Self harm, Abandonment, Rape, Classism, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma
Minor: Murder
kamikakushi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Death
freddybingsu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
sandrasa's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma
grace_r3ads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Blood
josina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Self harm and Sexual assault
Minor: Vomit
loxeletters's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I also liked the magical realism/supernatural aspects, though they were much less prevalent in the second half of the book.
This book actually challenged me on some of my core beliefs as a writer - the author does a lot of "head-hopping", which is usually frowned upon in modern fiction, though it used to be quite common in classic literature. It forced me to confront whether I actually don't like this technique or whether that was just ingrained in me from countless online repetition. My final conclusion is that I don't know. It did feel quite jarring a lot of the time and often broke the immersion. But maybe that was intentional?
In any case, I think that the translation was a bit subpar, featuring dangling modifiers and comma splices a lot. Again, maybe that's just the author's style, but I'd be willing to bet it's the translation.
Overall I have mixed feelings on this book. It was easy to read and engaging, plus I learnt a lot, but the prose just felt disconnected at times in a way that I can't really explain. Still, a very solid book.
Graphic: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Drug abuse
niamhdee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Rape, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization