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melniksuzuki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War
willow_axolotl376's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and War
katrinalamothe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Islamophobia, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
forestfloor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was most impressed by Kuang's ability to write from June's perspective as the villain while walking the line between making her neither flat and one dimensional, nor a sympathetic anti-hero. Despite most of the characters having their negative traits far more readily described and explored that their positives, they all still felt like they were whole people, past the limitations of June's perspective.
I found it so interesting to follow June's fluctuating reliability as a narrator, particularly as her mental health degrades. Her descent into anxiety and delusion was so evocative, and again - it's so impressive that even as she's breaking down she is clearly not the victim.
I have heard some people found the ending to be too predictable - I would have described it as believable, but your appreciation of it may vary depending on how much of a surprise you like the reveal of your mysteries to be.
Overall an absolutely brilliant exploration of whiteness, writing and publishing. Cannot wait to read more of Kuang's other works.
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and War
sarasbookmark's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
marina_michelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Stalking and Classism
Minor: Colonisation and War
cpachet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Rape and War
rnbhargava's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, and Classism
The entire narrative of this book is about a White American woman excusing and justifying her actions against a college friend and writer colleague who is Chinese American plus the varying moods and swings in action to conceal what she is doing. We are in the mind of the white woman character the whole time and it’s intentionally uncomfortable to be in this character’s head. Pace yourself if you need to though this novel isn’t that long.curious_oyster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and War
aimee2498's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Racism and War
Moderate: Sexual assault