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rain_bellin's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
hanfaulder's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I have mixed feelings about this book, as it took a while for me to get into it. The middle section of this book is great; insightful, and full of little gems - brilliant lines are scattered about the text which either made me laugh out-loud for their dryness and sarcasm, or because they were very thoughtful and provided a new perspective for me to consider, chew on. However, I feel that the book lost its footing again at the end. It starts slow, then peaks in the middle, before dipping back down. The book takes it's name from Barthes' "A Lover's Discourse: Fragments" and it is written in almost poetic, fragmental stanza. Split into eight sections, each of which are filled with 1-3 page entries, A Lover's Discourse is very easy to read, and I enjoyed Xiaolu Guo's sharp writing style (this book has made me want to read some of her other work to see if I might like it better). The fragments with which the book is compiled explore certain interactions, either from the past or the present, and the conversations had by the characters within them.
The plot follows two unnamed characters, a Chinese woman who moved to Britain just before the Brexit referendum to pursue a PhD in anthropology, and the German/Australian/English man whom she starts a romantic relationship with. The story follows their relationship over the course of a few years, as it develops and grows. However, this relationship is not really the centre of the narrative. It is a device by which the main character, the Chinese woman from who's perspective we view the world, explores themes of belonging, growing up and into a new chapter of life, as well as the nature of reproduction and the meaning of art. These themes are partially explored through the conversations between these two lovers - who talk about landscape, art, literature and life, and whom never seem to agree on anything - however, I felt that the counterpart to the main character, the European Man, was a little vacant. I did not care so much for their relationship itself; but what I found interesting was the way the Chinese woman thought of the relationship, described it and analysed it, and how we came to learn more about her character through her correlation to it.
Ultimately, I would say this book is about connection. It explores the spaces between people, how we can close those gaps or decide to let go and drift away, and ultimately it's also about the search for home: to find the place where you belong, as understood through the perspective of an immagrant. The world has changed quite a lot since the time in which this book is set, and so the themes did not hit quite as hard as they may have done before, however there were still plenty of thoughtful, interesting concepts explored in A Lover's Discourse. I would recommend this book if you're looking for something easy to read, that you can devour in one or two sittings, and that may spark some kind of discussion in your head but nothing too heavy.
The plot follows two unnamed characters, a Chinese woman who moved to Britain just before the Brexit referendum to pursue a PhD in anthropology, and the German/Australian/English man whom she starts a romantic relationship with. The story follows their relationship over the course of a few years, as it develops and grows. However, this relationship is not really the centre of the narrative. It is a device by which the main character, the Chinese woman from who's perspective we view the world, explores themes of belonging, growing up and into a new chapter of life, as well as the nature of reproduction and the meaning of art. These themes are partially explored through the conversations between these two lovers - who talk about landscape, art, literature and life, and whom never seem to agree on anything - however, I felt that the counterpart to the main character, the European Man, was a little vacant. I did not care so much for their relationship itself; but what I found interesting was the way the Chinese woman thought of the relationship, described it and analysed it, and how we came to learn more about her character through her correlation to it.
Ultimately, I would say this book is about connection. It explores the spaces between people, how we can close those gaps or decide to let go and drift away, and ultimately it's also about the search for home: to find the place where you belong, as understood through the perspective of an immagrant. The world has changed quite a lot since the time in which this book is set, and so the themes did not hit quite as hard as they may have done before, however there were still plenty of thoughtful, interesting concepts explored in A Lover's Discourse. I would recommend this book if you're looking for something easy to read, that you can devour in one or two sittings, and that may spark some kind of discussion in your head but nothing too heavy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Sexual content
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