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A review by purplemuskogee
Kinder Than Solitude by Yiyun Li
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Stunning book.
"Boyang thought that grief would make people less commonplace. The waiting room at the crematory, however, did not differentiate itself from elsewhere: the eagerness to be served first and the suspicion that others had snatched a better deal were reminiscent of the marketplace or stock exchange".
It follows childhood friends Moran, Boyang and Ruyu - and Shaoai, who is the slightly older rebellious girl whose family accepted to host and foster Ruyu, an orphan who was previously raised by the strict and religious "grandaunts" who found her on their doorstep one winter. We alternate between their childhood in Beijing and their adulthood, Boyang very successful and still in Beijing, Ruyu and Moran both in the US but not in contact and living separate lives. Shaoai has just died after 20 years in a coma, having been poisoned when she was younger. Whether it was an accident, a suicide or a murder is unclear - for most of the book - as we follow her former friends who are all wondering what happened exactly.
"Even the most innocent person, when cornered, is capable of a heartless crime".
Plot-wise it is slow and at times weak - but in terms of character study... this was an incredible novel, with characters all interesting and mysterious and really wonderful to read about. I regretted that once they are adults, Moran and Ruyu become very similar, at times it made it difficult to follow - although Ruyu's mystery existed already in her childhood, a little girl raised by two austere women who taught her never to show emotion, while Moran's cool demeanour as an adult seems acquired. Shaoai exists mostly as a memory - and in a few chapters as a rebellious student in China, uncertain of her fate as she awaits expulsion from her university following a protest.
"Certain things come unannounced, like crickets, like the darkness of the season: by the time one notices them, one has already fallen victim to their wicked charm".
The writing really was wonderful - smooth, clean, poetic but without the pathos. It was slow and beautifully written, and such a surprise of a book. Really, really recommend this one.
"Boyang thought that grief would make people less commonplace. The waiting room at the crematory, however, did not differentiate itself from elsewhere: the eagerness to be served first and the suspicion that others had snatched a better deal were reminiscent of the marketplace or stock exchange".
It follows childhood friends Moran, Boyang and Ruyu - and Shaoai, who is the slightly older rebellious girl whose family accepted to host and foster Ruyu, an orphan who was previously raised by the strict and religious "grandaunts" who found her on their doorstep one winter. We alternate between their childhood in Beijing and their adulthood, Boyang very successful and still in Beijing, Ruyu and Moran both in the US but not in contact and living separate lives. Shaoai has just died after 20 years in a coma, having been poisoned when she was younger. Whether it was an accident, a suicide or a murder is unclear - for most of the book - as we follow her former friends who are all wondering what happened exactly.
"Even the most innocent person, when cornered, is capable of a heartless crime".
Plot-wise it is slow and at times weak - but in terms of character study... this was an incredible novel, with characters all interesting and mysterious and really wonderful to read about. I regretted that once they are adults, Moran and Ruyu become very similar, at times it made it difficult to follow - although Ruyu's mystery existed already in her childhood, a little girl raised by two austere women who taught her never to show emotion, while Moran's cool demeanour as an adult seems acquired. Shaoai exists mostly as a memory - and in a few chapters as a rebellious student in China, uncertain of her fate as she awaits expulsion from her university following a protest.
"Certain things come unannounced, like crickets, like the darkness of the season: by the time one notices them, one has already fallen victim to their wicked charm".
The writing really was wonderful - smooth, clean, poetic but without the pathos. It was slow and beautifully written, and such a surprise of a book. Really, really recommend this one.