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A review by failedimitator
Once We Were There by Bernice Chauly
3.0
Honestly, it's more like 2.5, but let's say 3 mostly because I read it right after Cold East. If, however, I'd read this right after In the Dream House, it would've been a 2.
Having said that, I liked it, for the most part. I think it's overwritten, but it was fun indulging in the writing together with the writer. The novel is at its strongest when there was no plot. When it was just Del and Omar and their friends drinking, doing drugs, having sex, and complaining about Mahathir. It quickly went downhill as soon as the plot kicked in.
Still, I think Bernice Chauly did an incredible job of bringing to life a certain version of KL. And even though I don't personally know this KL that she's writing about, there's a specificity and a strong point of view to her writing that makes me believe that this KL does in fact truly exist.
The parts not covered by "the most part" are the parts where I find the main character's name a bit too pretentious (Delonix Regia?), the hagiography of E (MDMA is great, but Jesus fucking Christ!), and just how goddamn horny the book is.
Having said that, I liked it, for the most part. I think it's overwritten, but it was fun indulging in the writing together with the writer. The novel is at its strongest when there was no plot. When it was just Del and Omar and their friends drinking, doing drugs, having sex, and complaining about Mahathir. It quickly went downhill as soon as the plot kicked in.
Still, I think Bernice Chauly did an incredible job of bringing to life a certain version of KL. And even though I don't personally know this KL that she's writing about, there's a specificity and a strong point of view to her writing that makes me believe that this KL does in fact truly exist.
The parts not covered by "the most part" are the parts where I find the main character's name a bit too pretentious (Delonix Regia?), the hagiography of E (MDMA is great, but Jesus fucking Christ!), and just how goddamn horny the book is.