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A review by yapxinyi
Delayed Rays of a Star by Amanda Lee Koe
4.0
A common thread among reviewers, I saw, was that it was a dense and heavy read.
Well, there were many characters, but it never felt like I didn't know who was speaking at any one time. For one, the writing was mostly focused on what was happening and their thoughts. Interestingly, I found the lack of quotation marks immersive because what they were saying sounded to be like their thoughts.
This book centers its story around three main protagonists: famous Marlene Dietrich, struggling Anna May Wong, and determined Leni Riefenstahl at different points of their lives – at Marlene's deathbed (this was a striking beginning), when they met (aka The Photograph), as they tried to pursue their dreams, near the end of their lives. The book also explores the narratives of Marlene's weekly maid Bébé, Marlene's director/ex-lover Josef von Sternberg, Marlin's intriguing caller Ibrahim, Anna May Wong's penpal Walter Benjamin, Leni Riefenstahl's gaffer Haas Haas, as we follow their lives for a few chapters. The stories were spread out rather cleverly, I thought.
I was highly impressed with the extensive research that must've gone into writing this, because the details are way too specific to be entirely thought of out her head. Given the author's deep admiration for Marlene Dietrich, I'm sure that it was written with all the years of collected facts and stories. That's a lot of dedication.
Surprisingly, I didn't really like Leni Riefenstahl by the time I was halfway through her monologue of sorts (it seemed like an excerpt from an interview, without the questions). At the same time, I found it difficult to hate her because I'd read what she'd been through. I didn't quite enjoy the read during this chapters as I began to question if she was being unreliable in these chapters (because everyone knew she hated Marlene Dietrich for stealing a role from under her nose); she painted Marlene in a really questionable light when she talked about how Marlene scratched her armpit on camera and the director had to stop her – but this was in fact confirmed as a real happenstance from Marlene's POV (apparently to stop Leni from asking questions. Sneaky. Totally cattish behaviour I could envision from Marlene, actually).
Marlene was a diva but here you could see the small moments why she is a diva. I questioned her behaviour in the last chapter but I guess loneliness might drive people to questionable actions.
I didn't love Anna May Wong, but she was interesting enough for me to care about her story. Even the sad part about I read with a tinge of oh well, it was a pity. Not with any sort of loud wish that things had been different, as you do with characters you end up caring a lot about.
Also, on a side note, there was a fantastical long sentence in one of Ibrahim's chapters which made me go, wow, this author really has a unique writing style and isn't afraid that her readers might be dumb enough to not follow it. (I feel like some confusion or lack of understanding on the reader's part challenges them to really engage and follow the story, y'know? But it also adds some meaning for the reader, I feel.) I estimate at least a hundred words in this sentence. You can go read and find it. ;)
Something that impressed me: the author included Rilke's poems from German with her translation and interpretation. The thing about Singapore is (the author grew up in Singapore for most of her youth), we're taught our mother tongue (in her case, Mandarin) and English from young, so German is a language she must've loved and learned on her own. Amanda Lee Koe is so smart and sharp and sure it highkey intimidates me. (I might or might not have stalked her Instagram captions, and you can tell that the writing style is...wow. Out of this world. I would love to write like her. I am in awe. Awe.)
Also, I LOVED the type font and cover. I'm the type who may just refuse to read a book if the font is ugly (too wide, too big, too un-serious) even if the book might be good. Unfortunately, I am a firm believer that the font lends credibility and mood to the book you're reading, so I'm a tad picky and had to point out the fact that the font of this book really suited the writing style – I don't know if I'm making sense anymore, but the font gave me the stylish, classic, classy, edgy, timeless, poetic, serious, I-know-what-I'm-doing vibes.
I noted how the author just went ahead and put in Chinese characters, German/French words (even a sentence, once or twice) without explaining or translating. I don't particularly have anything against it (bonus if you read and understand it, because often these sentences carry more weight and meaning in their native languages and cultures; however I did note that the part about a photograph capturing a bit of your soul was written in English, probably because it was for better contextual comprehension? I'm not sure if that belief was only a Chinese thing, or across various cultures).
P.S. Can I talk about how proud I am (as a Singaporean) that we get to see such a complex but beautifully written book produced? Our literary scene is only just beginning to flourish as a young nation, so it gives me so much hope and inspiration to see works that can stand their weight against international scrutiny, thereby being recognised. I think Singlit (aka Singapore literature) hasn't really been defined yet (unlike great and renowned American novels e.g. The Great Gatsby, To Kill A Mockingbird) so it's really interesting to see such stylistic works bursting onto the scene. I look forward to more!! In the meantime, I will work on my own writing and read Amanda Lee Koe's first book, [b:Ministry of Moral Panic|17238889|Ministry of Moral Panic|Amanda Lee Koe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470024658l/17238889._SY75_.jpg|23765412].
P.P.S. This must've been one of my longest reviews. I picked up this book because I was intrigued by her voice in her Instagram captions, the way she wrote, and of course, the pretty cover and font. I admit that I struggled to finish it because of how thick it was (383 pages; I borrowed from the library) and the many narratives I had to follow through made me question at times, why am I continuing to read this? Truthfully, I am thankful the writing flowed for me so it wasn't that hard to read, but you did have to focus for every single sentence – I'm not a skimmer; even though I was tempted to skim some parts, the essence of this book called me not to skim. We're visiting past lives across time, across seas, across memories. Why skim when you picked up this book to follow the delayed rays of a star and when it touched the lives of these women?
The blurb put that "And the real question is, how much has anything changed?" I'm not too sure if this is the best question that captures what the whole book is, but it does leave you wondering after you've finished the book, how much has anything changed? Is that a question worth pondering over?
You have to read this to find out. :D
Well, there were many characters, but it never felt like I didn't know who was speaking at any one time. For one, the writing was mostly focused on what was happening and their thoughts. Interestingly, I found the lack of quotation marks immersive because what they were saying sounded to be like their thoughts.
This book centers its story around three main protagonists: famous Marlene Dietrich, struggling Anna May Wong, and determined Leni Riefenstahl at different points of their lives – at Marlene's deathbed (this was a striking beginning), when they met (aka The Photograph), as they tried to pursue their dreams, near the end of their lives. The book also explores the narratives of Marlene's weekly maid Bébé, Marlene's director/ex-lover Josef von Sternberg, Marlin's intriguing caller Ibrahim, Anna May Wong's penpal Walter Benjamin, Leni Riefenstahl's gaffer Haas Haas, as we follow their lives for a few chapters. The stories were spread out rather cleverly, I thought.
I was highly impressed with the extensive research that must've gone into writing this, because the details are way too specific to be entirely thought of out her head. Given the author's deep admiration for Marlene Dietrich, I'm sure that it was written with all the years of collected facts and stories. That's a lot of dedication.
Surprisingly, I didn't really like Leni Riefenstahl by the time I was halfway through her monologue of sorts (it seemed like an excerpt from an interview, without the questions). At the same time, I found it difficult to hate her because I'd read what she'd been through. I didn't quite enjoy the read during this chapters as I began to question if she was being unreliable in these chapters (because everyone knew she hated Marlene Dietrich for stealing a role from under her nose); she painted Marlene in a really questionable light when she talked about how Marlene scratched her armpit on camera and the director had to stop her – but this was in fact confirmed as a real happenstance from Marlene's POV (apparently to stop Leni from asking questions. Sneaky. Totally cattish behaviour I could envision from Marlene, actually).
Marlene was a diva but here you could see the small moments why she is a diva. I questioned her behaviour in the last chapter
Spoiler
(was she going mad? batshit crazy? I know she missed Bébé (I miss her too) but it's really heartbreaking to be with a character at their lowest moments ;_;)I didn't love Anna May Wong, but she was interesting enough for me to care about her story. Even the sad part about
Spoiler
her never actually landing a leading role, spiralling into alcoholism, ending her last few years without much recognition from the public and her family, a sort of sorry reunion with MarleneAlso, on a side note, there was a fantastical long sentence in one of Ibrahim's chapters which made me go, wow, this author really has a unique writing style and isn't afraid that her readers might be dumb enough to not follow it. (I feel like some confusion or lack of understanding on the reader's part challenges them to really engage and follow the story, y'know? But it also adds some meaning for the reader, I feel.) I estimate at least a hundred words in this sentence. You can go read and find it. ;)
Something that impressed me: the author included Rilke's poems from German with her translation and interpretation. The thing about Singapore is (the author grew up in Singapore for most of her youth), we're taught our mother tongue (in her case, Mandarin) and English from young, so German is a language she must've loved and learned on her own. Amanda Lee Koe is so smart and sharp and sure it highkey intimidates me. (I might or might not have stalked her Instagram captions, and you can tell that the writing style is...wow. Out of this world. I would love to write like her. I am in awe. Awe.)
Also, I LOVED the type font and cover. I'm the type who may just refuse to read a book if the font is ugly (too wide, too big, too un-serious) even if the book might be good. Unfortunately, I am a firm believer that the font lends credibility and mood to the book you're reading, so I'm a tad picky and had to point out the fact that the font of this book really suited the writing style – I don't know if I'm making sense anymore, but the font gave me the stylish, classic, classy, edgy, timeless, poetic, serious, I-know-what-I'm-doing vibes.
I noted how the author just went ahead and put in Chinese characters, German/French words (even a sentence, once or twice) without explaining or translating. I don't particularly have anything against it (bonus if you read and understand it, because often these sentences carry more weight and meaning in their native languages and cultures; however I did note that the part about a photograph capturing a bit of your soul was written in English, probably because it was for better contextual comprehension? I'm not sure if that belief was only a Chinese thing, or across various cultures).
P.S. Can I talk about how proud I am (as a Singaporean) that we get to see such a complex but beautifully written book produced? Our literary scene is only just beginning to flourish as a young nation, so it gives me so much hope and inspiration to see works that can stand their weight against international scrutiny, thereby being recognised. I think Singlit (aka Singapore literature) hasn't really been defined yet (unlike great and renowned American novels e.g. The Great Gatsby, To Kill A Mockingbird) so it's really interesting to see such stylistic works bursting onto the scene. I look forward to more!! In the meantime, I will work on my own writing and read Amanda Lee Koe's first book, [b:Ministry of Moral Panic|17238889|Ministry of Moral Panic|Amanda Lee Koe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470024658l/17238889._SY75_.jpg|23765412].
P.P.S. This must've been one of my longest reviews. I picked up this book because I was intrigued by her voice in her Instagram captions, the way she wrote, and of course, the pretty cover and font. I admit that I struggled to finish it because of how thick it was (383 pages; I borrowed from the library) and the many narratives I had to follow through made me question at times, why am I continuing to read this? Truthfully, I am thankful the writing flowed for me so it wasn't that hard to read, but you did have to focus for every single sentence – I'm not a skimmer; even though I was tempted to skim some parts, the essence of this book called me not to skim. We're visiting past lives across time, across seas, across memories. Why skim when you picked up this book to follow the delayed rays of a star and when it touched the lives of these women?
The blurb put that "And the real question is, how much has anything changed?" I'm not too sure if this is the best question that captures what the whole book is, but it does leave you wondering after you've finished the book, how much has anything changed? Is that a question worth pondering over?
You have to read this to find out. :D