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A review by captain_trips
The Backstreets: A Novel from Xinjiang by Perhat Tursun
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
A difficult book to rate. On one hand it's a unique and vividly well written perspective on an oppressed minority not often seen by Westerners. But on the other it's also a dour, dreary, and repetitive read.
"I don't know anyone in this strange city, so it's impossible for me to be friends or enemies with anyone."
This phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the book. The story slowly unfurls through our protagonists stream of conscience thoughts and experiences. He walks about the city hyper focused on the oppressive fog, smells, and numbers of passing houses and license plates that he tries to make sense out of.
His life story is gradually revealed in small snippets of memories that he shares - his time at university in Beijing, his alcoholic father, elementary school, etc. and it paints a tragic picture.
The protagonist is essentially a ghost. A person desperately trying to find any semblance of humanity in the wasteland of the city. He isn't connected to anything or anyone. He is constantly surprised and confused by the hostility that he encounters even until the very end.
Perhaps the story behind the story is more interesting. I'm glad I read this work, but also relieved to be out of the fog.
"I don't know anyone in this strange city, so it's impossible for me to be friends or enemies with anyone."
This phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the book. The story slowly unfurls through our protagonists stream of conscience thoughts and experiences. He walks about the city hyper focused on the oppressive fog, smells, and numbers of passing houses and license plates that he tries to make sense out of.
His life story is gradually revealed in small snippets of memories that he shares - his time at university in Beijing, his alcoholic father, elementary school, etc. and it paints a tragic picture.
The protagonist is essentially a ghost. A person desperately trying to find any semblance of humanity in the wasteland of the city. He isn't connected to anything or anyone. He is constantly surprised and confused by the hostility that he encounters even until the very end.
Perhaps the story behind the story is more interesting. I'm glad I read this work, but also relieved to be out of the fog.