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concretefem 's review for:
Vagabonds
by Hao Jingfang
I struggled mightily with this book. I can’t tell if it’s because of the writing, which while literary and poignant in moments, also really dragged, or because of the distracting, CLOWNISH narration in the audio book version (Emily Woo Zeller reads audiobooks like she’s Jessica Rabbit smoking a long cigar—so unnecessarily staged and over the top, and incidentally why I rebuke audm!). But I couldn’t overcome the feeling that reading this book was a form of slow, tedious, punishment.
Alas. Focusing on the words themselves, the good includes the author dropping beautiful similes like it’s his job and thoughtful reflections on capitalism vs socialism, revolution, and inter generational change. The bad is ponderous storytelling with far too many protagonists (many of whom are irritating) that never really reaches a climax.
So yeah. Nowhere near my list of favorite reads, but still worthwhile. And at a minimum skip the audiobook version which just grates and grates and grates against the eardrums as well as your nerves...
Alas. Focusing on the words themselves, the good includes the author dropping beautiful similes like it’s his job and thoughtful reflections on capitalism vs socialism, revolution, and inter generational change. The bad is ponderous storytelling with far too many protagonists (many of whom are irritating) that never really reaches a climax.
So yeah. Nowhere near my list of favorite reads, but still worthwhile. And at a minimum skip the audiobook version which just grates and grates and grates against the eardrums as well as your nerves...