pdxpagemaster 's review for:

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

2.25

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I read this with a book club and someone said:

“Im having a strange experience where I really enjoy it for a couple chapters, and then I'm over it. I push through, find myself enjoying it again, and then meh. I've never had it happen in this wave-like pattern before.”

And this was 100% the best way to describe my feelings about this book.

I think the themes of religion and religious trauma were the most intriguing parts of this book.

I think the book only made sense if you read the last 50 pages.

I wanted to like this more than I did. Conceptually, checks all my boxes. In execution it read like a YA-like Joan of Arc-ish Diary written to be irreverent like Gideon the Ninth but missing the connection to both characters and plot?

It also felt like it suffered “I’m the second book in a series” syndrome while also being the first book in a series.

Didn’t have the impact for me I think the book intended to deliver.