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A review by taibreakfast
Nights When Nothing Happened by Simon Han
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A subtle, slow read about the blurred lines between dreams and reality, including the stories/lies? we tell ourselves and each other, dramatized by the 5 year old daughter sleepwalking but exhibited by all family members.
The sentences are lovely, and the whole reading experience is like a hazy dream, or perhaps sleepwalking, watching things happen (or not happen) and feeling a sense of denial or unreality about it. This is paired with our reader's knowledge that our characters are at times completely different people, depending on who they're around.
This theme/atmosphere is nicely encapsulated by the scene with the teacher when she needs to explainthe lone slipper in the pond , and she realizes that, more than the truth, her young students need a story.
Each chapter rotates perspectives between the younger daughter, the older son, their mom, and their dad. Each perspective feels distinct and age appropriate (although I forgot how old the daughter was and was surprised to be reminded she was 5). Aside from the quiet son, the characters are pretty flawed and have fairly unlikeable qualities, but we inhabit their points of view so well that we understand where they're coming from. Hence I voted yes for loveable characters. (Although dang, sometimes I felt at a loss for how one would gently parent the daughter, geez louise! I'm glad we get the moment wherethe mom imagines she slaps her daughter because I needed it!)
Mid-2000s Plano, TX and '50s/'60s & '70s/'80s China were interesting settings. At times, we jumped between the three, but it wasn't confusing.
Maybe because I listened to the audiobook instead of reading the text, but I was a little caught off guard thatthe dad's anger management was going to be the secret that, once addressed, would heal the family . I think by the end, we're supposed to feel that things ended up all okay but I wasn't entirely convinced how, when things seemed so deeply entrenched. That's why I thought the character development could've been stronger, but I thought the characters were otherwise well rendered.
Overall, thought provoking and lovely in its quiet stillness, like the moonlight on the water.
The sentences are lovely, and the whole reading experience is like a hazy dream, or perhaps sleepwalking, watching things happen (or not happen) and feeling a sense of denial or unreality about it. This is paired with our reader's knowledge that our characters are at times completely different people, depending on who they're around.
This theme/atmosphere is nicely encapsulated by the scene with the teacher when she needs to explain
Each chapter rotates perspectives between the younger daughter, the older son, their mom, and their dad. Each perspective feels distinct and age appropriate (although I forgot how old the daughter was and was surprised to be reminded she was 5). Aside from the quiet son, the characters are pretty flawed and have fairly unlikeable qualities, but we inhabit their points of view so well that we understand where they're coming from. Hence I voted yes for loveable characters. (Although dang, sometimes I felt at a loss for how one would gently parent the daughter, geez louise! I'm glad we get the moment where
Mid-2000s Plano, TX and '50s/'60s & '70s/'80s China were interesting settings. At times, we jumped between the three, but it wasn't confusing.
Maybe because I listened to the audiobook instead of reading the text, but I was a little caught off guard that
Overall, thought provoking and lovely in its quiet stillness, like the moonlight on the water.