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A review by lilias
The Borrowed by Chan Ho-Kei
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I wish there had been a smoother flow from one story to the next. Without more connection between stories I felt the structure of the book, going backwards in time, was kind of a neat trick rather than serving a literary purpose. I didn’t love the writing style, which could be an issue of translation, but I did love the overarching themes.
It was really interesting to see Hong Kong through this book. I remember hearing about the handover on the radio in 1997, and so much of the action of <i>The Borrowed</i> is the transitioning Hong Kong, all the ways it has changed over time and all the ways it hasn’t changed.
It was really interesting to see Hong Kong through this book. I remember hearing about the handover on the radio in 1997, and so much of the action of <i>The Borrowed</i> is the transitioning Hong Kong, all the ways it has changed over time and all the ways it hasn’t changed.