unoriginalinspiration's reviews
138 reviews

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair: (Dual-Language Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by Pablo Neruda, W.S. Merwin, Cristina García

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3.75

Sweet Braised Duck by Chew Ngee Tan

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.25

Sweet Braised Duck was everything I expected it to be and more. It skillfully addressed complex issues such as immigration, poverty, abuse, and politics, while also capturing the cultural beauty of a family transitioning from one country to another.
I found it truly fascinating to observe the cultural and linguistic similarities between South India (Tamil Nadu) and Singapore within the pages of this book. Seeing a reflection of myself in a foreign setting, with references to Murukku and a street hawker complimenting the protagonist Kuang (Style-o style), brought about a heartwarming sense of connection.
Chew Ngee Tan's writing transported me to Singapore, allowing me to vividly visualize every detail. The author's ability to evoke emotions, enabling me to feel the characters' emotional journeys, witness the scenes they encountered, and even experience the enticing aromas described, made it impossible not to become fully engrossed in this beautifully written book.
I have a deep appreciation for books that evoke strong emotions, and Sweet Braised Duck accomplished exactly that for me.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Penguin SEA for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I am eagerly looking forward to the next book you send me!

Content Warnings