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kirstym25's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, and Abortion
sarah984's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a really interesting book looking at the commodification of bodies and whose lives have value in an authoritarian capitalist society. It's told in a series of loosely connected character vignettes about people who live in Saha Estates, an abandoned apartment building run as a sort of co-op by non-citizens. Sahas are despised but needed for menial jobs citizens don't want to do. I docked a star because things started to get a bit silly near the end with the action scenes, but I liked the actual conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Classism, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Gun violence, Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt, Child death, Death of parent, Deportation, Rape, and Vomit
georgia_gabrielle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Cho Nam-Joo's last book "Kim Jiyoung, Born 1984" is an amazing read, so I really looking forward to this novel (and any future novels) but unfortunately it didn't stick the landing.
Saha had many ideas; dystopian, totalitarian government, extreme poor Vs extremely rich, homelessness, medical experiments, forbidden romance and to top it all off - murder.
After listing just a few of the themes, it might start to seem slightly disjointed. And it was, at no point did this book really ever find it footing, we went from one topic to another, all while jumping from one character to another.
I would be hesitant to recommend this book to anybody, it's a slog to read, and by the end it definitely didn't feel worth it.
Saha had many ideas; dystopian, totalitarian government, extreme poor Vs extremely rich, homelessness, medical experiments, forbidden romance and to top it all off - murder.
After listing just a few of the themes, it might start to seem slightly disjointed. And it was, at no point did this book really ever find it footing, we went from one topic to another, all while jumping from one character to another.
I would be hesitant to recommend this book to anybody, it's a slog to read, and by the end it definitely didn't feel worth it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Medical content
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