Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge

5 reviews

horizonous's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is definitely a strange book and I feel like I missed a lot of social commentary. What I enjoyed the most is this hazy, almost dreamlike atmosphere and the beasts. There are some parts that left me a bit confused, but overall a fascinating book.

I think this type of short story collections, where the stories all follow a connected thread work a lot better for me than a book filled with separate stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Death of parent

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

breeoxd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

This book is beyond strange, but anything that pulls me in so completely has to be a 5 star book. The author is an exceptional craftswoman. One of those books where you know it’s an immediate reread. Note to other readers- look for the critical essays written on this one to add further richness to your experience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Genocide, Slavery, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Colonisation

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Classism

Minor: Sexual assault

lanid's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Alcohol

Minor: Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Grief

theatrix's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a quick and engrossing and thought-provoking read, but also challenging, both due to the wide range of disturbing themes (there are many, but most are touched on pretty briefly), and due to the style, which doesn't baby you with explanations and trusts you to put pieces together yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

clarabooksit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail