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plainplantains's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sydneyreviews's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
3.0
I kind of liked it. Candy is a semi-autobiographical peek into the sleazy, druggy landscape of Shenzen in the 1990s. I have no problem with the content and found it to be unique in its setting, even if it is not surprising.
But formatting and awkward translations have made this a needlessly confusing read. The plot is confusing enough on its own — random incidents seem to whack us on the head every 10 pages to keep us awake. For some reason, they decided to use random numbering instead of paragraph dividers. No discernible reason, just for the kicks I guess. The translator or the author did an awful job of denoting changes in character perspectives. It jumps with absolutely no warning and detracts from the reading experience. It’s just far too disorganized for me to recommend. I appreciate the random lesbian couple shoutout though.
But formatting and awkward translations have made this a needlessly confusing read. The plot is confusing enough on its own — random incidents seem to whack us on the head every 10 pages to keep us awake. For some reason, they decided to use random numbering instead of paragraph dividers. No discernible reason, just for the kicks I guess. The translator or the author did an awful job of denoting changes in character perspectives. It jumps with absolutely no warning and detracts from the reading experience. It’s just far too disorganized for me to recommend. I appreciate the random lesbian couple shoutout though.
maijaraven's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
megaoscescu's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
hilikus_00's review against another edition
3.0
I think I liked (not loved) and hated this book at the same time. It was good at the beginning and I found it quite moving. The writing is, like others say, poetic and haunting, tragic with an ounce of humour. The love story with Saining to me, didn't really get that old. It did go on for the entire book but it didn't get old for me. To me, the book went downhill fast at the end with the disjointed narrating style. Seems like Mian Mian didn't know where she was going with the story. It got confusing at that point and I found myself jus wanting to get the book over with.
Anyways, not a terrible read chock full of sex and drugs. A good insight into underground, modern chinese culture but not for you if you're looking for a heartwarming, full-of-hope story.
Anyways, not a terrible read chock full of sex and drugs. A good insight into underground, modern chinese culture but not for you if you're looking for a heartwarming, full-of-hope story.
brookeoverbooked's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
itadakinasu's review against another edition
This is definitely a case of liking what the book stands for more than the book itself.
I can see why Candy is culturally significant: It represents a generation shaped by an opening, modernized China and ignorant of the previous generation's hardships. It gives a voice to the first "little emperors" born from the one-child policy and the existential crisis many of them inevitably faced when China underwent its growing pains during the technocratic era of Deng Xiaoping.
It gives a voice to the forgotten in that generation, to the disillusioned youth who were inundated with contrary messages ("the intellectuals are enemies of the state", "without education, you will be reduced to poverty", etc) and treated as little more than burdens. It beautifully captures the feelings of desolation, the desperation to make genuine and lasting connections, and the contrast between the mainstream, functional average person and the dysfunctional and lost.
But the cultural significance didn't make this story any easier to stomach.
As other reviewers have said, the story at face value is physically painful to read:
Hong is so stupid and self-pitying that my head hurts from all the eye rolling I did. She's young and uneducated. Making mistakes is understandable and realistic, but she never learns. She goes through a cycle of making a mistake, being in denial about it being a mistake, getting slapped in the face with reality, crying, feeling sorry for herself, and then making the same mistake again.
Not a single relationship in this story is even remotely functional or sincere. Sure, I guess you could argue that Saining and Hong are kind of in the same boat and thus have as genuine a connection as they could possibly have, but they are incredibly toxic and don't see each other for who the other really is, instead putting up a pedestal for the idea of each other.
The amount of sex, drugs, prostitution, cheating, etc is obnoxious. Every single character is either a sex-crazed fiend or a drugged-up dumbass or both. Some of that's to be expected from the blurb, but at least there should be a moment of realization or awakening in this miserable tale.
I think I knew this story was going to piss me off (at the beginning) when Hong lost her virginity. It was painful and disappointing, but to call it rape is insulting to rape victims. I guess I should have DNF'ed there instead of waiting.
Candy is undoubtedly well-written in terms of building atmosphere and tone. It portrays a forgotten demographic in China, and it captures the disillusionment of the time authentically. However, as a story it's painful and obnoxious, and the main characters are Too Stupid to Live.
I can see why Candy is culturally significant: It represents a generation shaped by an opening, modernized China and ignorant of the previous generation's hardships. It gives a voice to the first "little emperors" born from the one-child policy and the existential crisis many of them inevitably faced when China underwent its growing pains during the technocratic era of Deng Xiaoping.
It gives a voice to the forgotten in that generation, to the disillusioned youth who were inundated with contrary messages ("the intellectuals are enemies of the state", "without education, you will be reduced to poverty", etc) and treated as little more than burdens. It beautifully captures the feelings of desolation, the desperation to make genuine and lasting connections, and the contrast between the mainstream, functional average person and the dysfunctional and lost.
But the cultural significance didn't make this story any easier to stomach.
As other reviewers have said, the story at face value is physically painful to read:
Hong is so stupid and self-pitying that my head hurts from all the eye rolling I did. She's young and uneducated. Making mistakes is understandable and realistic, but she never learns. She goes through a cycle of making a mistake, being in denial about it being a mistake, getting slapped in the face with reality, crying, feeling sorry for herself, and then making the same mistake again.
Not a single relationship in this story is even remotely functional or sincere. Sure, I guess you could argue that Saining and Hong are kind of in the same boat and thus have as genuine a connection as they could possibly have, but they are incredibly toxic and don't see each other for who the other really is, instead putting up a pedestal for the idea of each other.
The amount of sex, drugs, prostitution, cheating, etc is obnoxious. Every single character is either a sex-crazed fiend or a drugged-up dumbass or both. Some of that's to be expected from the blurb, but at least there should be a moment of realization or awakening in this miserable tale.
I think I knew this story was going to piss me off (at the beginning) when Hong lost her virginity. It was painful and disappointing, but to call it rape is insulting to rape victims. I guess I should have DNF'ed there instead of waiting.
Candy is undoubtedly well-written in terms of building atmosphere and tone. It portrays a forgotten demographic in China, and it captures the disillusionment of the time authentically. However, as a story it's painful and obnoxious, and the main characters are Too Stupid to Live.
zo12zo's review against another edition
3.0
3,5
o livro é muito repetitivo (o que é compreensível, tendo em conta o contexto) e a narração fica um bocado confusa no final, assim do nada. este livro tinha tudo para ter uma review má... mas a ESCRITA da Mian Mian.. isto sim, é escrita
o livro é muito repetitivo (o que é compreensível, tendo em conta o contexto) e a narração fica um bocado confusa no final, assim do nada. este livro tinha tudo para ter uma review má... mas a ESCRITA da Mian Mian.. isto sim, é escrita
rzeka's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
s4ily's review against another edition
3.0
esta es una historia que se me hace difícil describir. al recordarla, solo recuerdo la impotencia de leer a la protagonista echando su vida a perder, dando dos pasos adelante y luego tres hacia atrás, y viviendo en ese ciclo horrible que a veces me daban ganas de sacarla del libro y pegarle.
esta es una historia que es un poco desesperanzadora, cuenta sobre personas que aunque lo intentaron nunca pudieron salir de ciertas situaciones y no tuvieron los mejores finales.
en un punto, se hizo un poco cansador y frustrante, pero de todas formas no podría decir que no me gustó.
esta es una historia que es un poco desesperanzadora, cuenta sobre personas que aunque lo intentaron nunca pudieron salir de ciertas situaciones y no tuvieron los mejores finales.
en un punto, se hizo un poco cansador y frustrante, pero de todas formas no podría decir que no me gustó.