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dingusdaemonicus's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
2.25
moudi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ericpschoon's review against another edition
7/10/24
Very unsure how to feel about this book but I did enjoy it, I'm just not convinced it is very sound narrative wise. Short engaging read though and I'll probably come back to it eventually to form a real opinion because it was definitely interesting.
Very unsure how to feel about this book but I did enjoy it, I'm just not convinced it is very sound narrative wise. Short engaging read though and I'll probably come back to it eventually to form a real opinion because it was definitely interesting.
bookmarkonthewall's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
kristianawithak's review against another edition
4.0
The Secret Talker is a quiet compact novel that packs a lot into its slim pages. A married woman begins an email correspondence with a stranger who has been watching her carefully. She is torn between the intrigue and attention being paid to her and her faithfulness to her spouse.
Hongmei begins to tell her secrets to the person on the other side of the screen, and as her story unfolds the reader is captivated and curious to see how it will end.
This translated novel is great and I look forward to reading more by Geling Yan.
Thanks to netgalley for the gifted copy.
Hongmei begins to tell her secrets to the person on the other side of the screen, and as her story unfolds the reader is captivated and curious to see how it will end.
This translated novel is great and I look forward to reading more by Geling Yan.
Thanks to netgalley for the gifted copy.
sampadaac's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? Yes
3.5
errski's review against another edition
5.0
I'm between 4 and 5 stars, but the ending was 5 stars so, 4.5 stars? Yeah the book was exciting, creepy, and ... guilty(!!?). Some of the story I didnt like, mainly the main character's (maybe author's) opinion on some things, but could be a cultural thing... for me personally this doesnt take too much away from the story itself. The ending is great, I won't say I was surprised by it, but it was still a good ending.
justinkhchen's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Utilizing tropes common in domestic thrillers, The Secret Talker is a lyrical study on buried secrets, deceptive harmony, and wandering desire in a seemingly steady marriage.
Once you accept the rather archaic method of exchange Geling Yan chose as the primary narrative device (it has been a long time since I personally write / receive meaningful, lengthy emails; texting and other apps have since taken its place.), it's a rather effective storytelling device; organically revealing events in a stream of consciousness manner, providing suspense and twist without feeling overtly manipulative.
Being an #ownvoices novel, the Chinese protagonist feels authentic, and her cultural background and upbringing is what validate the realism of The Secret Talker's narrative; the trope can only be sustained convincingly with a conflicting immigrated Chinese's state of mind: glorification of the Western culture (and maintaining it at all cost), internal turmoil beneath a placid facade (unwilling to be seen broken), and disdain, but the same time, nostalgic for one's humbled root.
The ending twist is emotionally rewarding, if not The Sixth Sense level surprisingly, nor as flawlessly executed. The puzzle pieces come together abruptly with many conveniences, as if the author has hit the minimum page count for the assignment, rather than letting the narrative reach its resolution in an appropriate pacing. This shortcoming aside, the reveal does warrant The Secret Talker a second read-through, as it alters the reader's interpretation of a specific character.
The Secret Talker is more literary fiction than thriller, it uses suspenseful scenarios as catalyst to deep dive into a character's psyche, rather than purely for their shock value. If you are a fan of beautiful prose and well-rounded, flawed protagonist, this book is worth a try.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
Utilizing tropes common in domestic thrillers, The Secret Talker is a lyrical study on buried secrets, deceptive harmony, and wandering desire in a seemingly steady marriage.
Once you accept the rather archaic method of exchange Geling Yan chose as the primary narrative device (it has been a long time since I personally write / receive meaningful, lengthy emails; texting and other apps have since taken its place.), it's a rather effective storytelling device; organically revealing events in a stream of consciousness manner, providing suspense and twist without feeling overtly manipulative.
Being an #ownvoices novel, the Chinese protagonist feels authentic, and her cultural background and upbringing is what validate the realism of The Secret Talker's narrative; the trope can only be sustained convincingly with a conflicting immigrated Chinese's state of mind: glorification of the Western culture (and maintaining it at all cost), internal turmoil beneath a placid facade (unwilling to be seen broken), and disdain, but the same time, nostalgic for one's humbled root.
The ending twist is emotionally rewarding, if not The Sixth Sense level surprisingly, nor as flawlessly executed. The puzzle pieces come together abruptly with many conveniences, as if the author has hit the minimum page count for the assignment, rather than letting the narrative reach its resolution in an appropriate pacing. This shortcoming aside, the reveal does warrant The Secret Talker a second read-through, as it alters the reader's interpretation of a specific character.
The Secret Talker is more literary fiction than thriller, it uses suspenseful scenarios as catalyst to deep dive into a character's psyche, rather than purely for their shock value. If you are a fan of beautiful prose and well-rounded, flawed protagonist, this book is worth a try.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
gloommistress's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.75
Wildly underwhelming. I think there were a lot of really interesting themes in this, but it (ironically) felt too long, all things considered.