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michaelpdonley's review
4.0
A fascinating book. It's a conversation between a mom and her teenaged son after he's died by suicide. The author's son died the same way, and it was written in the months after his death. There's a deep insight into her relationship with her son, but it's not necessarily universal insight. A lot of cerebral "arguments" about nouns and verbs and language, but you have to read between the lines to hear the heartache of the mother.
jaclyncrupi's review
3.0
There was superb wordplay and poetry here but it was just so cripplingly sad that I couldn’t fully enjoy it. A mother holds conversations with her seventeen year old son who has recently killed himself. Li confronts the reader with what it is to lose a child and I am shattered.
bluerubie's review
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
2.25
pennym_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
a meditative and reflective story that i think will work for lots of people. the structure as a conversation unfortunately didnt work well for me, but i did appreciate the writing a lot
hslo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
readcodelove's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
davechua's review
4.0
In this nonfiction book, Li YiYun has the impossible task of understanding her son's suicide. A very painful but contemplative read.
zoap's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The format of the book is an unashamedly real conversation between the author, the mother, and her child, who has recently died by suicide. This format could be challenging to read but it was challenging in the way a late-night conversation with a friend you care deeply for who divulges the most tenuous topic consuming their mind is challenging. I can’t even say it was very sad. Emotionally it was nostalgic, loving, annoyed, longing, and wistful. It felt honest in a way I have not seen grief spoken about so honestly.