cdlindwall's review
5.0
I love Tao Lin so much. A paragraph in his book on DMT's benefit to humans sums up why. "DMT produced awe and wonder, but so did reading nonfiction books that referenced ideas outside the mainstream, and that reading seemed better for stability and recovery and was maybe even more life-changing and suited to him, as a way to explore and learn, than dimension-rending psychedelics."
Tao's writing produces awe and wonder. He makes the ordinary—from dental work to pesticides to dreaming—surprising and strange. He makes me want to self-experiment and unlearn and wormhole deeper into the specific things I find fascinating. He makes me want to view writing and art as a context in which to create a different kind of life.
Tao's writing produces awe and wonder. He makes the ordinary—from dental work to pesticides to dreaming—surprising and strange. He makes me want to self-experiment and unlearn and wormhole deeper into the specific things I find fascinating. He makes me want to view writing and art as a context in which to create a different kind of life.
emsemsems's review
5.0
'Li stared out his window at the ocean, thinking about his microbiome. It was hard to change his microbiome because the first microbes to colonise his body had formed biofilms – microbial communities protected by self-produced polymer matrices. The past was like a biofilm, he though experimentally. It couldn’t be destroyed or suppressed. It had to be replaced gradually, with emotion-charged information, story-embedded ideas, memorable stories.'
4.5 – and officially my favourite from Tao Lin. His stuff is an acquired taste, usually lovelier when you give it another shot. I read [b:Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy|2193367|Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy|Tao Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348006196l/2193367._SX50_.jpg|2199104] for the first time when I was still in highschool, and it didn't leave much of an impression on me; but when I flipped through it again after I found my old copy in my parent's house (like almost a decade later?), I was heart-fucked and grossly emotional. I prefer 'Leave Society' to [b:Taipei|16041828|Taipei|Tao Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360620005l/16041828._SY75_.jpg|21818442] . It's almost like a more refined, upgraded version of that . I finished reading 'Leave Society' a while ago but didn't remember to post a review. I kept thinking about the book long after reading it, and I plan to give it another read in a few months time/more.
I don't tend to pick up 'autofiction' as it's not a genre I like enough. Read Murakami's most recent novel earlier in the year. That one flirts with the autofiction genre very badly; a shocking disappointment. Tao Lin's novel surprised me. I had very low expectations going in, and am gladly surprised. Perhaps, I'll read more autofiction now?
'Li recognised the tone from when Mike had said, “We aren’t going to Whole Foods,” and realised he’d inaccurately thought Mike had used it specifically on him. Calmed by the realisation, Li remembered he’d used the same tone on their parents for most of his life, that he still struggled to avoid it, and that it was the tone their parents usually used on each other.'
'There’s a Chinese saying – it’s easier to change a dynasty than a personality.'
There's so much more that I could go on about the novel, but because I read it very quickly, I want to give it a second reading before writing a proper/full review. Might even compare it to Woolf and/or Moshfegh (to a certain extent) in my future, fuller review. A very easy read. Also, not in the mood to write proper reviews recently. Been reading more, and reviewing less. I love, love, love the narrative style, and how Tao Lin uses or rather translates Mandarin Chinese in such a direct, personal and playful way. The novel made me feel weird and fuzzy. Also, (an obviously popular opinion) Dudu is an absolute star in it.
'Let’s bicker at home. It’s embarrassing in public.'
cvtie's review
5.0
After months of leaving this book more-than-half-read on the shelf, a hypomanic episode, and concomitant unhealthy and addictive behaviours, I finished the remaining chapters in 2-3 days. Coming back to Leave Society was a pleasant reminder that stability and recovery (and, generally, knowledge gleaned from books—the transformative power of reading!) are important for growing/ processing. I have been sober for 23 days.
itsethanol's review
4.0
When I started reading this I had been living with my parents for almost a year. Staying with them after graduating involved many alternating waves of conflict and peace. Through it all, I’ve gotten a bit closer with my family, and in ways hidden from my conscious thought, I was beginning to heal from 4 years of college life that imbued me with a deep sense of meaninglessness. Leave Society is the best book I could have chosen to read at this point in my life. Since reading it I’ve been making a conscious effort to be even closer with my parents, to meditate and find small ways to rejoin the mystery and make it a part of my life again.
grxcezhxng's review
2.0
Most of this book is recounting everyday happennings. The repetitive back-and-forth conversations with Lin’s parents and the long monologues about health topics = lots of slow scenes. It delves into the mundane details and humor of each day, moment by moment, without relying on much of a narrative arc or higher message. This fosters an unconditional acceptance that it's alright to live a boring, ordinary life - which is kind of comforting.
Other than that, I didn't like the rest of the book. While at first the writing seems satirical, it becomes clear that this book is autofiction. Li the MC is really just Lin. As a chronic pain patient repeatedly failed by the pharmaceutical and medical industry, Li harbors a deep distrust towards society and holds many non-mainstream beliefs. His preoccupations with his diet, drugs, and existentialist new-age thought models come from this. Li persistently inundates his family with this kind of information and tries to persuade them to "leave society" with him. The cyclical nature of his thoughts, his conversations with his family, his behavioral patterns feel very tunnel vision and isolating.
The only possibly balancing perspective is his mom, when she says, "Leaving is not good. It's better to talk." But characters pretty much only exist to praise Li, and are not independent of themselves. So she's not ever fleshed out enough for her voice to be strong enough. Overall, ends up reading like a drug addict's diary that's almost completely divorced from reality.
Other than that, I didn't like the rest of the book. While at first the writing seems satirical, it becomes clear that this book is autofiction. Li the MC is really just Lin. As a chronic pain patient repeatedly failed by the pharmaceutical and medical industry, Li harbors a deep distrust towards society and holds many non-mainstream beliefs. His preoccupations with his diet, drugs, and existentialist new-age thought models come from this. Li persistently inundates his family with this kind of information and tries to persuade them to "leave society" with him. The cyclical nature of his thoughts, his conversations with his family, his behavioral patterns feel very tunnel vision and isolating.
The only possibly balancing perspective is his mom, when she says, "Leaving is not good. It's better to talk." But characters pretty much only exist to praise Li, and are not independent of themselves. So she's not ever fleshed out enough for her voice to be strong enough. Overall, ends up reading like a drug addict's diary that's almost completely divorced from reality.
faulkneribarelyknowher's review
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
love the weird nonsensical realistic dialogue and Dudu…pacing was a little weird but philosophical content and relationships in the book were beautiful
jerrica's review
5.0
A truly unique book about a man trying to see outside of his pain to the glorious and terrifying mystery of our existence.