jaimeereads's review
3.5
This book was confusing, and I felt dumb for not being able to follow it. I really got into the book initially, I liked the characters, liked where it was going. But then characters kept disappearing and time kept jumping and I didn’t know where I was! With all that I still enjoyed the story even when I had no idea what was going on.
zfletch's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
jhatrick's review
emotional
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
emmalewins's review
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
3.5
I found it quite confusing to follow and I think I missed some connections between characters and events. I enjoyed the parts from non human narrators.
spicer7's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
i really loved how the author used such visual language, and the last part really brought so much together
curiouslykaylee's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
This book was definitely an odd choice for me, but that is the point of my library’s reading challenge 🤷♀️
I guess I’ll start with what I did like. The writing was quite well done. The style was beautiful and seemed to fit the story perfectly. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Thailand. Having never been there before I appreciated the details on the surroundings and what life was like.
Unfortunately the positives seem to end there. My main issue with the story was the structure. I can appreciate alternating timelines and multiple POVs when they are done well. The lack of chapter headers left me confused for most of the novel.
I also didn’t like how the various storylines connected. Some of them made sense but I found one character in particular almost entirely irrelevant.
My main question after finishing this novel is why? Why was this story told? What was the point? I may have liked the story more if it had been told in chronological order and if the POVs had been labeled. I think I would have been more interested in the story I’d each major character’s story was its own novella.
I guess I’ll start with what I did like. The writing was quite well done. The style was beautiful and seemed to fit the story perfectly. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Thailand. Having never been there before I appreciated the details on the surroundings and what life was like.
Unfortunately the positives seem to end there. My main issue with the story was the structure. I can appreciate alternating timelines and multiple POVs when they are done well. The lack of chapter headers left me confused for most of the novel.
I also didn’t like how the various storylines connected. Some of them made sense but I found one character in particular almost entirely irrelevant.
My main question after finishing this novel is why? Why was this story told? What was the point? I may have liked the story more if it had been told in chronological order and if the POVs had been labeled. I think I would have been more interested in the story I’d each major character’s story was its own novella.
kieren's review against another edition
soooo boring i'm sorry but it just felt like a chore every time i opened the app to listen
josiemzn's review
3.0
Enjoyed the strong sense of place but I would have liked to have revisited some of the characters from early on in the story - I assumed that characters would keep returning as storylines intertwined, but many disappeared early on and then never came up again.
literarycari's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0