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julinear's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Quick and dry, this trio of novellas felt like a trio of dreams. Narratives took unexpected turns in perspective and direction, and though there were some fantastical elements, the stories felt rooted in real experiences of trying to find oneself or escape from bleak or seemingly insurmountable circumstances. Though I did not like or even care for every character, I appreciated the breadth of perspective and the complicated network of their intersections. Shuang's writing style is often likened to Hemingway or Murakami, which certainly checks out - direct, snappy, and practical language dominated Rouge Street. I found that this made it easy to pick up, put down, and pick up again, which helped me out of a bit of a reading slump I've been in. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but fit the bill for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
cw: two occurrences of the r-slur; a character has the nickname "Fatso"annegoodreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
It was interesting reading the translator’s notes on calling the book Rouge Street. Although the three stories are novellas, it took me a bit more time to read them. It is hard for me to imagine pronouncing the names. My favorite of the three was Bright Hall. Don’t let the title fool you, it starts with a sculptor getting his middle fingers chopped off for a sculpture of his the Red Guard didn’t approve of. Yikes. These stories are dark and gritty. They made me thankful for living in my nice little quiet neighborhood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail