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jo_lzr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was also very interesting to read the essay by Heinrich. It gave me a better understanding of the book. Moreover, it was a good opportunity to learn a few things about Taiwan's recent history.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
pikkumarja's review against another edition
4.5
Tiesin jo ensimmäisten sivujen jälkeen, että pidän tästä kirjasta. Yksityiskohtiin kiinnitettiin tarpeeksi huomiota, ja mitä pidemmälle kirja eteni, sitä enemmän alkuunkin tuli järkeä.
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, and Stalking
mar's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
Moderate: Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Cannibalism, and Murder
rorikae's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
The story centers on Momo, a young woman who works as a dermal care technician taking care of her clients skin. Estranged from her mother, Momo lives a very quiet and isolated life, working and occasionally interacting with people outside of work. Reflecting back on her childhood and a surgery that she went through at a young age, Momo looks at her own life and how she has gotten to this point. When her mother resurfaces in her life, hoping to get in contact and meet, Momo will have to decide if she wants to see her or if she will refuse the offer.
Wow, this is a fascinating book. Not only does Chi Ta-wei create a fascinating future where all of humanity lives underwater but he also has written a fascinating story that looks at gender, personhood, and more. Momo is a flawed but deeply human character and it is interesting to watch as she goes about her daily life while also reflecting back on the strange occurrences of her childhood. There are lingering questions and a strangeness to the novella that is answered quite concretely at the end. I also really appreciated that the version I read had an essay in the back that explored the themes of the novella, especially in the light of the time that it was written and other works. I think this would be perfect for a book club to discuss as there are some quite shocking elements and reveals that turn the story on its head while also asking the reader to look back and evaluate what they have read.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Pedophilia
witcheep's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Medical trauma
cleo_reads's review against another edition
4.0
The pacing was a little off. Initially I was put off by the repetitive writing but I relaxed into it and the writing style made sense when I got to the end.
There are a lot of references, from Buddhism to Derrida to Ingmar Bergman and probably a lot that I missed. One of the most disturbing sequences in the book turned out to be a reference to the life and death of the Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini. (I had no idea reading it but learned it from a review).
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
Minor: Child abuse and War
iammmartina_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Forced institutionalization
nathiddles_106's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Moderate: Medical trauma and Gaslighting
maceydowns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content and Dysphoria
Minor: Rape, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bloodbrooxv's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, and Medical trauma