Reviews

Taipei by Tao Lin

romcm's review

5.0

A cross between an episode of Girls and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. The long sentences, with multiple asides, were at first difficult to read, then, less difficult.

frasmcm's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

indivicivet's review

challenging sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

gooseofbeverly's review

4.0

Some of the most realistic dialogue I’ve ever read.

eannwang's review

2.0

I'm realizing that I don't generally enjoy books where character depth and motivation aren't clearly articulated, and where there's not a clear plot to the story. I don't think Paul and his friends are supposed to be likable - described as going to parties or traveling aimlessly while doing copious drugs, even for professional settings like his book speaking events - but I would have wanted to understand their motivation (or lack thereof) to do the things they do. The writing style feels narrated like you're navigating life through a hazy view, which may be intentional to match Paul's perspective. Definitely a trippy read, so get ready to go on a complex journey.

avaalexander's review

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

i honestly expected to hate this book and wouldn’t have read it if it hadn’t been assigned for my contemporary literature class. someone on booktok had said it was long and boring and that she never dnfed books but she dnfed this. It wasn’t that long, but it definitely didn’t have a plot. For whatever reason, I didn’t mind. I kinda liked the writing style. I never would have known it was auto fiction if my teacher hadn’t told me and that kind of changes it for me. Not sure if it’s a “modern classic” but still pretty good, i guess. i can’t decide 

dkai's review

2.0

It's hard to get through. Paul sweeps you up in his mind very effectively, yet you don't really want to keep reading. Despite all the drugs and other problems, it never seems to make judgments: it just presents the story as-is and leaves it to the reader to judge (or not). I think part of the reason it's so hard to read is precisely because it captures the modern detachment/disillusionment of young adults so well.

ferris_mx's review

1.0

Well, that was really terrible. The best I can say for it is that it has a pretty cover.

The writing is very choppy and there's not much to say. A bunch of youngsters getting their drugs on, unable to communicate (pretty much like Matamorphosis). Boring and meaningless...just like their lives.

jazzskeleton's review

5.0

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mcnu118's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0