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kayman17's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
2.5
I read this book on a friend's recommendation for a real mind screw of a drama (he is also reading a lot of Asian American literature for a class but I digress)... I find this play to be lackluster. Maybe in the 1980a this was a shocking concept, but crossdresser/transgender, communist informer, a White, European man questioning his values & etc. I don't know....? It felt overly preachy, too much "politics of resentment", and just anti Western for the sake of not being Asian (this is a gross oversimplification, of course, but it's not very complex or deep). I don't know.... I just found myself skimming parts of the play just to get to the end. Feels dated, and just too salty and weirdly overly focused on sex (which is fine; I just didn't enjoy the presentation). ⭐⭐& 1/2
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Transphobia, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
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