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hannahmarierobbins's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
Owlish is a strange, magical-realistic exploration of shifting society through a man's midlife crisis. The professor at the heart of the story develops an obsession with a life size doll who he takes to a secret place to live out his fantasies with. As their interactions progress, the doll seems to be getting more and more life-like. Coppélia meets Murakami.
graciado's review against another edition
Somewhat slow; I was interested in the animation of the inanimate dancer, but did not really enjoy the obfuscation for the sake of it.
msbohlander's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jadereads_'s review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
julesreadsallsorts's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. It’s not a bad book but it failed to engage me. I’m sure there are things I’ve missed and I’m still not sure what’s the metaphor behind the dolls and what’s the sexual creepiness was supposed to represent if anything? Also confused about Owlish - at some point read like an alter-ego or an imaginary friend and at others as a person. The other metaphors were less confusing but felt quite on the surface for such a complex history and present of HK and China and I would’ve preferred more of that instead of doll stories.
There were parts I enjoyed but overall it left me rather cold to the prose. Perhaps next week’s Bookclub discussion will help appreciate this book more.
There were parts I enjoyed but overall it left me rather cold to the prose. Perhaps next week’s Bookclub discussion will help appreciate this book more.
celiahughes's review against another edition
2.0
This book has led me to write my first review because I am left feeling intensely confused. So much of this book I found wonderful: beautiful writing, captivating surrealism, an intimate perspective into a political climate I know very little about, and its generally compelling nature. But as many positive things there are to say, there are an equal amount of negatives. I think these have been described in detail in previous reviews, but in short I spent the first half of the book deeply uncomfortable and wanting to DNF, and then the last 30% just completely bewildered about what is happening. Reading it has left me with a strange combination of feelings, but it has impacted me in such a way that I don't think I'll be forgetting it anytime soon (for better or for worse)
phettberg's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bearbookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kate66's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 (half a point for the lovely narration).
I have a feeling that I'm missing a lot of metaphors in this novel. As a story it is bewildering, as a metaphor its even more confusing.
Professor Q is having a mid-life crisis. His career and marriage are stagnant. His home country is in flux having been ceded back to its original controllers ten years before. His escape is in a doll collection that he keeps hidden in his study. He finds gratification in dressing and playing with the dolls but that desire becomes out of control when he becomes the owner of Alliss, a life size ballerina doll.
Here's where I started to get lost, mainly because you are never sure what is real and what is dream.
I listened to the audio version and I had to keep going back on what I'd just heard because sometimes the end was so abrupt that I was positive is missed something crucial. After much deliberation I think Dorothy Tse has left so many open ends because life is like that. I understand that Nevers is a metaphor for Hong Kong and its current state of turmoil. No one really knows what will happen there or what is happening to its citizens.
We are left wondering what happened to Alliss, Professor Q and his wife. I am also still bewildered as to whether Owlish was a real person or just another facet of Professor Q's personality.
It's an interesting read. Writing this review (such as it is) has given me more of a headache than listening to the book. I'm definitely intrigued by Dorothy Tse and will search out more of her work.
I have a feeling that I'm missing a lot of metaphors in this novel. As a story it is bewildering, as a metaphor its even more confusing.
Professor Q is having a mid-life crisis. His career and marriage are stagnant. His home country is in flux having been ceded back to its original controllers ten years before. His escape is in a doll collection that he keeps hidden in his study. He finds gratification in dressing and playing with the dolls but that desire becomes out of control when he becomes the owner of Alliss, a life size ballerina doll.
Here's where I started to get lost, mainly because you are never sure what is real and what is dream.
I listened to the audio version and I had to keep going back on what I'd just heard because sometimes the end was so abrupt that I was positive is missed something crucial. After much deliberation I think Dorothy Tse has left so many open ends because life is like that. I understand that Nevers is a metaphor for Hong Kong and its current state of turmoil. No one really knows what will happen there or what is happening to its citizens.
We are left wondering what happened to Alliss, Professor Q and his wife. I am also still bewildered as to whether Owlish was a real person or just another facet of Professor Q's personality.
It's an interesting read. Writing this review (such as it is) has given me more of a headache than listening to the book. I'm definitely intrigued by Dorothy Tse and will search out more of her work.