A review by leahb88
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a great retelling that almost looked underneath the original to see the more hidden, unspoken parts of 1920s society. The writing was so gorgeous and lyrical and I pulled so many great quotes from it. While I agree with a lot of people that it is a slow read, I also thought Great Gatsby was a slow read, and I enjoyed this more. The magical realism elements are a bit confusing and not really fleshed out in some parts, but ultimately I think they serve the purpose of highlighting the glamour, illusion, and most of all privilege of this society. I loved getting deeper into this version of Jordan and the impact of her race and identity brings light to the racism and orientalism. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings