A review by thenovelmaura
Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My friend Gabrielle (@overbookedbibliophile) gave me the best audiobook recommendation for this book I'd never heard of. She totally gets me and I'm obsessed with this weird and wonderful story. My review is in the form of a list of things I enjoyed about it that will hopefully encourage you to read it too.

  • <250 pages: What can I say, I liked that Ge kept things short and sweet here.
  • Books in translation: I find it fascinating that I'm effectively reading the combined work of two writers: the original author and the translator.
  • Audiobook narrated by Emily Woo Zeller: I immediately recognized her voice from when I listened to White Ivy and she did an amazing job with both books!
  • Unnamed narrator: I liked the contrast between the narrator being a very popular and recognizable writer in her city while the reader doesn't even know her name.
  • Bestiary set in a bustling city: Each chapter of this book is about a different beast, and the chapters are bookended with explanations about the beasts' appearances, habits, and social structures. In between these sections lie the adventures of our author/zoologist narrator, who writes stories about the beasts she encounters in this strange city. I loved this setup and how the beasts were not always as they appeared in the chapter openings.
  • Noir vibes: Most of the chapters were written like short detective stories, with our cynical narrator wandering through the smoky streets and in and out of the Dolphin Bar in her search for clues about the beasts. The mood was dark and contemplative, interspersed with bits of humor as characters poke fun at and hang up the phone on one another.

This book lives up to its name and I loved being transported to the fictional Yong'an on my walks to and from work earlier this year!
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