A review by applesodaperson
The Membranes by Chi Ta-wei

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

4.5

This book was amazing!!!! Like wow it was so incredibly unique.
I really did not see the plot twist coming, but it made so much sense after it happened.
This book had such a unique setting, with everyone living underneath the sea. But instead of just having this be the setting without any explanation, a significant portion of the book is dedicated to the history of the world and why they ended up under the sea. This allowed for some really interesting social commentary, about politics and race. 
I also loved the motif of the canary bird cage. It takes on a lot of different meanings throughout the story, which makes the symbolism even richer. 
And of course one of the standouts of this book was the gender aspect, which I think this book handled really well, and in its own unique way. 
Overall this book was masterful and a very enjoyable read.
Read from the BYU library. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings