A review by julinear
Rouge Street: Three Novellas by Shuang Xuetao

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

Quick and dry, this trio of novellas felt like a trio of dreams. Narratives took unexpected turns in perspective and direction, and though there were some fantastical elements, the stories felt rooted in real experiences of trying to find oneself or escape from bleak or seemingly insurmountable circumstances. Though I did not like or even care for every character, I appreciated the breadth of perspective and the complicated network of their intersections. Shuang's writing style is often likened to Hemingway or Murakami, which certainly checks out - direct, snappy, and practical language dominated Rouge Street. I found that this made it easy to pick up, put down, and pick up again, which helped me out of a bit of a reading slump I've been in. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but fit the bill for me.
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