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A review by misspalah
Kinder Than Solitude by Yiyun Li
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Celia sighed. "Why else do you not want to have a real life?" Perhaps Celia's version was better: a story of loyalty and betrayal, of scheming and innocence. For a moment, Ruyu could see herself in Celia's-and Edwin's-eyes: a life lived under the spell of a first encounter, if not a first love; years spent, or misspent, waiting for another woman to die. The romance and the tragedy would be perfect footnotes for her insubstantial life; without such drama and mystery, she would have been too commonplace. Yet how could she explain that being on her own-and not someone's property — was the only thing she had wanted? Once upon a time, she had been her parents" possession, however momentarily, and after that she had belonged to her grandaunts, in whose minds she had belonged more to their god than to them; all sorts of people had since tried to claim her, but to stay unclaimed was to be never disowned again.
- Kinder than Solitude by Yiyun Li
.
The central theme of this book revolves around the shared trauma experienced by three friends: Moran, Boyang, and Ruyu. They are united by the collective grief of losing their close friend Shaoai to a poisoning incident. This event serves as a scar that connects the characters while simultaneously creating a barrier between them. Each individual copes with the tragedy in their own way, yet none can fully evade its impact. The narrative unfolds slowly and is not a romance; instead, it delves into how they process their grief and guilt over their friend's death. This is not a novel driven by plot, and if you are new to Yiyun Li’s work, consider you has been warned. The book focuses extensively on the deep emotional, psychological, and relational repercussions of trauma, secrets, and guilt. Each character is profoundly affected by Shaoai's poisoning, which ultimately resulted in her death. Boyang feels significant remorse, even though he wasn't directly to blame, carrying the weight of guilt and moral complicity. Moran, who was particularly close to Shaoai, grapples with ongoing guilt for not preventing the tragedy, and her involvement in the aftermath leaves her emotionally scarred and uncertain about her role in what happened. Ruyu, on the other hand, appears emotionally detached and does not express her feelings or remorse regarding Shaoai’s fate. Her adult relationships lack warmth and vulnerability. Upon finishing the book, I had two main thoughts: first, Yiyun Li’s writing is incredibly evocative, and her ability to capture emotional subtleties is likely to resonate with readers who appreciate lyrical and contemplative prose. Secondly, the book thrives on its slow pacing and ambiguity; if that doesn't appeal to you, this may not be the right choice.
- Kinder than Solitude by Yiyun Li
.
The central theme of this book revolves around the shared trauma experienced by three friends: Moran, Boyang, and Ruyu. They are united by the collective grief of losing their close friend Shaoai to a poisoning incident. This event serves as a scar that connects the characters while simultaneously creating a barrier between them. Each individual copes with the tragedy in their own way, yet none can fully evade its impact. The narrative unfolds slowly and is not a romance; instead, it delves into how they process their grief and guilt over their friend's death. This is not a novel driven by plot, and if you are new to Yiyun Li’s work, consider you has been warned. The book focuses extensively on the deep emotional, psychological, and relational repercussions of trauma, secrets, and guilt. Each character is profoundly affected by Shaoai's poisoning, which ultimately resulted in her death. Boyang feels significant remorse, even though he wasn't directly to blame, carrying the weight of guilt and moral complicity. Moran, who was particularly close to Shaoai, grapples with ongoing guilt for not preventing the tragedy, and her involvement in the aftermath leaves her emotionally scarred and uncertain about her role in what happened. Ruyu, on the other hand, appears emotionally detached and does not express her feelings or remorse regarding Shaoai’s fate. Her adult relationships lack warmth and vulnerability. Upon finishing the book, I had two main thoughts: first, Yiyun Li’s writing is incredibly evocative, and her ability to capture emotional subtleties is likely to resonate with readers who appreciate lyrical and contemplative prose. Secondly, the book thrives on its slow pacing and ambiguity; if that doesn't appeal to you, this may not be the right choice.