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nicfavic23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
A Re-Read.
This was a fucked up love story in such a good way. The ending was so much darker and more emotional than I remember. The middle felt like fluff but truly everything wraps up so nicely. I remember their storylines interweaving a lot more than they actually did. Their disconnect was the thing they connected on and I really enjoyed that.
This was a fucked up love story in such a good way. The ending was so much darker and more emotional than I remember. The middle felt like fluff but truly everything wraps up so nicely. I remember their storylines interweaving a lot more than they actually did. Their disconnect was the thing they connected on and I really enjoyed that.
vickywong710's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
mirulckae's review against another edition
4.0
that is one hard slap on the face. "dreaming only deepens my sadness"
ljlaing1's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately I found it very difficult to get into this book. I think it was because everything about the characters, the environment, the social and political climate seemed somewhat opaque. There is a heaviness to the circumstances of the story, which I can appreciate, but the structure of the book made it difficult to remain connected. It read like light strokes of a larger more epic story. And I couldn't quite get into the use of the game of go to illustrate inner emotional turmoil etc. Too bad, I was excited to get to know a woman's mind through the strategic game of go. Sadly, I found even the use of the game as a sort of anchor in the story largely underdeveloped as a concept.
lschiff's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting, enjoyable book about the Japanese invasion of China in the 30s. Told in alternative perspectives of a young girl who is a masterful Go player and a Japanese solider. The writing has many lovely phrases and images.
hmoring's review against another edition
3.0
It was an okay read. It was interesting to read a book based in China during the war with the Japanese but it was hard to emotionally connect with the characters, particularly the male. It honestly took me a few chapters to realize that the chapters switch off storylines. I feel like that should have been made clear at the start of the book. Also, it felt that the sexual relationships in book were definitely male dominated, and it was hard to differentiate what was rape and what was consentual based on the wording.
leegao's review against another edition
3.0
Great setting (Manchuguo during the 1930s), the writing and characters read like a Chinese soap opera, but the plot is too dramatic
dieba's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.25
ceza's review against another edition
3.0
the pov of the girl was leagues better, as i struggled to even tolerate the guy's. kind of boring and as you can see, i don't even remember the character's names (if they were even mentioned). not sure if we were supposed to like the male character since he is the main love interest, but i could barely stand him. i did not like any of the men in the book now that I think about it. however, it did a good job in putting you in the mind of an imperialistic japanese soldier, and if you're interested in history, you might find some enjoyment in this weirdo.