Initially this reads as a rather excellent, tension-building, dystopian novel; as a reader I had to remind myself this was real. However, as Fang Fang's diary continues, the nature of lockdown means that the narrative is rather sluggish. It is only at the end, as the author contemplates where blame lies that it becomes more interesting again. Ultimately, this is an important primary historical source, a witness record and should be read as such. Interesting as a westerner to realise the political party control in China and that censorship is still prevalent.