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khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
legs_n_chins's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fantastic read. I loved the formatting and style the most, probably. It was engaging and really heightened the surrealism feel of the whole story. I think presenting it as a screenplay is really commentary all its own and it made the story itself more effective. It took me a minute, but teasing out the story that was layered into the “script” was very fun.
I really appreciated the stark lens on Chinese history in America that was presented in the book. It’s something I’ve always been aware of, as someone of Chinese descent, but I never really learned in a lot of detail the facts and timelines that Yu brought up in the final part of the book. It was interesting to read the experience of the main character because some of it was familiar from my own life, but at the same time it was new to me as I’m not first generation myself. I also particularly liked the commentary around Karen as a mixed-race Asian American, and the commentary around the sort of dichotomy between Black and Asian communities. I thought it was all very well presented and fit well in the story.
I really still can’t get over the style, it was just so, so cool. And so much fun to read. I would say at least half of why I liked this so much was because of that writing style. I think it’s very original and so creative and works perfectly for the story.
I really appreciated the stark lens on Chinese history in America that was presented in the book. It’s something I’ve always been aware of, as someone of Chinese descent, but I never really learned in a lot of detail the facts and timelines that Yu brought up in the final part of the book. It was interesting to read the experience of the main character because some of it was familiar from my own life, but at the same time it was new to me as I’m not first generation myself. I also particularly liked the commentary around Karen as a mixed-race Asian American, and the commentary around the sort of dichotomy between Black and Asian communities. I thought it was all very well presented and fit well in the story.
I really still can’t get over the style, it was just so, so cool. And so much fun to read. I would say at least half of why I liked this so much was because of that writing style. I think it’s very original and so creative and works perfectly for the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, and War
pipn_t's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
mayadelaine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Yu is hilarious and masterful at building a vibrant world in which the meta rules all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Dementia, and Racial slurs
siebensommer's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Watching her is like finding old letters, of things you knew thirty years ago and haven't thought of since.. How to feel, how to be yourself. Not how to
perform or act. How to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Racial slurs, Violence, War, and Racism
horizonous's review
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is a difficult one to rate and review. It's unlike anything I ever read and very unique in its screenplay formatting. I liked how the theme of assimilation is explored through generic Hollywood stereotypes but I can't help but think in the end it lacked a bit of depth because it was more style then substance?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death and Dementia
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Terminal illness, Blood, and Genocide
mxreader1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoy when books bend reality within the context of the story, make you guess at what's really happening and maybe you never get answers but that's the fun of it.
It also balanced being informative, funny, and sad really well.
It also balanced being informative, funny, and sad really well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime
Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, and Racial slurs
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, and Xenophobia
Moderate: War, Gun violence, Death, and Violence
yajairat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Really liked the screenplay format of this book, I mean what better way to depict the entertainment industry? While I already was aware about most of the stereotyping and discrimination Asians face in the industry, it was refreshing to have it presented this way, especially through the eyes of someone that works within it, and who we go with on this journey of self-discovery.
I think my only issue with it was the portrayal of the only Black character in this story. Seems like it was written in a way where the MC and this character were sort of... pitted against each other? Not really a big fan of that, of when marginalized groups are in that position, when it's not beneficial to either of them.
I think my only issue with it was the portrayal of the only Black character in this story. Seems like it was written in a way where the MC and this character were sort of... pitted against each other? Not really a big fan of that, of when marginalized groups are in that position, when it's not beneficial to either of them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
yuyuv's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Dementia, Grief, Xenophobia, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Cursing, Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Racism, Racial slurs, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Medical content