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ewanl's review
4.0
Heart of Glass has one of the most distinctive narrative voices of any novel I have ever read. It's natural since "Madison", or Li-An as it says on her documentation, is of mixed Asian-Caucasian-American parentage. Madison rattles off her story in a quick-fire combination of hard-boiled simile and musical metaphor. Amid the double-crossing amorality of the music biz- and "family business" milieux, HOG explores what it means to be an immigrant, an emigrant and someone with a foot for ever in two camps.
The settings from seedy night-time Chicago to the glitter and grime of Macau (or Macao if you're a fan of the Bob Mitchum/Jane Russell film- as no doubt Paolo, Madison's not quite sugar daddy is) are extremely convincingly depicted through Madison's somewhat jaundiced eye.
Some won't care for Madison/Li-An's moral standpoint, I feel it's irrelevant. Sometimes naive, at others, deeply cynical, her self-deprecating schtick (as she would almost certainly put it) won me over from very early on.
Thoroughly recommended, more fun that an 80's night in Manchester: so I couldn't put it down. Go read it.
The settings from seedy night-time Chicago to the glitter and grime of Macau (or Macao if you're a fan of the Bob Mitchum/Jane Russell film- as no doubt Paolo, Madison's not quite sugar daddy is) are extremely convincingly depicted through Madison's somewhat jaundiced eye.
Some won't care for Madison/Li-An's moral standpoint, I feel it's irrelevant. Sometimes naive, at others, deeply cynical, her self-deprecating schtick (as she would almost certainly put it) won me over from very early on.
Thoroughly recommended, more fun that an 80's night in Manchester: so I couldn't put it down. Go read it.
annacaig's review
4.0
Written with colloquial, compelling, gorgeously vivid and seriously impressive language, Heart Of Glass is the literary equivalent of an evening with a flamboyantly articulate friend and far too much champagne. Only without the hangover the next day.
Full review here: https://murderundergroundbrokethecamel.wordpress.com/2019/03/29/heart-of-glass/
Full review here: https://murderundergroundbrokethecamel.wordpress.com/2019/03/29/heart-of-glass/
lozzysbooks's review
4.0
Ivy Ngeow writes another compelling read with an original and fast paced writing style. We follow the heroine, Li-An, as she begins her journey in Chicago during the 1980s. Ngeow writes in such a talented way that you are completely immersed in the time and setting of her book. The characters are incredibly flawed and are ultimately bad people, yet it makes such a fascinating read because you have to see what will happen. Ultimately, this story is about greed, desire and power.
luluallison's review
Pacy and classy, neon-trashy glamour and adventure - with heart; bitter-sweet pangs of coming of age and learning about the nature of love - whether it be love for the guiding star of music or just people. Great characters and a fast-paced plot. Truly enjoyable.
ewanlawrie's review
4.0
Heart of Glass has one of the most distinctive narrative voices of any novel I have ever read. It's natural since "Madison", or Li-An as it says on her documentation, is of mixed Asian-Caucasian-American parentage. Madison rattles off her story in a quick-fire combination of hard-boiled simile and musical metaphor. Amid the double-crossing amorality of the music biz- and "family business" milieux, HOG explores what it means to be an immigrant, an emigrant and someone with a foot for ever in two camps.
The settings from seedy night-time Chicago to the glitter and grime of Macau (or Macao if you're a fan of the Bob Mitchum/Jane Russell film- as no doubt Paolo, Madison's not quite sugar daddy is) are extremely convincingly depicted through Madison's somewhat jaundiced eye.
Some won't care for Madison/Li-An's moral standpoint, I feel it's irrelevant. Sometimes naive, at others, deeply cynical, her self-deprecating schtick (as she would almost certainly put it) won me over from very early on.
Thoroughly recommended, more fun that an 80's night in Manchester: so I couldn't put it down. Go read it.
The settings from seedy night-time Chicago to the glitter and grime of Macau (or Macao if you're a fan of the Bob Mitchum/Jane Russell film- as no doubt Paolo, Madison's not quite sugar daddy is) are extremely convincingly depicted through Madison's somewhat jaundiced eye.
Some won't care for Madison/Li-An's moral standpoint, I feel it's irrelevant. Sometimes naive, at others, deeply cynical, her self-deprecating schtick (as she would almost certainly put it) won me over from very early on.
Thoroughly recommended, more fun that an 80's night in Manchester: so I couldn't put it down. Go read it.
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