Reviews

Northern Girls by Shelly Bryant, Sheng Keyi

smuds2's review

Skipped around, I appreciate what author is attempting to do (learned through interviews, reviews, etc) but the implementation is a little too graphic for my taste

21expectations's review

challenging inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

abookishtype's review

3.0

Even though Sheng Keyi’s Northern Girls (translated by Shelly Bryant) is bookended by descriptions of protagonist Xiaohong’s larger-than-usual breasts, Xiaohong is more than her anatomy—no matter what the numerous men who ogle or try to trick her think. None of these men seem to learn how complicated she is or how she operates in a city that doesn’t seem to want her around. I daresay readers will be surprised, as I was, even though we spend more than 300 pages with her, at how Xiaohong constantly rises back up after tragedy and adversity. The woman is a goddamn phoenix...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.

ohsoreads's review

5.0

The book portrays the many perspectives of the girls as well as people around them. It’s such an eye opener & I enjoyed Ah hong’s straightforwardness. She’s also really funny. Overall, I felt part of their journey, mainly ah hong. There was so much character growth through this journey.