Reviews

When Chan Kam Foong, the famous cross-dressing Cantonese opera singer, passes away, her granddaughter Xiu Yin reads her journal, detailing her relationship with Dearest Intimate, clearly not her grandfather.

This well-researched book reads like poetry, exploring Cantonese culture. The parallel of grandmother and granddaughter invites us into the parts of themselves people hide away, the inner monologue of a complex woman navigating a world not equipped for her, during a war ready to tear everything apart.

I would have liked to have seen some things turn out differently, but I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for something different and eager to explore other cultures. I got immersed in this one, from Por Por's touching life to Yin's struggles in the modern world, desperate to hold onto her family history.

rainysundaybooks's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-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? No

4.0

booksletusescape's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional medium-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

4.75

blueinkandpaperstars's review

Go to review page

emotional medium-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

4.0

Dearest Intimate was such a lovely book to read! It’s not one that I would’ve picked up on my own, but I do like to step outside of my comfort zone every now and then, especially when I find something that really intrigues me like what happened this time!

I really like how the story was told through a dual pov. I think it really adds to the idea that we are learning more about the characters as they are revealed to each other (at least in the case of the grandmother slowly being revealed to the granddaughter). We get to understand how to women from to very different times navigated their place in the world as women and how they faced their struggles.

This book is extremely well written. It has a beautifully poetic writing style that works wonderfully to tell this story. Also, if you love reading books with a strong cultural component to them you really have to give this one a chance!

Once again I want to thank @marshallcavendish @tandemcollectiveuk @tandemcollectiveglobal and @nacsingapore for giving me the opportunity to read this beautiful book and be part of this lovely experience!