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savvylit's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Border of Paradise is an incredibly mesmerizing novel. Weijun Wang's prose is both haunting and luscious. As the Nowak family becomes increasingly isolated, the claustrophobic atmosphere of the story increases to the point of palpable anxiety. I felt myself suffocating in the remote homestead right alongside Daisy, Gillian, and William. The nuanced portrayal of David's mental instability in an era when such things were considered mere eccentricities by professionals is particularly well executed.
So: why did I rate this three stars? Well, the reason is twofold. First, I think that Daisy is a sorely underdeveloped character. Readers are given a brief glimpse into her background. As I read, though, I kept expecting more information that never came. Why did Daisy suddenly change her mind and leave Taiwan? How did being a madame make her feel?
The second reason that I didn't love this book is that one of the largest and most explored topics within this story is sibling incest. Nothing makes me want to drop a book more quickly than incest as a major plot point. It's a subject that I simply do not want to dwell upon. I do think incest can be discussed in literature - of course. However, there's a difference between considering its ramifications and then explicitly being forced to read - over and over again - the twisted and selfish justifications for abuse.
So: why did I rate this three stars? Well, the reason is twofold. First, I think that Daisy is a sorely underdeveloped character. Readers are given a brief glimpse into her background. As I read, though, I kept expecting more information that never came. Why did Daisy suddenly change her mind and leave Taiwan? How did being a madame make her feel?
The second reason that I didn't love this book is that one of the largest and most explored topics within this story is sibling incest. Nothing makes me want to drop a book more quickly than incest as a major plot point. It's a subject that I simply do not want to dwell upon. I do think incest can be discussed in literature - of course. However, there's a difference between considering its ramifications and then explicitly being forced to read - over and over again - the twisted and selfish justifications for abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Violence, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Incest, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault
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