Alexis’s review of The Chosen and the Beautiful > Likes and Comments
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aksjaksjaksjsk this book omfg
also this review is stunning and better than some books i’ve read. how did you manage to write so coherently about it???? 😂
also also this quote, which i will continue to be annoying about and shove in everyone’s faces until i am deceased:
I had never seen a moon like that before. It was no Mercury dime New York moon, but a harvest moon brought all the way from the wheat fields of North Dakota to shine with sweet benevolence down on the chosen and the beautiful.
so sorry for spamming you with comments. i am still giddy and dazzled by this book and just thrilled to bits you loved it as much as i did <3
captain raccoon. wrote: "aksjaksjaksjsk this book omfg"
I second this.
captain raccoon. wrote: "also this review is stunning and better than some books i’ve read. how did you manage to write so coherently about it???? 😂"
Ack, thank you. I think ... I mean, you know how long it took me to write this. I let the book set inside me for a really long time before I took up my review-writing pen. Otherwise I would just have written "aksjaksjaksjsk".
There's this weird thing, I think, where it's way easier to talk about what didn't work for you in a book over what did; so I really like to push myself to find ways of articulate what's fucking brilliant. It's, err, a skill I'm still working on.
captain raccoon. wrote: "also also this quote, which i will continue to be annoying about and shove in everyone’s faces until i am deceased:
I had never seen a moon like that before. It was no Mercury dime New York moon, ..."
That is one of my favourite quotes - I mean, there are SO MANY good quotes in the book.
I am so glad you finally had the chance to read this book. It's beyond gorgeous, one of the best I have ever read. The story and characters have layers upon layers to explore and your review pointed out things I have missed when I read the book and now I want to re-read it. Thank you for your review, your analysis of the book brought me real joy!
Alexis wrote: "There's this weird thing, I think, where it's way easier to talk about what didn't work for you in a book over what did"
yes!!! when i used to review back in the days of yore i had this problem all the time. i wonder if it's because we sometimes don't understand *why* the specificity of something works for us in certain books?
so I really like to push myself to find ways of articulate what's fucking brilliant. It's, err, a skill I'm still working on.
you're already amazing at it, so if you reach a place where you're happy with your level of skill then it will be something to behold. (yes you may go and hide in the corner and toe scuff <3 <3 <3)
Ellie wrote: "I am so glad you finally had the chance to read this book. It's beyond gorgeous, one of the best I have ever read. The story and characters have layers upon layers to explore and your review pointed out things I have missed when I read the book and now I want to re-read it. Thank you for your review, your analysis of the book brought me real joy!"
^^^ yes to all this <3
Fantastic review, as always. I am very excited to read this. Maybe it will provide me with some catharsis from having The Great Gatsby forced upon me as an impressionable teenager in the American public school system.
Oh god this sounds amazing. (And I love the giddiness in this thread ;-) It's been on my TBR since finishing Siren Queen, which I adored, but I think I have to read this NEXT... in fact I just bought it. What gorgeous quotes you've featured. I can't wait!
I am all in on despising The Great Gatsby.
I had a high school project where I had to read pretty much all of Fitzgerald’s works, including his short stories (which are better than his books, in my opinion) and by the end of my readings I truly had nothing good to say about Gatsby. It’s refreshing to find others who share this opinion.
This book has been on my tbr for awhile. I loved The Siren Queen (thank you for recommending that!) so I am very much looking forward to reading this book. Your review and the comments here have definitely made me put it higher on my tbr.
Oof what a wonderful review!! The Chosen and the Beautiful was already on my TBR, so I forwarded this review to a Gatsby-despising friend -- she clearly needs this in her life!
Given this book’s been available in my country for ages and I haven’t got round to reading it yet, I now feel like a dragon who’s been sitting on a hoard of gold and not using it for fun and profit. Or something. Thanks for a brilliant review.
Yes yes yes! A gorgeous review, as usual. I’m always excited to read your reviews. Thank you for writing and sharing them. I, too, loved this book. I have yet to read Siren Queen or her Singing Hills Cycle novellas, but they are on my tbr list and I am eager to read them (but also don’t want to go through them too fast and then have no more Nghi Vo beauty waiting for me…).
Ellie wrote: "I am so glad you finally had the chance to read this book. It's beyond gorgeous, one of the best I have ever read. The story and characters have layers upon layers to explore and your review pointe..."
Thank you so much - I loved your review too. And I totally agree that this book is breathtakingly good. It actually took me far long to write the review than it normally takes me, just because I really wanted to do it justice.
captain raccoon. wrote: "Alexis wrote: "There's this weird thing, I think, where it's way easier to talk about what didn't work for you in a book over what did"
yes!!! when i used to review back in the days of yore i had ..."
I think you're onto something there - I think the things we love we tend to *feel* whereas the things that don't work for us we tend to think about more. Although maybe we just think about them more because we want to justify our dislike ;)
Erica wrote: "Fantastic review, as always. I am very excited to read this. Maybe it will provide me with some catharsis from having The Great Gatsby forced upon me as an impressionable teenager in the American p..."
Oof, I mean, the one thing I *can* say for TGG is that, at least, I wasn't forced to read it at school. I got into enough trouble by pointing out Iago's queer vibes in Othello.
Monika wrote: "Oh god this sounds amazing. (And I love the giddiness in this thread ;-) It's been on my TBR since finishing Siren Queen, which I adored, but I think I have to read this NEXT... in fact I just boug..."
Yes, it's always lovely when people love a book that you love. *giddies* I hope you enjoy this as much as SQ
PL wrote: "I am all in on despising The Great Gatsby.
I had a high school project where I had to read pretty much all of Fitzgerald’s works, including his short stories (which are better than his books, in m..."
Oh yay, this makes me so happy - I mean, about The Chosen and the Beautiful, not about TGG. I don't understand why this horrible, terrible, deeply racist, deeply sexist, deeply homophobic book is held up as the pinnacle of American literature: I mean, yes, it's got some nice turns of phrase, but is that really enough? I think the only other Fitzgerald book I've read is The Beautiful and the Damned, which is just as unpleasant really, but for some reason I liked it slightly more?
I think if you loved SQ, this book is an easy win for you: I mean, they're not the same by any means, but they have strengths in common (especially around the writing and the world-building).
wasteland baby wrote: "Oof what a wonderful review!! The Chosen and the Beautiful was already on my TBR, so I forwarded this review to a Gatsby-despising friend -- she clearly needs this in her life!"
I sincerely believe in, you know, the infinity of interpretative space when it comes to books. EXCEPT for TGG. Basically anybody who likes it is wrong and should leave.
And thank you for the kind words. I should probably found some kind of Gatsby Anonymous for other haters.
Melissa wrote: "Given this book’s been available in my country for ages and I haven’t got round to reading it yet, I now feel like a dragon who’s been sitting on a hoard of gold and not using it for fun and profit..."
I mean ... yes? I am close to legitimately envious ;) Tor's refusal to let British people pay their authors is deeply frustrating.
Kali wrote: "Yes yes yes! A gorgeous review, as usual. I’m always excited to read your reviews. Thank you for writing and sharing them. I, too, loved this book. I have yet to read Siren Queen or her Singing Hil..."
Thank you so much - and I completely understanding wanting to savour this author. I sat on this book for *quite a while* after a friend, after going to great personal trouble, managed to get me a copy, simply because I wanted to make sure I was in absolutely the right place and mood to fully immerse myself.
I can’t wait to read this book…and also can’t stop wondering if TGG is still part of every American high school’s curriculum? We were all assigned it in the 90’s, I think.
Romance Novel Quotes wrote: "I can’t wait to read this book…and also can’t stop wondering if TGG is still part of every American high school’s curriculum? We were all assigned it in the 90’s, I think."
I hope for the sake of your nation's children that it isn't ;)
I really loved this review - I read Gatsby at a time when I had like no intellectual tools with which to engage in it, no life experience that would have made sense of it. It completely sailed over my head as a teen. So this review does the twofold work of presenting a contemporary take on the original, and the author's take on the source, that illuminates.... Well, why one might suffer through Gatsby to better understand the *literal* magic of this. Tbh I think my favorite reviews are raves because it's hard to be precise about what you love, but if you love something enough, you will find the way - and that kind of writing is what I love best!
"And I swear to God, The Chosen and the Beautiful is the only good thing about that fucking book."
Yes! Loved Vo; have never been able to read more than a chapter of Gatsby. So lovely to have a queer, Vietnamese, female alternative to what is STILL sometimes called "the great American novel."
I did like Tender is the Night, though. But I read it as a teenager
Eros wrote: "I really loved this review - I read Gatsby at a time when I had like no intellectual tools with which to engage in it, no life experience that would have made sense of it. It completely sailed over..."
Aww, thank you. I love the ways people find to express love for their favourite books, whether it's walls o'texts (in my case), a piece of art, or the perfect gif. I am glad I re-read Gatsby, not least to confirm that I haven't been doing it injustice all these years.
Kirsten wrote: ""And I swear to God, The Chosen and the Beautiful is the only good thing about that fucking book."
Yes! Loved Vo; have never been able to read more than a chapter of Gatsby. So lovely to have a qu..."
For whatever reason, I prefer TISTN - but then that's like I saying I prefer horse manure to dogshit. Okay, that's genuinely not fair of me: I think Tender is just as horrible-people focused Gatsby but nobody tries to tell us is it's this book that it supposed to speak for America/Americans.
Alexis wrote: "Eros wrote: "I really loved this review - I read Gatsby at a time when I had like no intellectual tools with which to engage in it, no life experience that would have made sense of it. It completel..."
Tragically, teenage me fancied herself Nicole.
Kirsten wrote: "Alexis wrote: "Eros wrote: "I really loved this review - I read Gatsby at a time when I had like no intellectual tools with which to engage in it, no life experience that would have made sense of i..."
Oh gawd. Poor teenage you!
This is such a brilliant review, Alexis!! I am reading this book for my book club and you have increased my excitement toward the adventure!! Cannot wait.
ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "This is such a brilliant review, Alexis!! I am reading this book for my book club and you have increased my excitement toward the adventure!! Cannot wait."
Oh thank you so much for the kind words. It's such a special book to me, I only hope my review did it any sort of justice.
Great review! I’ve wondered if you’d read this—I found Siren Queen and Vo through your review and think this is even better. I just gave it to my niece, who was disappointed in Gatsby.
Kirsten wrote: "Great review! I’ve wondered if you’d read this—I found Siren Queen and Vo through your review and think this is even better. I just gave it to my niece, who was disappointed in Gatsby."
Oh my gosh, I'm not sure I could choose. I think Siren Queen is warmer, maybe? But both are brilliant. I hope your niece responds well to Chosen. I think it's a wonderful antidote to TGG.
Alexis wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Great review! I’ve wondered if you’d read this—I found Siren Queen and Vo through your review and think this is even better. I just gave it to my niece, who was disappointed in Gats..."
I think it was the fuck you to Gatsby that gave this one the edge.
Kirsten wrote: "Alexis wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Great review! I’ve wondered if you’d read this—I found Siren Queen and Vo through your review and think this is even better. I just gave it to my niece, who was disap..."
For sure. I passionately dislike Gatsby. Which you know I never mention... ;)
Dude, seriously? First, you sell me on reading "The Chosen and the Beautiful." Then, you casually drop some insights about "The Great Gatsby." Ones I, myself, had totally failed to have when I read it. (Daisy represents the American Dream? What? How did I miss that?) So now I have to go and reread that book, as well as supplementary criticism to make sure I don't miss anything this time. Finally, you conclude your review with a paragraph that literally brings tears to my eyes? You're killing me, smalls. Killing. Me.
Alfred wrote: "Dude, seriously? First, you sell me on reading "The Chosen and the Beautiful." Then, you casually drop some insights about "The Great Gatsby." Ones I, myself, had totally failed to have when I read..."
Oh God, sorry, GR didn't alert me to this comment (or, in fact, any comments - it's so damn buggy). I think part of it might be ... I understand it ... that Americans tend to read TGG at school (here I am, assuming you're American) whereas in the UK we drift to it at uni or later, so we tend to bring a slightly more adult perspective. Whereas obviously books we're taught at school (irrespective of where we are in the world) tend to be taught very simply. I think Alexander Avila (a Youtube essayist I really enjoy) has a video about how his school teacher shut him right down for mentioning the queer themes.
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captain raccoon.
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Oct 10, 2022 05:43AM
aksjaksjaksjsk this book omfg
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also this review is stunning and better than some books i’ve read. how did you manage to write so coherently about it???? 😂
also also this quote, which i will continue to be annoying about and shove in everyone’s faces until i am deceased:I had never seen a moon like that before. It was no Mercury dime New York moon, but a harvest moon brought all the way from the wheat fields of North Dakota to shine with sweet benevolence down on the chosen and the beautiful.
so sorry for spamming you with comments. i am still giddy and dazzled by this book and just thrilled to bits you loved it as much as i did <3
captain raccoon. wrote: "aksjaksjaksjsk this book omfg"I second this.
captain raccoon. wrote: "also this review is stunning and better than some books i’ve read. how did you manage to write so coherently about it???? 😂"
Ack, thank you. I think ... I mean, you know how long it took me to write this. I let the book set inside me for a really long time before I took up my review-writing pen. Otherwise I would just have written "aksjaksjaksjsk".
There's this weird thing, I think, where it's way easier to talk about what didn't work for you in a book over what did; so I really like to push myself to find ways of articulate what's fucking brilliant. It's, err, a skill I'm still working on.
captain raccoon. wrote: "also also this quote, which i will continue to be annoying about and shove in everyone’s faces until i am deceased:
I had never seen a moon like that before. It was no Mercury dime New York moon, ..."
That is one of my favourite quotes - I mean, there are SO MANY good quotes in the book.
I am so glad you finally had the chance to read this book. It's beyond gorgeous, one of the best I have ever read. The story and characters have layers upon layers to explore and your review pointed out things I have missed when I read the book and now I want to re-read it. Thank you for your review, your analysis of the book brought me real joy!
Alexis wrote: "There's this weird thing, I think, where it's way easier to talk about what didn't work for you in a book over what did"yes!!! when i used to review back in the days of yore i had this problem all the time. i wonder if it's because we sometimes don't understand *why* the specificity of something works for us in certain books?
so I really like to push myself to find ways of articulate what's fucking brilliant. It's, err, a skill I'm still working on.
you're already amazing at it, so if you reach a place where you're happy with your level of skill then it will be something to behold. (yes you may go and hide in the corner and toe scuff <3 <3 <3)
Ellie wrote: "I am so glad you finally had the chance to read this book. It's beyond gorgeous, one of the best I have ever read. The story and characters have layers upon layers to explore and your review pointed out things I have missed when I read the book and now I want to re-read it. Thank you for your review, your analysis of the book brought me real joy!"^^^ yes to all this <3
Fantastic review, as always. I am very excited to read this. Maybe it will provide me with some catharsis from having The Great Gatsby forced upon me as an impressionable teenager in the American public school system.
Oh god this sounds amazing. (And I love the giddiness in this thread ;-) It's been on my TBR since finishing Siren Queen, which I adored, but I think I have to read this NEXT... in fact I just bought it. What gorgeous quotes you've featured. I can't wait!
I am all in on despising The Great Gatsby. I had a high school project where I had to read pretty much all of Fitzgerald’s works, including his short stories (which are better than his books, in my opinion) and by the end of my readings I truly had nothing good to say about Gatsby. It’s refreshing to find others who share this opinion.
This book has been on my tbr for awhile. I loved The Siren Queen (thank you for recommending that!) so I am very much looking forward to reading this book. Your review and the comments here have definitely made me put it higher on my tbr.
Oof what a wonderful review!! The Chosen and the Beautiful was already on my TBR, so I forwarded this review to a Gatsby-despising friend -- she clearly needs this in her life!
Given this book’s been available in my country for ages and I haven’t got round to reading it yet, I now feel like a dragon who’s been sitting on a hoard of gold and not using it for fun and profit. Or something. Thanks for a brilliant review.
Yes yes yes! A gorgeous review, as usual. I’m always excited to read your reviews. Thank you for writing and sharing them. I, too, loved this book. I have yet to read Siren Queen or her Singing Hills Cycle novellas, but they are on my tbr list and I am eager to read them (but also don’t want to go through them too fast and then have no more Nghi Vo beauty waiting for me…).
Ellie wrote: "I am so glad you finally had the chance to read this book. It's beyond gorgeous, one of the best I have ever read. The story and characters have layers upon layers to explore and your review pointe..."Thank you so much - I loved your review too. And I totally agree that this book is breathtakingly good. It actually took me far long to write the review than it normally takes me, just because I really wanted to do it justice.
captain raccoon. wrote: "Alexis wrote: "There's this weird thing, I think, where it's way easier to talk about what didn't work for you in a book over what did"
yes!!! when i used to review back in the days of yore i had ..."
I think you're onto something there - I think the things we love we tend to *feel* whereas the things that don't work for us we tend to think about more. Although maybe we just think about them more because we want to justify our dislike ;)
Erica wrote: "Fantastic review, as always. I am very excited to read this. Maybe it will provide me with some catharsis from having The Great Gatsby forced upon me as an impressionable teenager in the American p..."
Oof, I mean, the one thing I *can* say for TGG is that, at least, I wasn't forced to read it at school. I got into enough trouble by pointing out Iago's queer vibes in Othello.
Monika wrote: "Oh god this sounds amazing. (And I love the giddiness in this thread ;-) It's been on my TBR since finishing Siren Queen, which I adored, but I think I have to read this NEXT... in fact I just boug..."
Yes, it's always lovely when people love a book that you love. *giddies* I hope you enjoy this as much as SQ
PL wrote: "I am all in on despising The Great Gatsby.
I had a high school project where I had to read pretty much all of Fitzgerald’s works, including his short stories (which are better than his books, in m..."
Oh yay, this makes me so happy - I mean, about The Chosen and the Beautiful, not about TGG. I don't understand why this horrible, terrible, deeply racist, deeply sexist, deeply homophobic book is held up as the pinnacle of American literature: I mean, yes, it's got some nice turns of phrase, but is that really enough? I think the only other Fitzgerald book I've read is The Beautiful and the Damned, which is just as unpleasant really, but for some reason I liked it slightly more?
I think if you loved SQ, this book is an easy win for you: I mean, they're not the same by any means, but they have strengths in common (especially around the writing and the world-building).
wasteland baby wrote: "Oof what a wonderful review!! The Chosen and the Beautiful was already on my TBR, so I forwarded this review to a Gatsby-despising friend -- she clearly needs this in her life!"
I sincerely believe in, you know, the infinity of interpretative space when it comes to books. EXCEPT for TGG. Basically anybody who likes it is wrong and should leave.
And thank you for the kind words. I should probably found some kind of Gatsby Anonymous for other haters.
Melissa wrote: "Given this book’s been available in my country for ages and I haven’t got round to reading it yet, I now feel like a dragon who’s been sitting on a hoard of gold and not using it for fun and profit..."
I mean ... yes? I am close to legitimately envious ;) Tor's refusal to let British people pay their authors is deeply frustrating.
Kali wrote: "Yes yes yes! A gorgeous review, as usual. I’m always excited to read your reviews. Thank you for writing and sharing them. I, too, loved this book. I have yet to read Siren Queen or her Singing Hil..."
Thank you so much - and I completely understanding wanting to savour this author. I sat on this book for *quite a while* after a friend, after going to great personal trouble, managed to get me a copy, simply because I wanted to make sure I was in absolutely the right place and mood to fully immerse myself.
I can’t wait to read this book…and also can’t stop wondering if TGG is still part of every American high school’s curriculum? We were all assigned it in the 90’s, I think.
Romance Novel Quotes wrote: "I can’t wait to read this book…and also can’t stop wondering if TGG is still part of every American high school’s curriculum? We were all assigned it in the 90’s, I think."I hope for the sake of your nation's children that it isn't ;)
I really loved this review - I read Gatsby at a time when I had like no intellectual tools with which to engage in it, no life experience that would have made sense of it. It completely sailed over my head as a teen. So this review does the twofold work of presenting a contemporary take on the original, and the author's take on the source, that illuminates.... Well, why one might suffer through Gatsby to better understand the *literal* magic of this. Tbh I think my favorite reviews are raves because it's hard to be precise about what you love, but if you love something enough, you will find the way - and that kind of writing is what I love best!
"And I swear to God, The Chosen and the Beautiful is the only good thing about that fucking book."Yes! Loved Vo; have never been able to read more than a chapter of Gatsby. So lovely to have a queer, Vietnamese, female alternative to what is STILL sometimes called "the great American novel."
I did like Tender is the Night, though. But I read it as a teenager
Eros wrote: "I really loved this review - I read Gatsby at a time when I had like no intellectual tools with which to engage in it, no life experience that would have made sense of it. It completely sailed over..."Aww, thank you. I love the ways people find to express love for their favourite books, whether it's walls o'texts (in my case), a piece of art, or the perfect gif. I am glad I re-read Gatsby, not least to confirm that I haven't been doing it injustice all these years.
Kirsten wrote: ""And I swear to God, The Chosen and the Beautiful is the only good thing about that fucking book."
Yes! Loved Vo; have never been able to read more than a chapter of Gatsby. So lovely to have a qu..."
For whatever reason, I prefer TISTN - but then that's like I saying I prefer horse manure to dogshit. Okay, that's genuinely not fair of me: I think Tender is just as horrible-people focused Gatsby but nobody tries to tell us is it's this book that it supposed to speak for America/Americans.
Alexis wrote: "Eros wrote: "I really loved this review - I read Gatsby at a time when I had like no intellectual tools with which to engage in it, no life experience that would have made sense of it. It completel..."Tragically, teenage me fancied herself Nicole.
Kirsten wrote: "Alexis wrote: "Eros wrote: "I really loved this review - I read Gatsby at a time when I had like no intellectual tools with which to engage in it, no life experience that would have made sense of i..."Oh gawd. Poor teenage you!
This is such a brilliant review, Alexis!! I am reading this book for my book club and you have increased my excitement toward the adventure!! Cannot wait.
ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "This is such a brilliant review, Alexis!! I am reading this book for my book club and you have increased my excitement toward the adventure!! Cannot wait."Oh thank you so much for the kind words. It's such a special book to me, I only hope my review did it any sort of justice.
Great review! I’ve wondered if you’d read this—I found Siren Queen and Vo through your review and think this is even better. I just gave it to my niece, who was disappointed in Gatsby.
Kirsten wrote: "Great review! I’ve wondered if you’d read this—I found Siren Queen and Vo through your review and think this is even better. I just gave it to my niece, who was disappointed in Gatsby."Oh my gosh, I'm not sure I could choose. I think Siren Queen is warmer, maybe? But both are brilliant. I hope your niece responds well to Chosen. I think it's a wonderful antidote to TGG.
Alexis wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Great review! I’ve wondered if you’d read this—I found Siren Queen and Vo through your review and think this is even better. I just gave it to my niece, who was disappointed in Gats..."I think it was the fuck you to Gatsby that gave this one the edge.
Kirsten wrote: "Alexis wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Great review! I’ve wondered if you’d read this—I found Siren Queen and Vo through your review and think this is even better. I just gave it to my niece, who was disap..."For sure. I passionately dislike Gatsby. Which you know I never mention... ;)
Dude, seriously? First, you sell me on reading "The Chosen and the Beautiful." Then, you casually drop some insights about "The Great Gatsby." Ones I, myself, had totally failed to have when I read it. (Daisy represents the American Dream? What? How did I miss that?) So now I have to go and reread that book, as well as supplementary criticism to make sure I don't miss anything this time. Finally, you conclude your review with a paragraph that literally brings tears to my eyes? You're killing me, smalls. Killing. Me.
Alfred wrote: "Dude, seriously? First, you sell me on reading "The Chosen and the Beautiful." Then, you casually drop some insights about "The Great Gatsby." Ones I, myself, had totally failed to have when I read..."Oh God, sorry, GR didn't alert me to this comment (or, in fact, any comments - it's so damn buggy). I think part of it might be ... I understand it ... that Americans tend to read TGG at school (here I am, assuming you're American) whereas in the UK we drift to it at uni or later, so we tend to bring a slightly more adult perspective. Whereas obviously books we're taught at school (irrespective of where we are in the world) tend to be taught very simply. I think Alexander Avila (a Youtube essayist I really enjoy) has a video about how his school teacher shut him right down for mentioning the queer themes.