Vanadia Permall > Recent Status Updates

I’m not sure why this one has been such a slog. The English is easy and straightforward…it should be a quick read. I just can’t seem to get into it. There’s way too much telling instead of showing, and it makes it really hard to get immersed in the story. Not sure if it’s the structure or all the telling, but something’s just not clicking for me.

Title for next chapter: 'The Last Dodo'. Can't wait!

Elegant prose and quietly gripping

Such a fun read. The audiobook adds even more charm! It’s light, funny, and doesn’t pretend to be a serious history book. Just a playful take, and it works.

The author calls Canton’s harbour “the mouth through which China met the world,” and later speaks of cities as “mouths to the world.” Mouth is a fun choice. With Canton it feels like chatter and flavour. With London it turns a bit Dickensian, full of appetite and contradiction. Is the city gobbling the world like a hungry giant, or is it tasting new cultures and ideas like a curious foodie? Hooked.