Lenaasty’s Reviews > Taipei story > Status Update

I might be entering a toxic relationship with this book. I'm starting to enjoy it just because I'm growing attached to the main character

"But there was no good way out of the situation, and it seemed that the old mantra applied. The only way out was through.
[...]
Thoughts of milking a cow rose unbidden to my mind [...]. Yes, this was what I would have to do - milk him dry, and then I could go to sleep."

what on earth is this and why did RFK ever think this was normal to write in a book. hopefully it will not be normalised and excused.... little hope

I've just realised there's hardly ever any description of any physical tangible element, like what the surroundings look like, colours, texture, furniture, etc it's mostly thoughts and reflections about language and Taiwan

are we scared of dialogue why is 90% of it indirect, it makes the story read very factually especially since there's hardly anything happening 🫪

"The heritage speaker advantage led to a bizarre patchwork of near fluency and showing foundational gaps, but I never know how to explain this"


I don't remember the plot of this book so I'm still going blind; it is very much centered around language, reconnecting with your heritage culture and that uncomfortable feeling of not being enough for your home culture. It's making me want to read Babel 😮‍💨

who tf am I to have an ARC from Rebecca F Kuang