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juliabui's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
zeps13's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jadeyen's review against another edition
4.75
Prophetic & desolate but in a good way! I love the world that is created and the decisions of the history, putting it underwater, climate disaster, etc. It’s equal parts all of its separate facets: queer, Taiwanese, speculative, science fiction-y in a way that’s so natural and ultra connected. I really liked the concepts & how they were laid out.
Drapaudi is so right when she says that she really likes Momo— a character that is likable despite maybe more obvious reasons to. I also like the subversion of a lot of what you may think is going on but also into what may have also been suspected if not for the subversion.
The translators afterward gives a rich contextual description of time of post martial law Taiwan, one that many of my loved ones don’t know very well. It presents Taiwan as a sponge and a fledgling (maybe not so dissimilar to Momo) entity ready to take on and discover its identity. It also helps to preface the world that I didn’t know as a gen z of where Taiwanese/world fiction was at that time and how accurate and interesting some of the ideas that Chi brings up (with the tech, the “post apocalyptic” nature, the world as it is.).
Beyond the fascinating world building, we also get interesting/forward thinking takes on gender, queerness, relationships, Taiwan, technology, etc. Chi’s also able to pull in world literature/media references that really enrich central themes or help provide context to the stories and worlds.
My chief complaint is that I wish it was longer and more fleshed out & we had an inkling about what happens to Momo. It’s a bit of a shame to have this world where you want to know more about it, but you can’t!
Drapaudi is so right when she says that she really likes Momo— a character that is likable despite maybe more obvious reasons to. I also like the subversion of a lot of what you may think is going on but also into what may have also been suspected if not for the subversion.
The translators afterward gives a rich contextual description of time of post martial law Taiwan, one that many of my loved ones don’t know very well. It presents Taiwan as a sponge and a fledgling (maybe not so dissimilar to Momo) entity ready to take on and discover its identity. It also helps to preface the world that I didn’t know as a gen z of where Taiwanese/world fiction was at that time and how accurate and interesting some of the ideas that Chi brings up (with the tech, the “post apocalyptic” nature, the world as it is.).
Beyond the fascinating world building, we also get interesting/forward thinking takes on gender, queerness, relationships, Taiwan, technology, etc. Chi’s also able to pull in world literature/media references that really enrich central themes or help provide context to the stories and worlds.
My chief complaint is that I wish it was longer and more fleshed out & we had an inkling about what happens to Momo. It’s a bit of a shame to have this world where you want to know more about it, but you can’t!
meganoakes_7's review against another edition
5.0
This story starts as a seemingly un-special account of a young woman’s life under the sea in a world all but destroyed by climate change. It ends as a sharp story of a society where we must question what is right to do with a life, with a mind, with a body. Very entertaining and very perplexing all at once. Overall a good quick read and a good entry point into taiwanese modern literature.
seethinglloron's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
You gotta read this without knowing a thing about it. Wow. Incredible work here, thrilling even when I was exhausted on a red-eye flight.
loosetoothfool's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this was very cool. intriguing, confusing, and ultimately very very sad. I loved learning about Momo and the world she's in and the way the story of her slowly unfolded and then became clear all at once. very interesting things that this book is saying. really fascinating to think about the world in the 1990s when this was written and the world now. I was absolutely floored and shocked by the eventual reality being revealed. it makes some things make more sense, makes the way the book is written make sense too, very clever. want to buy this and reread to see if there's more clues or little things that may point to the truth. I think this was such a cool fascinating story and i wish it was longer :( but I understand why it ended when it did. i really enjoyed the writing style too - complex ideas but simple writing, still full of metaphors and references. which makes sense!!!!!!! very cool book
ninjapenguin's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
emniy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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
3.5