Yuhan
Eh. Picked up one of the most popular novels hoping for something actually good but was sorely disappointed. Easy to read but little more than just horny slop.
I've read more sophistication by teenage first-time writers on wattpad. Take away the overwheling amount of sex and its not much more than a children's novel. Characters are incredibly 1D (everyone is either an angel or the exact same flavour of arsehole and then they all die wow no one could have ever seen that coming), you can see any plot twists coming half a book away, everything has to have the threat of death for no sensible reason, main characters are incredibly unoriginal Xaden somehow decides to just pick up a whole new personality after fucking , if anyone "retorts" again I'm gonna throw up, and please for the love of everything NOBODY calls their relatives "cousin" and "younger sister"
"Hey younger sister"
What the frick
Eh. Picked up one of the most popular novels hoping for something actually good but was sorely disappointed. Easy to read but little more than just horny slop.
I've read more sophistication by teenage first-time writers on wattpad. Take away the overwheling amount of sex and its not much more than a children's novel. Characters are incredibly 1D (everyone is either an angel or the exact same flavour of arsehole and then they all die wow no one could have ever seen that coming), you can see any plot twists coming half a book away, everything has to have the threat of death for no sensible reason, main characters are incredibly unoriginal Xaden somehow decides to just pick up a whole new personality after fucking , if anyone "retorts" again I'm gonna throw up, and please for the love of everything NOBODY calls their relatives "cousin" and "younger sister"
"Hey younger sister"
What the frick
I am SO MAD at this book because the first half is so perfect and then it drives straight off a cliff. nyyyyyyoooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
parts that I love/general comments: (and then I'll open fire on criticisms later)
- For context, I literally study at oxford am graduating this year. This book made my city come alive to me, persuaded me to touch grass and man reallllly made graduating and leaving way harder than it was gonna be lol. Thank you to this book for gifting my city to me again before I leave.
- For context, I'm a first gen Chinese immigrant. I've been obsessed with the differences between the two languages for yoinks and this book actually brought many flavours of what I love in Chinese/East Asian literature that's often lost in translations (reference not intended but I'll take it anyway thank you thank you). Thank you R F Kuang for letting the great reader base of English only peeps know what they're missing out on LOL. Understanding both languages also made this book amazing. This book wasn't written for me but it sure felt like it was B)
- Can't believe that no one complained that Oxford water tastes bad LOL I swear it's the only thing people talk about in freshers (I still don't get what is up with this y'all btw Bristol tastes even worse)
- Working you to the bone is real and true though. Could not be the maths dept actually not letting you to go fourth year without at least a 2.1, it gen might as well feel like being dragged out and thrown down a tower.
- Bro I never got oysters at a college ball I want my money back. Oh wait, I never paid cus I organised that shit LOL (lil side note just cus misinformation annoys me, we don't get any money from college and nor are we allowed to turn a profit, and we definitely would not be able to afford oysters)
- Griffin is SO REAL for missing being a student. I miss my first year room. New building st Peter’s will always have my heart
- secretly wished that the author had included some explanations of language using some more commonly misunderstood chinese terms. Just for personal satisfaction. Hearing people say the ‘Ying to my Yang’ I umh uh I ahahaha uhhh AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
criticisms:
I genuinely have few bad words to say about the first half, and I think that's why the whiplash of so many problems being in the second half has me so sad :((((
- lots of plotholes. loads.
- killing like everyone within in two chapters with not much reason really gave me wattpad fic flashbacks. I think they were meant to make me sad, but the whole situation was so fanatical and rushed I was more like uhhhh ok
- Not sure about the notion of violence being the only solution to everything. And even as a first gen chinese immigrant who’s had a fair share of marginalizing experiences (if anyone tries again to correct my own EXPERIENCES of a different political system I’m going to scream thx), I’m skeptical at the portrayal that all white people are imperialists and feel that that sterotype is harmful. I know this is the 1830s but my point still stands, it is written today for people today.
- again, I do believe that it is difficult to fundamentally understand the concept of different cultures without having actually fully experienced them, and this is something I sometimes struggle communicating to homegrown white brits, but most of them will try their best, and you can’t demonize people who never had that toolkit.
- Also not sure about the notion of innovation being fundamentally tied with oppression. The book does touch on the idea of a ‘freemarket’ being happily manipulated for benefits of certain groups, but did not factor it into its solution and just yelled technology bad.
- Nottt sure I’d consider the manipulation of the poor working class into fighting a cause that only has their interests as a byproduct and an afterthought as a resounding moral success.
- the working class are very 1D and portrayed as violent and stupid, to only attempt a save at the end with ‘it was never about the silver bars it was about the working conditions of our women and kids’ feels cheap and patronizing. Many of the 'problems of silver' presented such as wagons not coming off the tracks just ??? like is it better health and safety to have wagons flying off rails? surely you move the person and not the cart right. The book simultaneously tries to use silver to draw a parallel with ethical concerns with the industrial revolution, but also... highlights the fact that these problems have also existed since the industrial revolution (and somehow haven't been solved?). This undermines its own message about the problems that silver brings (if the problem existed before silver anyway, why are people only obsessed with getting rid of silver) and makes it very difficult to take the actions of the core group seriously.
anyway I've yapped enough I'm gonna go do sth else now.
I am SO MAD at this book because the first half is so perfect and then it drives straight off a cliff. nyyyyyyoooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
parts that I love/general comments: (and then I'll open fire on criticisms later)
- For context, I literally study at oxford am graduating this year. This book made my city come alive to me, persuaded me to touch grass and man reallllly made graduating and leaving way harder than it was gonna be lol. Thank you to this book for gifting my city to me again before I leave.
- For context, I'm a first gen Chinese immigrant. I've been obsessed with the differences between the two languages for yoinks and this book actually brought many flavours of what I love in Chinese/East Asian literature that's often lost in translations (reference not intended but I'll take it anyway thank you thank you). Thank you R F Kuang for letting the great reader base of English only peeps know what they're missing out on LOL. Understanding both languages also made this book amazing. This book wasn't written for me but it sure felt like it was B)
- Can't believe that no one complained that Oxford water tastes bad LOL I swear it's the only thing people talk about in freshers (I still don't get what is up with this y'all btw Bristol tastes even worse)
- Working you to the bone is real and true though. Could not be the maths dept actually not letting you to go fourth year without at least a 2.1, it gen might as well feel like being dragged out and thrown down a tower.
- Bro I never got oysters at a college ball I want my money back. Oh wait, I never paid cus I organised that shit LOL (lil side note just cus misinformation annoys me, we don't get any money from college and nor are we allowed to turn a profit, and we definitely would not be able to afford oysters)
- Griffin is SO REAL for missing being a student. I miss my first year room. New building st Peter’s will always have my heart
- secretly wished that the author had included some explanations of language using some more commonly misunderstood chinese terms. Just for personal satisfaction. Hearing people say the ‘Ying to my Yang’ I umh uh I ahahaha uhhh AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
criticisms:
I genuinely have few bad words to say about the first half, and I think that's why the whiplash of so many problems being in the second half has me so sad :((((
- lots of plotholes. loads.
- killing like everyone within in two chapters with not much reason really gave me wattpad fic flashbacks. I think they were meant to make me sad, but the whole situation was so fanatical and rushed I was more like uhhhh ok
- Not sure about the notion of violence being the only solution to everything. And even as a first gen chinese immigrant who’s had a fair share of marginalizing experiences (if anyone tries again to correct my own EXPERIENCES of a different political system I’m going to scream thx), I’m skeptical at the portrayal that all white people are imperialists and feel that that sterotype is harmful. I know this is the 1830s but my point still stands, it is written today for people today.
- again, I do believe that it is difficult to fundamentally understand the concept of different cultures without having actually fully experienced them, and this is something I sometimes struggle communicating to homegrown white brits, but most of them will try their best, and you can’t demonize people who never had that toolkit.
- Also not sure about the notion of innovation being fundamentally tied with oppression. The book does touch on the idea of a ‘freemarket’ being happily manipulated for benefits of certain groups, but did not factor it into its solution and just yelled technology bad.
- Nottt sure I’d consider the manipulation of the poor working class into fighting a cause that only has their interests as a byproduct and an afterthought as a resounding moral success.
- the working class are very 1D and portrayed as violent and stupid, to only attempt a save at the end with ‘it was never about the silver bars it was about the working conditions of our women and kids’ feels cheap and patronizing. Many of the 'problems of silver' presented such as wagons not coming off the tracks just ??? like is it better health and safety to have wagons flying off rails? surely you move the person and not the cart right. The book simultaneously tries to use silver to draw a parallel with ethical concerns with the industrial revolution, but also... highlights the fact that these problems have also existed since the industrial revolution (and somehow haven't been solved?). This undermines its own message about the problems that silver brings (if the problem existed before silver anyway, why are people only obsessed with getting rid of silver) and makes it very difficult to take the actions of the core group seriously.
anyway I've yapped enough I'm gonna go do sth else now.
The title is clickbait lol. Medicine adjacent literature will always hold my interest but I was worried that this was going to present an overly dismissive argument of people's suffering (and honestly picked it up to expand my worldview - one of those books if you get me) but actually, it was very well written and presented some very interesting points.
The main argument presented was essentially - people are suffering, but if their suffering is not fully understood and the diagnosis does not actually provide any benefits in understanding or treatment, does it actually do more good overall to give them a diagnosis. A multitude of different perspectives are discussed in the book, but the one I found most interesting was the case where the biological underpinnings of a diagnosis have not been understood, and so the diagnosis itself is not much more than a collection of symptoms. For the subset of these diagnoses where it's commonly perceived to be an inherent difference or just simply not recoverable, despite no scientific consensus that this is actually the case, having the diagnosis pinned to a person's identity can affect how they perceive themselves and their relationship with potential recovery.
As someone diagnosed and being treated for ADHD, I SO understand the appeals of a biological explanation, and so kinda just accepted it without digging into it too much - and to be fair, it is very much often presented as truth. Finding out from literature (not even this book lol, but it is discussed) (and also just from personal experience where things didn't quite add up) that the reality was much more complicated did feel like a bit of mourning for a loss of identity. I realised that I was starting to use it as an excuse, and regardless of what the true mechanisms for the condition is, I'd reached the point of diminishing returns of my diagnosis and it was actively stunting my growth in other areas. Either way, I'm glad that I got the diagnosis and it's helped me in many ways, but I'm also glad that I've been able to look beyond it, and I see the worry that other people may be being harmed by a well-intended but ultimately not unequivocally good-resulting simplified explanation.
Gripes about the book (because ⭐necessary⭐): clickbait title is unappetising. missells what the book is about, or maybe it's a meta 5D chess move, idk lol. Also, from some of the interviews featured in the book, it's quite clear how the author feels about the conversation. I understand that as a practicing medical professional, it must be frustrating facing people who give out (from their point of view) misinformation and endorsing medical malpractitioners. After all, especiallyas a medical professional, active harm to people must be difficult to just sit with, buuuuuuuuuttttttt maybe a more neutral viewpoint would be better for a book. That's all!
The title is clickbait lol. Medicine adjacent literature will always hold my interest but I was worried that this was going to present an overly dismissive argument of people's suffering (and honestly picked it up to expand my worldview - one of those books if you get me) but actually, it was very well written and presented some very interesting points.
The main argument presented was essentially - people are suffering, but if their suffering is not fully understood and the diagnosis does not actually provide any benefits in understanding or treatment, does it actually do more good overall to give them a diagnosis. A multitude of different perspectives are discussed in the book, but the one I found most interesting was the case where the biological underpinnings of a diagnosis have not been understood, and so the diagnosis itself is not much more than a collection of symptoms. For the subset of these diagnoses where it's commonly perceived to be an inherent difference or just simply not recoverable, despite no scientific consensus that this is actually the case, having the diagnosis pinned to a person's identity can affect how they perceive themselves and their relationship with potential recovery.
As someone diagnosed and being treated for ADHD, I SO understand the appeals of a biological explanation, and so kinda just accepted it without digging into it too much - and to be fair, it is very much often presented as truth. Finding out from literature (not even this book lol, but it is discussed) (and also just from personal experience where things didn't quite add up) that the reality was much more complicated did feel like a bit of mourning for a loss of identity. I realised that I was starting to use it as an excuse, and regardless of what the true mechanisms for the condition is, I'd reached the point of diminishing returns of my diagnosis and it was actively stunting my growth in other areas. Either way, I'm glad that I got the diagnosis and it's helped me in many ways, but I'm also glad that I've been able to look beyond it, and I see the worry that other people may be being harmed by a well-intended but ultimately not unequivocally good-resulting simplified explanation.
Gripes about the book (because ⭐necessary⭐): clickbait title is unappetising. missells what the book is about, or maybe it's a meta 5D chess move, idk lol. Also, from some of the interviews featured in the book, it's quite clear how the author feels about the conversation. I understand that as a practicing medical professional, it must be frustrating facing people who give out (from their point of view) misinformation and endorsing medical malpractitioners. After all, especiallyas a medical professional, active harm to people must be difficult to just sit with, buuuuuuuuuttttttt maybe a more neutral viewpoint would be better for a book. That's all!
I am gobbledy smacked screaming crying throwing up, this book slaps you in all the unexpected ways that real life does.
Surprisingly this book is very different to the first in its series, but absolutely not in a bad way. It's grown organically to adapt to the new setting - given that the twist in the first book completely alters the fundamental environment that the book is set in, and yet somehow manages to slap in an equally mindbending revelation in this book. I've gushed loads in my review of the first book about how real the writing is, and I think that really excels in this book as well. I'm still marvelling at how well the sense of nothing you thought mattered matters anymore after 200 years of 'time travel', yet it's not even mentioned explicitly. Dude, like, I feel like I time travelled. also loved the not-so-subtle calls to classic Chinese sci-fi that I read growing up, very fun :)).
A note that I did read the original in Chinese, and while I thought the translation of the first book was kinda difficult to read, I had a quick peek at the tranlation of this second book, and actually thought it seemed pretty fab (and I don't often say that about translated works from Chinese ahaha. I know it's difficult to produce a translation that makes a native speaker happy!).
No frickin clue where the third book is going to go, from a quick look at the contents page, it appears to take on a completely different spin again and I'm all here for it. I guess that's part of the charm, and that is just how life goes.
I am gobbledy smacked screaming crying throwing up, this book slaps you in all the unexpected ways that real life does.
Surprisingly this book is very different to the first in its series, but absolutely not in a bad way. It's grown organically to adapt to the new setting - given that the twist in the first book completely alters the fundamental environment that the book is set in, and yet somehow manages to slap in an equally mindbending revelation in this book. I've gushed loads in my review of the first book about how real the writing is, and I think that really excels in this book as well. I'm still marvelling at how well the sense of nothing you thought mattered matters anymore after 200 years of 'time travel', yet it's not even mentioned explicitly. Dude, like, I feel like I time travelled. also loved the not-so-subtle calls to classic Chinese sci-fi that I read growing up, very fun :)).
A note that I did read the original in Chinese, and while I thought the translation of the first book was kinda difficult to read, I had a quick peek at the tranlation of this second book, and actually thought it seemed pretty fab (and I don't often say that about translated works from Chinese ahaha. I know it's difficult to produce a translation that makes a native speaker happy!).
No frickin clue where the third book is going to go, from a quick look at the contents page, it appears to take on a completely different spin again and I'm all here for it. I guess that's part of the charm, and that is just how life goes.
