Rüya

BOOK REVIEW 🍂🍜📚

Taipei Story by R.F. Kuang, 5 ⭐️ (subjective rating)

Attending an author event before reading this book definitely made the reading experience that much more memorable and enjoyable. I also shared the notes I took during the author event (2nd post on the carousel)

This was a tender story and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

I loved the lush descriptions of language, food, surroundings, and culture. I loved the travel diary style of this book, especially in the first half.

I loved reading about Lili growing up, finding more confidence, learning to be comfortable with being alone, and reconciling her search for roots.

I loved how immature and self conscious these 19 year old roommates were. They were bad at communicating, insecure, and uncomfortable. This all led to Lili being isolated when she needed support the most. But perhaps this was for the best, because this is how we all grow up and Lili did grow up during this summer.

All of the character motivations, the intergenerational traumas, all made sense. These were devastating and so tender to read. Watching Lili navigate through all of this felt so realistic and it touched a deep part in my heart. I loved reading about her search for where she belonged in the world, she still doesn’t have the answers. That is life…

All in all, this little story felt very personal. I felt the genuineness in the writing.