I feel like I just finished some type of mental marathon.

I expected this book to be slow-paced and heavy and that it would take me several weeks to get through, honestly I was expecting to DNF this.
But I think that mentality is exactly what made this book so enjoyable. Somehow expecting this book to be slow-paced made it so much faster and more enjoyable. I went into this thinking it was going to be depressing, but I found myself sucked into it. I could read 20 pages without even realizing it.

I was getting a bit hesitant towards the ending but I imagine it got more to do with me not doing really anything other than sitting at home than the book actually being boring. I would say this isn't the type of book you read in one or two sittings.

I know so many people who I would like to gift this to but handing over 550-page book of magical realism about 19th century colonialism isn't the most ideal gift to someone who hasn't read a book in years.

R.F. Kuang has the gift of storytelling. I love a book that makes you think, that makes you see the world differently and gives you crumbs to ponder on. This would have been a great read to share with my friends but unfortunately, they do not read.

I adore this book and I have a hard time believing there's going to be another book this good I'll read in 2023.