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ellemnope 's review for:
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy
by Jamie Ford
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars.
I love Jamie Ford's writing style. It has an interesting combination of comforting and unsettling qualities and is brilliantly atmospheric. His character work is wonderful and I just love the way his stories come to life. Though I have only read historical fiction from him in the past, this novel mixes history with the future and science with a bit of magical realism. It's an interesting framework for a story and incredibly creative.
The women created in the story are all very distinct and strong, despite their traumas. Dorothy appeared to be the weakest of the "daughters", which makes sense as you read the story and understand the theory behind the work. However, this did make her a little more unlikable in my eyes, so may be a reader turn off for her character. Regardless, all of the characters (and multiple POVs) are magnificently crafted and very well researched for their individual time periods. This approach does mean that there are jumps between both time and character that could be confusing for some readers, but I really enjoyed reading about the different women.
I found the research behind the primary basis for the story very interesting and am glad that the author decided to introduce the book with an author's note, as I think this sets up readers for a greater understanding of the narrative (even though it is actually explained over the course of the plot). Those who like to go into a book knowing nothing would be wise to skip this introduction as it could be considered by some to be a bit of a spoiler.
This novel is full of generational sadness and historical misogyny, pulling the reader through multiple emotional journeys. The way these are all interwoven and somewhat influence one another is masterfully done and I loved the way everything came together.
This is a beautiful epic story with an interesting magical realism/sci-fi twist that I found both entertaining and contemplative. There is a lot to unpack in this story and a lot to consider once the tale is finished. A great thought piece and a lovely novel.
I love Jamie Ford's writing style. It has an interesting combination of comforting and unsettling qualities and is brilliantly atmospheric. His character work is wonderful and I just love the way his stories come to life. Though I have only read historical fiction from him in the past, this novel mixes history with the future and science with a bit of magical realism. It's an interesting framework for a story and incredibly creative.
The women created in the story are all very distinct and strong, despite their traumas. Dorothy appeared to be the weakest of the "daughters", which makes sense as you read the story and understand the theory behind the work. However, this did make her a little more unlikable in my eyes, so may be a reader turn off for her character. Regardless, all of the characters (and multiple POVs) are magnificently crafted and very well researched for their individual time periods. This approach does mean that there are jumps between both time and character that could be confusing for some readers, but I really enjoyed reading about the different women.
I found the research behind the primary basis for the story very interesting and am glad that the author decided to introduce the book with an author's note, as I think this sets up readers for a greater understanding of the narrative (even though it is actually explained over the course of the plot). Those who like to go into a book knowing nothing would be wise to skip this introduction as it could be considered by some to be a bit of a spoiler.
This novel is full of generational sadness and historical misogyny, pulling the reader through multiple emotional journeys. The way these are all interwoven and somewhat influence one another is masterfully done and I loved the way everything came together.
This is a beautiful epic story with an interesting magical realism/sci-fi twist that I found both entertaining and contemplative. There is a lot to unpack in this story and a lot to consider once the tale is finished. A great thought piece and a lovely novel.