Jonathan Arnold reviewed The Secret Talker by Jeremy Tiang
Review of 'The Secret Talker' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Hongmei is the Chinese wife of a caring American professor who gets lured into an email exchange with someone who seems to know her every move. (S)he touches some raw nerves and get Hongmei to open up, spilling her deepest darkest secrets from her time growing up in a small village far from everywhere in China, including the gruesome story of over 200 girls being slaughter during World War 2 by the occupying Japanese force.
We get a real insight into a confusing woman's mind, as she struggles with her perceive infidelity. Her story is pretty engrossing and told in an interestingly circular fashion. She hates her weakness but also enjoys it. The whole story (a very short 160 page book) is kind of a meditation on holding conflicting views, especially about oneself.
There were some moments of humor and some real eye opening moments. I am pretty sure I …
Hongmei is the Chinese wife of a caring American professor who gets lured into an email exchange with someone who seems to know her every move. (S)he touches some raw nerves and get Hongmei to open up, spilling her deepest darkest secrets from her time growing up in a small village far from everywhere in China, including the gruesome story of over 200 girls being slaughter during World War 2 by the occupying Japanese force.
We get a real insight into a confusing woman's mind, as she struggles with her perceive infidelity. Her story is pretty engrossing and told in an interestingly circular fashion. She hates her weakness but also enjoys it. The whole story (a very short 160 page book) is kind of a meditation on holding conflicting views, especially about oneself.
There were some moments of humor and some real eye opening moments. I am pretty sure I guessed the ending (reminiscent of a popular song), but I still enjoyed the ride.