Calling this a surreal psychological novel seems accurate yet also wildly inadequate. Can Xue in her preface notes that the characters are made stronger through enduring suffering, which seems arguable to me. They are clearly unhappy and miserable while riding this mystery train of life, aside from brief moments of respite, and live with a death wish which they all ultimately fulfill as the wolves of the world tear the life from them. Maybe a lesson in enduring suffering until the grateful release of death comes for you. Kinda dark!

So while it’s not really my kind of book then, Can Xue’s writing, as I read through interpretations into English of course, I still find charming as I read along. Her writing is a unique and likable character. And actually, charmingly goth is an aesthetic I do tend to enjoy.

3.5 ( )