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A review by houxli
The Backstreets: A Novel from Xinjiang by Perhat Tursun
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Heartbreaking picture of a neurotic guy who's trying to find his footing in the world just like anyone else, sorting through his emotional baggage in a new city. All the while, navigating the social repercussions of being a victim of an ongoing genocide. The protagonist is a fish out of water just from coming from a rural community into an urban one, that's what he feels. But he doesn't realize the majority thinks he's not worth the skin he wears. How's he to deal with this? How can anyone?