*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Normally not a book i'd read but liked this more than i thought i would tbh, would recommend to ppl who like more verse/feeling books

Pluses But Mostly Minuses

Audiobook Review:
In this book, the heroine relates her experiences and views as a Chinese immigrant to the UK, where she is pursuing her doctorate. I think the author does a good job giving an idea of how all the differences between two very different cultures can be alarming, potentially embarrassing, and confusing for an immigrant, especially one from a relatively closed-off society. The author doesn't just tell us this; she shows it through the heroine's thoughts, actions, and inactions. But the story had a weird setup. It is told in the first-person present from the heroine's viewpoint (not a favorite POV of mine), but when she refers to her boyfriend, instead of calling him “he,” she calls him “you,” adding a very strange and somewhat jarring second-person perspective that is not often seen in contemporary writing. As such, it just didn't feel right for me and never did. Aside from the occasional moments of showing “immigrant-ness” described above, much of this book felt like telling. We are told of events and even thoughts, instead of seeing them play out in real-time. Quite often this happens at the beginning of books—and I don't even like it then—and is termed info-dumping, but in this book, it happened all the way through, effectively distancing the reader from the story the entire time. The narrator was fine except for one point that drove me a little nuts. It takes place in Great Britain, mostly London, with references to other UK places. The narrator could not say Edinburgh properly. She said it like “Edinburg,” instead of the way the natives say it, which is either “Edin-bra” or “Edin-bura.” That got on my last nerve. All in all, I did not enjoy this book or think it was well written.

Unfortunately, the audiobook did not properly download and was inaccessible, so I was unable to listen to the book to provide an accurate review. Was excited to listen to the book, but will be excited to read this through a different medium instead!

A Lover's Discourse is the story of an unnamed Chinese woman who moves to Britain to work on her dissertation. While feeling adrift and alone in a new place as a foreigner she meets a landscape architect and they begin to build a life together. The story plays out like a recollection of the pair with a heavy focus placed on "her". The characters formal names are never reveals which I think lends itself well to including the reader within the story.

I listened to an audiobook of A Lover's Discourse and honestly, I think it was the narrator Cindy Kay who really kept my attention rapt within the story. Her voice is crisp and clear and she moved from the "her" to the "him" characters with ease enough that I often forgot there was only one person narrating the story. It was a little difficult as first to discern the beginning of each new segment of story. As each chapter, or segment, begins with a small bit of rumination or dialogue from the segment as a header. At first it seemed like the book was repeating itself. It took me a couple times to realize these instances were headers kind of a preliminary introduction into what is going to be discussed next.

The story was not what I was really expecting though. With a title like A Lover's Discourse I just maybe expected more of a romance and while there is a romantic story, it just doesn't unfold the way I'm typically used to my romances unfolding. The story is very seated in reality, it's not flowery it's not overly fantastical. I suppose if I'm looking at the story clearly it's probably one of the most true to life relationships I've ever read about.

I was really interested in the focus placed on "her" experiences of emigrating to Britain. I loved her ruminations on what it means to be a woman on her own in a foreign country with no family. Pretty much starting completely over. I loved the frank discussions of language and culture differences between "her" and "him". Although I never really warmed up "him" and therefore, I wasn't ever really keen on their overall relationship. Like I said it's not an overly romantic or flowery type story, but I didn't feel their connection. I felt like there was a disconnect between what each of them wanted out of their life together that never really gets solved. Maybe that's a commentary on relationships in general. How it is difficult to be 100% on board with your partner in all their endeavors and needs and desires without sacrificing some of your own and vice versa.

Overall, it was an interesting, sometime eye-opening read. This is the first book I've ready by Xialou Guo, but I'm certainly interested in checking out her other works.

Really beautiful and so, so stylish.

The prose moves like poetry and Guo so clearly captures what it's like to be a stranger. The way the woman approaches everything she doesn't understand about Britain and English is so coldly practical, but wonderfully admirable. It's difficult to describe, but the character's point of view is so successful, I felt like I was her. There's a kind of detachment and the feeling of floating loose in a large body of water in the story, and I was alternately terrified for her and in awe of her for just going and taking the chance after her parents died. There are elements of culture shock and adventure but she never feels like a tourist; it's truly incredible writing.

The narrator is Cindy Kay and she has such a beautiful speaking voice, listening to this book was like having a conversation.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, RB Media, and HighBridge Audio for providing me a copy of this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

A love story told between two different people from different backgrounds. Understood the meaning of words and language differently. A story that was beautifully and uniquely told.

Thank you NetGalley for offering ne a copy. I appreciate this very much.

I listened to A Lovers’s Discourse on audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. The book is made up of many different scenes that come together to tell the story of the couple. I found it interesting, but I just wanted more from the book. It’s a quick listen and definitely enjoyable, but I just didn’t find myself invested in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this audiobook.

Audiobook version for me on this. I loved the narrator and her voice was easy and comforting.
The description of the book didn’t match the book. But that was fine for me. I can’t imagine being in another country and trying to fit in.
The book was mostly about a Chinese women and her need to further understand, well, everything. She was trying to desperately hold onto the preconceived ideals of places and concepts. Her perspective and mindset powerfully influenced her.
The book is about a relationship but I wouldn’t call them lovers. The book is mostly about how culturally challenging her life was living away from China.

Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this audiobook ARC, in exchange for my honest review. ♥️

A Lover’s Discourse by Xiaolu Guo is a very unique novel.

A Lover’s Discourse is about a Chinese woman and her relationship with a German man in Brexit Britain. It is an interesting book from a woman’s perspective. The book is composed of little stories of the couple.

I found the book very interesting and like reading unique stories. A Lover’s Discourse is a romance about a couple that doesn’t believe in love. The reader gets to hear what the woman is thinking. Both characters feel like they don’t belong in Britain but have different opinions about staying. I recommend A Lover’s Discourse for anyone that likes unique stories. This is not your typical romance.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed Cindy Kay’s narration.

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio/RB Media for A Lover’s Discourse.

Absolutely phenomenal and at times poetic novel about an ambitious Beijinger moving to London for a new career and life. Truly relatable if you have ever moved to start over.

Many years ago, before I even started high school, I read Xiaolu Guo's "Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth." It must have been my first encounter with China, at least that I can recall. At that time, I could have never expected that one day, I would move to China myself and build a life there. And even though so many years have passed, I still remember fragments of my first Guo novel. So I simply had to pick up this one.

"A Lover's Discourse" is a true literary delight: rather than being plot-based, it focuses on the emotions and intimate experiences of two lovers: a Chinese woman who just moved to London and a British man. The novel is told through the snippets of their conversation, each being followed by a beautifully written story.

Aside from the negotiation of what it means to be in love and build a life together, as a British-Chinese herself, Guo brilliantly portrays the cultural differences between the two countries. They are subtle and context-specific, but very relatable to anyone who moved countries and found herself in a completely new culture.

I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.