More interesting for the well-written progression of the protagonist's English as she learns it over the course of the book. The character herself, though, her lover and her supposed learning about herself and the world, to me reveal an unpleasant, morally lacking and thoroughly confused young woman. This is an interesting example of a typical Chinese-raised woman who is heavily influenced by and returning to a very different culture and values, I know, yet for all her attempts to be "modern", in the end she seems to be going back to willingly live a life of mendacity, lack-of-will-power, other people always steering her biggest decisions and some disappointment. Left me with a taste of disappointment about life.

I did read it through to the end, and as an ESL teacher it was interesting to watch the change in language as it went along. The frustrations of people to learn any language, particularly grammar! Sometimes I see such a simple pattern to fix a whole area, and even a bit of broken English is such an excuse for people to treat a person as if they're stupid. Worth reading once.