默读/Silent Reading by Priest

[autodach]

I had a blast with part 4. Seriously, this book is so good. I’m hoping it might gain more fans as the drama adaption is airing right now.

 

Unfortunately Covid hit me hard while I was reading this book. So there was a bit of a gap in my reading and some details may or may not actually be fever dreams, but oh well. 

 

About the main couple

I realized how rare it is in BL to have the main characters get together early on and see them actually be a couple in everyday life. And it’s so good.

Luo Wenzhou and Fei Du have Communication and Honesty going on. It is better to say "I cannot tell you this" than to lie and obscure and ruin your relationship. There is a lengthy scene of Fei Du confessing quite a few things to Luo Wenzhou and them getting clarity about their relationship status and it’s probably my favourite part.

Priest is really good at making characters act like adults in general.

Their relationship feels loving, effortlessly – a part of these characters and their lives rather than tacked on top.

 

The only thing I disliked about these two: They fight over who gets to top. What a tired trope.

 

Story/ Themes

If I had to identify a theme it would be passing on bad behavior to one’s children. 

Fei Du is afraid he has inherited his Fathers sadism, either via genes or parenting. He has such a low opinion of himself. I noticed that he claims his father never abused him, right after describing treatment that I most definitely consider child abuse.

The main murder happens because a stupid petty schoolyard bully can’t handle the possibility of consequences for his actions.

That school is an outpost of hell; filled with rich and entitled little bullies.
And it’s no wonder – their parents are also rich and entitled, throwing their weight around to protect their spawn from consequences.

In one scene, a child tries to bribe Luo Wenzhou and Fei Du, as that’s apparently the way to deal with police he has learned.

 

On another note, I want to mention Xiao Haiyang, although I don’t have a lot of insight. But it’s just nice to have a character with autistic vibes who is fully fledged and complex.