Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien

9 reviews

reflectiverambling_nalana's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A love letter to Chinese languages, storytelling, to their history, to classical music, and family blood and found. A hard hitting read about difficult times and the paths we take to, in the words of one character carve the "life (you) can live with" in the course of survival. Gives a great perspective on the flow of modern history from the eyes if citizens caught in the maelstrom and the search to find their lost narrative. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Suicide, and Grief

Minor: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Confinement, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Deportation

carmentxx's review

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

wow. what a book. a sweeping scope of recent chinese history. don’t get me wrong, it’s really long. it’s hard to get through. but my god, the mystical dream like writing is so reminiscent of how traumatising it must have been to live through years and years of systematic gaslighting oppression. it’s a very special book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Violence, Grief, Confinement, War, and Police brutality

Moderate: Suicide

ra22ouille's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Profound and lasting. I havent been able to stop thinking about it. The book began with one woman's devastation stemming from family tragedy. From this the book circles outward into a web of people whose lives weave through the woman's narrative both during and outside of her time. 

I knew what the destination was for some of our characters very early on, and it was devastating to know it, and painful to read on at times knowing where it would lead. The way the book weaved in and out of that understanding and made me both long for the completion and fear the story running out—it was incredible.

The structure extended themes of cyclical histories, art as atemporal connection, and separation (of people from each other, from themselves, emotionally, physically, through death. Specifically through and beyond the cultural revolution). It was masterfully constructed.

So much respect for this book and author. Highly recommend!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide

riozul's review

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Suicide, and Police brutality

Moderate: Classism, Death, Grief, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Child death, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

lyd41's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Best historical fiction book i have ever read. Worth the lengthy read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Police brutality, Genocide, War, Hate crime, Deportation, Cursing, Violence, Physical abuse, Mass/school shootings, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Death, Blood, Child death, and Cancer

tara_donaldson's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, War, and Grief

joanie_l's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Police brutality, Suicide, Torture, Grief, Hate crime, Death, and Genocide

rieviolet's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, just wow! I do not think that my words can really do justice to this book. The scope of it (in terms of history/story, characters and themes) is honestly spectacular. I could re-read it again and again and still understand and discover new things each time. 

I loved the writing style, it was always beautiful and engaging, and at times wonderfully reflective and lyrical. 

I was enraptured by the big cast of characters, from the older generations to the new one, it was just wonderful (if terribly heartbreaking) to see their stories slowly unfold. 

If you like historical fiction and family sagas I absolutely recommend this book, it is truly a gem in the genre! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Grief, Torture, Suicide, Murder, Child death, Confinement, Police brutality, Death, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore

Minor: Cancer and Rape

ameliarose5's review

adventurous challenging informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Child death

Minor: Cancer