Reviews

On Fragile Waves by E. Lily Yu

ash24314's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

5.0

jalapenyokai's review against another edition

5.0

I just can't overstate how uniquely delivered and how touchingly crafted this book is. The development of Firuzeh and Nour as they grow and experience trauma and hardship was so captivating and realistic. The whole Daizangi family is indelible and their story is one worth telling and retelling. I feel enriched for having experienced this tale and look forward to reading more by Yu.

bookaneer's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars rounded down. It started out really strong. I loved the writing, it flows rather effortlessly. I think it is kind of dragging after the second half and would love more plot than internal musings but I appreciate the author for telling the story of Afghan refugees and their struggles. I noticed the many research and interviews she did to create this novel to give it a more accurate voice.

jzacsh's review against another edition

5.0

So emotional. So easy and worthwhile a read.

rtansey's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

this was absolutely beautiful, and so absolutely heartbreaking. what an impressive debut novel! I will say this is definitely not fantasy, and I wouldn’t even call it magical realism - sitting squarely in contemporary literature imo. but wow. worth a read.

fluffdragon's review against another edition

5.0

4.5 rounded up. Moving and lyrical picture of a refugee family's struggle.

sucrose's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-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

4.0

quackthump's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

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

4.5

reutermiriam's review against another edition

5.0

This book is heart wrenching and beautiful. A fictionalization of the refugee experience that will leave you so uncomfortable from its brutality and moved by it’s beauty at the same time.

laurareads87's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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? No

4.0

On Fragile Waves follows the lives of an Afghan family -- two parents and their two children -- as they journey from Afghanistan to Australia and find that the country is not welcoming and peaceful in the ways that they'd hoped or expected.  From a precarious boat ride to immigration detention to sexual and racist harassment to the threat of deportation, the novel focuses on the precarity experienced by one family seeking safety and is not an easy read.  I will say that I question the shelving of this book as 'fantasy,' and based on some of the reviews I expected a much more experimentally written book than I actually got.  An infuriating and heartbreaking read; this doesn't read like a debut novel -- definitely recommend.

 gender-based violence / intimate partner violence

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse