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spacem0nkeyyy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
littletaiko's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stacym's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
1.0
steph1101's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you Zhang Ling and netgallery for the chance to read this amazing book!
I love WWII historical fiction novels. I've read quite a few, so any that give me the chance to see it from a new perspective, I devour. And this novel did just that. It didn't drag on at all. It was being told from multiple perspectives which I enjoyed. It had a little bit of heartbreak, romance, story telling. It was a little confusing when I first started reading, like the story telling of it, but I figured it out and loved it.
I love WWII historical fiction novels. I've read quite a few, so any that give me the chance to see it from a new perspective, I devour. And this novel did just that. It didn't drag on at all. It was being told from multiple perspectives which I enjoyed. It had a little bit of heartbreak, romance, story telling. It was a little confusing when I first started reading, like the story telling of it, but I figured it out and loved it.
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, War, Medical content, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Cancer, Infertility, and Alcohol
theeuphoriczat's review
4.0
WOAH!!!!!!!!!!! Why is this book not more popular than this? This absolutely blew me away!
Set during the second world war, we follow three souls who wait upon their love based on a pact they made while alive during the war. With the jubilations of the second world war, Pastor Billy, Ian Ferguson, Liu Zhaohu made a pact to stay in contact after the dust of the war settles but things did not go their way. Through the book, we follow each characters perspective of the war and their role in it. From Pastor Billy who served not just as religious leader but a doctor for the small community constant beaten down by war, to Ian Ferguson (a solider) who took Liu Zhaohu under his wings during the trainings and finally Ah Yan, a village outcast. She is also known as the Swallow and honestly her life was soo tragic. From escaping an absence marriage to being sexually assaulted, to sowing a man's head back to his body (not gonna spoil it) and to having a child with a man who abandoned her.
Their story unfolds slowly through the book, broken and brought together by war, each these men fell in love not just with Ah Yan but with each other as they were the only ones who each understood what the other had been through.
So when this book starts with the ghostly voice of Pastor Billy waiting at the crossroads for the others, having waited years for some of them to grow old and die to join him, you can tell that you are in for a ride.
I absolutely loved this book. It was so heart wrenching and it gives a more community insight into the war and the role different countries played in the destruction of millions of lives.
Set during the second world war, we follow three souls who wait upon their love based on a pact they made while alive during the war. With the jubilations of the second world war, Pastor Billy, Ian Ferguson, Liu Zhaohu made a pact to stay in contact after the dust of the war settles but things did not go their way. Through the book, we follow each characters perspective of the war and their role in it. From Pastor Billy who served not just as religious leader but a doctor for the small community constant beaten down by war, to Ian Ferguson (a solider) who took Liu Zhaohu under his wings during the trainings and finally Ah Yan, a village outcast. She is also known as the Swallow and honestly her life was soo tragic. From escaping an absence marriage to being sexually assaulted, to sowing a man's head back to his body (not gonna spoil it) and to having a child with a man who abandoned her.
Their story unfolds slowly through the book, broken and brought together by war, each these men fell in love not just with Ah Yan but with each other as they were the only ones who each understood what the other had been through.
So when this book starts with the ghostly voice of Pastor Billy waiting at the crossroads for the others, having waited years for some of them to grow old and die to join him, you can tell that you are in for a ride.
I absolutely loved this book. It was so heart wrenching and it gives a more community insight into the war and the role different countries played in the destruction of millions of lives.
jaymoonneyyy's review
3.0
Interesting story, challenging read
It took me some time to get into reading this book. Initially gave up a few times as I found it a little challenging to read - could be due to translation. However, it's a great story.
It took me some time to get into reading this book. Initially gave up a few times as I found it a little challenging to read - could be due to translation. However, it's a great story.
loathey's review against another edition
tense
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
3.25
machster9's review
4.0
3.5, rounded up. I found this a very interesting story, told by three former wartime friends from very different backgrounds, and their relationships with one woman. They even had different names for her, reflecting how they perceived the role she played in each of their lives. On my opinion, she was all of the things they thought her to be, and much more. She was a much stronger and more worthy person than any of the three men. Covers the atrocities of war, poor treatment of women, the Japanese invasion of China and its aftermath, and friendship and love.