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emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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:
Complicated
A great, emotional book. Deeply examines the tensions between Northern and Southern Vietnam.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Rape, Abortion
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality
challenging
emotional
informative
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
I loved this book so much. There were so many meaningful moments to me that my whole book is tabbed up. I could probably write a whole essay about it, but I’ll try to be brief…
This book will stay with me for a very long time. It was absolutely heartbreaking in so many ways, and yet, Nguyễn finds a way to keep you holding onto a thread of hope at the end. With beautifully poetic prose, and words of wisdom woven throughout, Nguyễn tells the history of one family in Vietnam over the last century. But this story is really about more than just that.
It’s about history all over the world and how wars destroy not only countries, but families and individuals too. It’s about loss, suffering, resilience, sacrifice, parenthood, family, good vs evil, “choices” that aren’t really choices at all, and the power of storytelling.
This story reminded me that every day I have is a gift. Every day, I take the simplest pleasures for granted... food on my table, a hot shower, a bed to sleep in, advil for any ache or pain, a family not torn apart by war…
This book had me thinking about all of the conflict happening around the world and the US involvement in many of those conflicts… What we need to realize is that every day innocent people are scarred, both physically and emotionally, by acts of violence carried out by those in power throughout the world. And each one of those people has a story. They matter, and they deserve their stories to be heard too.
I’m so grateful that Nguyễn shared this story with us. Even though it is fiction, I felt the truth in these words and the weight of the Trần family’s reality. I am so looking forward to whatever she creates next!
TLDR: Please do yourself a favor and go read this book. It is an incredible work of art.
This book will stay with me for a very long time. It was absolutely heartbreaking in so many ways, and yet, Nguyễn finds a way to keep you holding onto a thread of hope at the end. With beautifully poetic prose, and words of wisdom woven throughout, Nguyễn tells the history of one family in Vietnam over the last century. But this story is really about more than just that.
It’s about history all over the world and how wars destroy not only countries, but families and individuals too. It’s about loss, suffering, resilience, sacrifice, parenthood, family, good vs evil, “choices” that aren’t really choices at all, and the power of storytelling.
This story reminded me that every day I have is a gift. Every day, I take the simplest pleasures for granted... food on my table, a hot shower, a bed to sleep in, advil for any ache or pain, a family not torn apart by war…
This book had me thinking about all of the conflict happening around the world and the US involvement in many of those conflicts… What we need to realize is that every day innocent people are scarred, both physically and emotionally, by acts of violence carried out by those in power throughout the world. And each one of those people has a story. They matter, and they deserve their stories to be heard too.
I’m so grateful that Nguyễn shared this story with us. Even though it is fiction, I felt the truth in these words and the weight of the Trần family’s reality. I am so looking forward to whatever she creates next!
TLDR: Please do yourself a favor and go read this book. It is an incredible work of art.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Violence, Abortion