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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
emotional
informative
reflective
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:
Complicated
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
I really enjoyed this book, though, reflecting on reading Dust Child earlier this year versus reading The Mountains Sing now, I do have to say that I enjoyed Dust Child more, which appears to be an unpopular opinion. Maybe it's because I read Dust Child first, but I felt like The Mountains Sing was a bit more slow paced, and I think that is where the major difference came in for me.
Still, though, I really did enjoy this. As another reviewer pointed out, I think it's good for Americans to read more historical fiction about the impacts of the Vietnam War by Vietnamese authors. Something that I really appreciated in Dust Child and appreciate here as well is the sprinkling of Vietnamese phrases/proverbs throughout in Vietnamese (then followed by the English translation), as well as the fact that names of characters, names of locations, etc. aren't Anglicized (so "Hà Nội," not "Hanoi," and "Trần," not "Tran"). Though it does also make me think I probably should've listened to this as an audiobook instead of reading it physically. Since I don't know Vietnamese, the pronunciations in my head were probably off.
To the actual content of the book, it was really a beautiful tale, both heartbreaking and heartwarming at times. And although I did like Dust Child better overall, this was still fantastic, and I would still absolutely recommend it to others.
Still, though, I really did enjoy this. As another reviewer pointed out, I think it's good for Americans to read more historical fiction about the impacts of the Vietnam War by Vietnamese authors. Something that I really appreciated in Dust Child and appreciate here as well is the sprinkling of Vietnamese phrases/proverbs throughout in Vietnamese (then followed by the English translation), as well as the fact that names of characters, names of locations, etc. aren't Anglicized (so "Hà Nội," not "Hanoi," and "Trần," not "Tran"). Though it does also make me think I probably should've listened to this as an audiobook instead of reading it physically. Since I don't know Vietnamese, the pronunciations in my head were probably off.
To the actual content of the book, it was really a beautiful tale, both heartbreaking and heartwarming at times. And although I did like Dust Child better overall, this was still fantastic, and I would still absolutely recommend it to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Child death, Torture, Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Rape, Suicide, Abortion
Not in the right headspace for this. I also don't care for the audiobook narrator's style.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved the Vietnamese sayings throughout this book. I learned a lot about the culture and perspectives of the people. Parts of the book were really hard to read, but mainly because the events showed the greed and cruelty of people and the heartbreaking ugliness of war. Sometimes the characters were confusing.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Huikea sukuromaani yhden perheen elämästä halki Vietnamin kahden (?) 1900-luvun repivän sodan.
Todella kiinnostava ja otteessaan pitävä. Paljon samaa lukemieni Kiinan kulttuurivallankumoukseen sijoittuvien teosten kanssa.
Kiinnostava erityisesti naispuolisen rintamalääkärin näkökulma sotaan.
Todella kiinnostava ja otteessaan pitävä. Paljon samaa lukemieni Kiinan kulttuurivallankumoukseen sijoittuvien teosten kanssa.
Kiinnostava erityisesti naispuolisen rintamalääkärin näkökulma sotaan.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
No
I’ve never read a sweeping family saga I didn’t love, and this book is no exception.
So tragic and difficult to consume but felt very important to read especially after reading The Women. The writing is poignant, even if a little too on-the-nose at times, and the characters are so memorable. Both perspectives were incredibly captivating, heartbreaking, and beautiful.
This book truly falls into my favorite genre of the indomitable human spirit and the power of love and connection.
So tragic and difficult to consume but felt very important to read especially after reading The Women. The writing is poignant, even if a little too on-the-nose at times, and the characters are so memorable. Both perspectives were incredibly captivating, heartbreaking, and beautiful.
This book truly falls into my favorite genre of the indomitable human spirit and the power of love and connection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
Moderate: Child death, Abortion, Death of parent
Minor: Rape
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated