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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
ejclibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up in Hong Kong airport on my way to the UK (then Gran Canaria) for my summer holiday. This book grabbed me as I'd always wanted to know more about the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway (I'm from Canada). It was hard to get into at first and I think that the problems that the book has are really down to the translation. Sometimes things really do get lost. It was a really good read (if you like historical fiction). My only issue, was the poor translation.
elsechristine's review against another edition
4.0
Geschiedenis van een Chinese familie, waarvan een deel gaat werken in Canada. Deze geschiedenis wordt aan de hand van deze familie beschreven. Onderhoudend verteld
bookandbliss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
bella_01's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? No
3.5
I chose to read this book because it focused on a topic I didn't know anything about. I loved th
at there was no single main character, since it followed through multiple generations of the family. I appreciated how much detail there was about each of their lives, even if it didn't have a significant impact on the plot itself. I felt the ending was quite abrupt. I enjoyed reading about Amy learning more about her ancestors and would have loved for the ending to give a better insight into her life.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book. After finishing it, I felt encouraged to learn more about Chinese migrants.
at there was no single main character, since it followed through multiple generations of the family. I appreciated how much detail there was about each of their lives, even if it didn't have a significant impact on the plot itself. I felt the ending was quite abrupt. I enjoyed reading about Amy learning more about her ancestors and would have loved for the ending to give a better insight into her life.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book. After finishing it, I felt encouraged to learn more about Chinese migrants.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, and War
allyreadabook's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
minxtte's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and War
Minor: Self harm, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
aeongism's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
vpjto's review against another edition
4.0
Very compelling, non-linear telling of the story of five generation of a Chinese family who comes to Canada to work on the trans-Canada railway. Zhang's writing is much stronger and believable when she writes her characters from older generations. Sections of the story set in the present day are much weaker than the family history and lack the depth to make those characters compelling and likeable. However, her love of her older characters really shines through and makes the book a worthwhile read.