Reviews with content warning for Rape - Peach Blossom Spring

This was an interesting read. MEILIN's character was for the first 65% of the book, then Renshu for another 25% and the last part or 10% was for Lily. I liked both female stories best and feel like more focus could have been given to Lily, but Renshu's story was very tragic. As much as Meilin's struggle was difficult in living through the war and trying to find solutions, I think it says a lot by what Renshu survived daily during his childhood or as they say formative years. It sounds as though he suffered from a great deal of PTSD.

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kimveach's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

This was a terrific multi-generation historical fiction book. The history of the Chinese-Japanese War and the Civil War that followed it was new to me. And I think this might be the first book I've read with a setting in Taiwan.

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smgossett77's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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crystaldragonst's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

This book is a beautiful work of historical fiction that focuses on the love, the loss, and the lives of Chinese during the War of Aggression / World War II and the years after. I don’t typically like historical fiction, but this book was interesting and vibrant. The story is rich in description and I really enjoyed the Chinese fables woven throughout. What’s interesting is that the story is told from third person which allows the reader to access multiple characters thoughts and feelings through the narrator. Through this story, I felt that the choice to use a narrator also created a sense of a parent telling a child a story, which fits with the storytelling idea within the book. There is some graphic content including one of the main characters being raped.

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roguephoenix7's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I initially struggled to get into this book but I found I couldn't put it down by the second half. My favorite part of the story was the characters and how they had a lot of depth to them despite seeing them in such a limited way. They were flawed, they didn't always make the right choice but you could always see why they made the choices they did. They thought they were doing the right thing with the circumstances they were dealt. The story is sad, it's one of loss and struggling to find a place to belong but the characters persist and create new lives for themselves. I enjoyed seeing the story progress through the three generations of the family. It added a lot of depth to the characters getting to see where they came from and how they were raised.
I'm glad I stuck through with this book, I definitely found it a worthwhile read.

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ginadapooh's review against another edition

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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? Yes

4.5

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yomireads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.75

Poignant, hopeful, and heartbreaking. A story spanning 3 generations struggling to understand what to hold back and what to give of their heritage when so much of a past is hardship and pain.

The prose is especially beautiful, allowing for the switch in perspectives without too much jarring, and the insight to the emotional turmoil in each character during their periods of grief and strength in turn. I particularly appreciated the bond between Renshu and Meiling, strained through hardship and distance over time, but never for lack of love.

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cyanide_latte's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Got through the vast majority of this book today; it sucked me in and wouldn't let go, and honestly, it's wonderful. It's immensely sad and constantly heartbreaking, but beautifully written and I'm happy I read it.

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