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lzanamiii's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Racial slurs, Grief, Racism, Mental illness, and War
saucywench813's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Wow. There was never a time in this book where I felt like there was unnecessary fluff or poor pacing. Every character is EXTREMELY well-written and realistic. I'm impressed that both generations held my attention, which is something I've learned to be wary of in multi-generational family sagas. Made me cry several times. I can't write any more as it's truly a story you have to experience yourself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, War, Violence, Racial slurs, and Colonisation
koyalites's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5/5
"This sadness, however thin and thread-bare, is all that remains to connect her to a boy now grown, a man long dead, a life of waiting and a past slowly fading from sight."
Stunning prose and beautifully developed characters and relationships. I love multi-generational stories. Following a character's life from start to end and seeing how their lives impacted the generation that came after them is always such a fascinating thing to read and so hard to get right but I was invested in every character that showed up on the page, especially Meilin and Renshu. The story is bittersweet, there are a lot of what-ifs that went through my head as the story progressed, but the author just kind of tells it like it is, there's no big parade or celebration at the end, sometimes you just have to stick together and push forward. The journey that these characters go through to survive, find peace, and heal in their own ways through reconnections is worth giving this book a try. It is also filled with hope and little kind moments that feel so intimate (I used the word already but I'll use it again).
The writing is just so beautiful, the author has a poetic voice that captures the feeling like you're reading an old tale, fitting for a story with characters exploring, reconnecting with their pasts, and/or having to start over through someone else's lens. I don't know how else to review this book, just check it out. I might start checking out more historical fiction books, I don't know...
"This sadness, however thin and thread-bare, is all that remains to connect her to a boy now grown, a man long dead, a life of waiting and a past slowly fading from sight."
Stunning prose and beautifully developed characters and relationships. I love multi-generational stories. Following a character's life from start to end and seeing how their lives impacted the generation that came after them is always such a fascinating thing to read and so hard to get right but I was invested in every character that showed up on the page, especially Meilin and Renshu. The story is bittersweet, there are a lot of what-ifs that went through my head as the story progressed, but the author just kind of tells it like it is, there's no big parade or celebration at the end, sometimes you just have to stick together and push forward. The journey that these characters go through to survive, find peace, and heal in their own ways through reconnections is worth giving this book a try. It is also filled with hope and little kind moments that feel so intimate (I used the word already but I'll use it again).
The writing is just so beautiful, the author has a poetic voice that captures the feeling like you're reading an old tale, fitting for a story with characters exploring, reconnecting with their pasts, and/or having to start over through someone else's lens. I don't know how else to review this book, just check it out. I might start checking out more historical fiction books, I don't know...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Gun violence, War, Xenophobia, Violence, and Racism
betanine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
This book is a novel, but it has an organic, truthful feel. I could believe it to be true. The amount of research Fu has done truly brings the story to life. The storytelling flows well, the flowing by, yet taking time to paint beautiful pictures along the way. Joy is woven in the pain and sadness. Beauty is found in destruction. Wounds can heal, even decades later. From this book, I take away this lesson. Hearts are like soil. When left untended, uncared for, they are incapable of growing a life of beauty or the ability to give to others. When we take the time to address the pains and fears in our hearts, to look for the beauty around us, and let those who love us water our hearts, our lives produce a natural beauty that blesses everyone around us.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Racism, and War
olso4646's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
lhisalisa21's review
reflective
medium-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Peach Blossom Spring is one of those novels which feels multi-layered. This stems from the fact that it's multi-generational and so we get the story of Meilin, Renshu and Lily. These three characters, connected by family, are also all navigating identity, survival, and connection to our home, in different ways. I loved Meilin's story - which feels the most historical fiction - as she flees the Japanese soldiers. Her story is one of resistance through existence and the adapting needs of survival.
Her story is one of hardship in various forms. How it can steal innocence and childhood away. There were parts of it that were chilling and it was emotional from start to finish. As it transitions towards Renshu, it becomes about how this piece of home and trauma becomes a piece of us. For Meilin and Renshu, they deal with the loss of home differently. When we lose everything, what ends up haunting us? For Renshu, living in the US becomes a balancing act of opportunity and safety.
Peach Blossom Spring is one of those novels which feels multi-layered. This stems from the fact that it's multi-generational and so we get the story of Meilin, Renshu and Lily. These three characters, connected by family, are also all navigating identity, survival, and connection to our home, in different ways. I loved Meilin's story - which feels the most historical fiction - as she flees the Japanese soldiers. Her story is one of resistance through existence and the adapting needs of survival.
Her story is one of hardship in various forms. How it can steal innocence and childhood away. There were parts of it that were chilling and it was emotional from start to finish. As it transitions towards Renshu, it becomes about how this piece of home and trauma becomes a piece of us. For Meilin and Renshu, they deal with the loss of home differently. When we lose everything, what ends up haunting us? For Renshu, living in the US becomes a balancing act of opportunity and safety.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
mondovertigo's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Grief, War, Death, Child death, Rape, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying
wishesandpages's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and War
Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, and Child death
grantsharpies's review
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, War, and Violence