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thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, War, Medical content, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Cancer, Infertility, and Alcohol
theeuphoriczat's review against another edition
4.0
WOAH!!!!!!!!!!! Why is this book not more popular than this? This absolutely blew me away!
Set during the second world war, we follow three souls who wait upon their love based on a pact they made while alive during the war. With the jubilations of the second world war, Pastor Billy, Ian Ferguson, Liu Zhaohu made a pact to stay in contact after the dust of the war settles but things did not go their way. Through the book, we follow each characters perspective of the war and their role in it. From Pastor Billy who served not just as religious leader but a doctor for the small community constant beaten down by war, to Ian Ferguson (a solider) who took Liu Zhaohu under his wings during the trainings and finally Ah Yan, a village outcast. She is also known as the Swallow and honestly her life was soo tragic. From escaping an absence marriage to being sexually assaulted, to sowing a man's head back to his body (not gonna spoil it) and to having a child with a man who abandoned her.
Their story unfolds slowly through the book, broken and brought together by war, each these men fell in love not just with Ah Yan but with each other as they were the only ones who each understood what the other had been through.
So when this book starts with the ghostly voice of Pastor Billy waiting at the crossroads for the others, having waited years for some of them to grow old and die to join him, you can tell that you are in for a ride.
I absolutely loved this book. It was so heart wrenching and it gives a more community insight into the war and the role different countries played in the destruction of millions of lives.
Set during the second world war, we follow three souls who wait upon their love based on a pact they made while alive during the war. With the jubilations of the second world war, Pastor Billy, Ian Ferguson, Liu Zhaohu made a pact to stay in contact after the dust of the war settles but things did not go their way. Through the book, we follow each characters perspective of the war and their role in it. From Pastor Billy who served not just as religious leader but a doctor for the small community constant beaten down by war, to Ian Ferguson (a solider) who took Liu Zhaohu under his wings during the trainings and finally Ah Yan, a village outcast. She is also known as the Swallow and honestly her life was soo tragic. From escaping an absence marriage to being sexually assaulted, to sowing a man's head back to his body (not gonna spoil it) and to having a child with a man who abandoned her.
Their story unfolds slowly through the book, broken and brought together by war, each these men fell in love not just with Ah Yan but with each other as they were the only ones who each understood what the other had been through.
So when this book starts with the ghostly voice of Pastor Billy waiting at the crossroads for the others, having waited years for some of them to grow old and die to join him, you can tell that you are in for a ride.
I absolutely loved this book. It was so heart wrenching and it gives a more community insight into the war and the role different countries played in the destruction of millions of lives.
jaymoonneyyy's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story, challenging read
It took me some time to get into reading this book. Initially gave up a few times as I found it a little challenging to read - could be due to translation. However, it's a great story.
It took me some time to get into reading this book. Initially gave up a few times as I found it a little challenging to read - could be due to translation. However, it's a great story.
loathey's review
tense
slow-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
3.25
machster9's review against another edition
4.0
3.5, rounded up. I found this a very interesting story, told by three former wartime friends from very different backgrounds, and their relationships with one woman. They even had different names for her, reflecting how they perceived the role she played in each of their lives. On my opinion, she was all of the things they thought her to be, and much more. She was a much stronger and more worthy person than any of the three men. Covers the atrocities of war, poor treatment of women, the Japanese invasion of China and its aftermath, and friendship and love.
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this historical fiction set in WWII China, primarily focused on three/four characters from very different backgrounds. The writing and translation from the Mandarin is excellent.
rubbertree14's review
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Good glance into the Japanese/Chinese conflict during WW2 which I think is overlooked in the history books. I wasn’t very aware of this happening during the war and that leaving china war-torn is what allowed communism to be welcomed and take root. The premise was very unique in the way the story is brought forth and told, and in the ways three very different men are connected by circumstance around one woman and her relationship with each of them. I found each man to be despicable in their own ways, but war affects people in different ways. I think it was interesting to read about each man from a different perspective than their own, but also read their own perspective, because it created a well-rounded version of each character and gave better understand to each.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical trauma, War, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
itisdpayne's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jacque18's review
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The more I think about this book-it bothers me that the only viewpoints we hear are from the three men who were involved with the main female character. Each of them used her for their own purposes, even if they think they were being altruistic or were in love with her. I wish we had heard more from the main female character about how she viewed her life and these men. Overall, interesting novel with historical context I didn’t know about-involvement of Americans in China helping the Chinese fight the Japanese during WW2.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
clairerobinson90's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0