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2treads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A story is what holds me hostage during sleep.
Anything that leads with a haunting, a sentient or otherwise inhabited inanimate object, complicated father-daughter relationships, a self-aware, queer, motivated, complex, and confused main character will have me reaching for it. The malevolence that comes through as Jade learns more of the house's history and previous owners is a palpable thing, as are the marks left by French colonialism.
#SheIsAHaunting brings this and much more, the underlying sinister vibes, entangled familial and colonial history, identity, sexuality, and the need for acceptance are all wrapped around Jade as she tries to navigate her fraught relationship with her father in order to be able to pursue her educational aspirations.
I love that Tran has given us a look at how each child responds to the father in their way, based on their age and understanding of why he isn't home with them. It also speaks to their complex relationship with their heritage and cultural identity. How you feel in the place of your parent's birth and history versus how you feel in your country of birth that finds many ways to make you feel Other.
But it is also the sacrifices that we can be led to make for those we love while ignoring the damage such actions cause. It is learning and relearning, listening, and understanding that there is always another story, another person who was also used and impacted by the need for power and longevity.
I want to go through this terrible thing, but I’ll never fully understand the intimacy of a home rooted in soil.
Anything that leads with a haunting, a sentient or otherwise inhabited inanimate object, complicated father-daughter relationships, a self-aware, queer, motivated, complex, and confused main character will have me reaching for it. The malevolence that comes through as Jade learns more of the house's history and previous owners is a palpable thing, as are the marks left by French colonialism.
#SheIsAHaunting brings this and much more, the underlying sinister vibes, entangled familial and colonial history, identity, sexuality, and the need for acceptance are all wrapped around Jade as she tries to navigate her fraught relationship with her father in order to be able to pursue her educational aspirations.
I love that Tran has given us a look at how each child responds to the father in their way, based on their age and understanding of why he isn't home with them. It also speaks to their complex relationship with their heritage and cultural identity. How you feel in the place of your parent's birth and history versus how you feel in your country of birth that finds many ways to make you feel Other.
But it is also the sacrifices that we can be led to make for those we love while ignoring the damage such actions cause. It is learning and relearning, listening, and understanding that there is always another story, another person who was also used and impacted by the need for power and longevity.
I want to go through this terrible thing, but I’ll never fully understand the intimacy of a home rooted in soil.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Blood
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