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meghb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
sgtmian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Suicide
valentinaa_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, War, Sexual content, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and Pedophilia
olivia_russell's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, War, Bullying, and Suicide
bdilley28's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Honestly I thought I would like this book much more than I did. It's very me: a book that explores mother-daughter relationships and discusses family trauma and grief. I didn't dislike the book, but I found it a little confusing. Unless it is written well, I have a hard time following a book that doesn't have a linear timeline, and with the amount of characters in this book, it was not necessarily easy to follow. I liked the ending and thought it closed out the book really well.
Overall not bad but not my favorite book.
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Abandonment, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Drug use, War, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Dementia, and Grief
randeedandeelion's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Minor: Suicide and War
emmie_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide
halfcactus's review against another edition
3.0
I was really engaged in Ruth's PoV, the conflicts and anxieties that arose from her traumatic upbringing, and the way she personified the themes of language and ghosts and writing. I'm so glad she found answers and got closure in the end, even though I wasn't very invested in the mystery of Bao Bomu's real name. I did really enjoy the novel's relationship with language and translation, and how Ruth's struggles with the language were very specifically a product of their time and place—matching radicals to the paper dictionary + her insinuation that only old or extremely specialized people could read traditional script. 😂
I couldn't stand Art or Art's kids and couldn't forgive them for how rude they and their families were during Mid-Autumn dinner. They were old enough to know better and school their children. May they never be invited to parties or community events ever again.
I actually think Lu Ling's chapters were the weak link because they weren't paced very well, and in spite of its intentions I think it failed to convey the emotional complexity in her relationship with her sister. The non-tragic relationships, in general, didn't feel earned.
Unrelatedly, I wish I'd paid more attention to the timelines of this book, because it feels like Ruth loses her voice around ghost month?
Content notes: this book contains suicide, drug addiction, and childhood sexual assault
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide, Colonisation, and Racism
Minor: Torture, Addiction, and Drug abuse
nutmegandpumpkin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I underlined so many lines and though I’ve never cried reading a book, this one has come closest.
I felt a bit intimidated when picking this up because it’s not my usual genre but I’m so glad I did.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Ableism, Child death, and Rape
2122's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, War, and Dementia
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual assault