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hue's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I adore Kim Thúy's way of writing. In little snippets, vignettes, rather than dashing on like the "typical" novels. This feels serene and calm, even with all the heavy topics it has within the story. I could read it again and again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Gun violence, War, Child death, and Abandonment
maidinnah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
3.5
Lyrically written, elegant, and concise. The choice to write the book as a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive narrative was an interesting one. Reading Ru felt like accessing the collective experiences of Vietnamese refugees and therefore is an excellent starter novel for those wanting to learn more about life during and after the Vietnam war.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Gun violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
itsdoroo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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: Gun violence, Child death, Blood, Death, Excrement, and War
buffy87's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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? No
3.75
The language was beautiful and layered. As I was reading it, it was hard to keep track of what was happening or where I was but I think that really added to the layering of the book. I felt disoriented but the layers folded back into one another so the story built up. I was emotional reading some parts because it made me think of my immigrant parents and our own story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, and Mental illness
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