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hhh_111's review against another edition
4.0
Having only heard snippets about the themes of this book, I was initially confused by the different characters and stories and how they fit together. But even then the language is so beautiful and take-like but the plot still grasping and relevant to the present. Liked this a lot
knod78's review against another edition
4.0
What an interesting book to finish on Mother's Day. This book is all about mothers, daughters, and how they interact with different culture and generations of ideas. My mom and I don't have the different cultural way of thinking, but we do have the generational thing amongst other things. So, I can definitely see myself in some of these ladies when talking to their mother. However, not Waverly. I didn't care for her in the movie, and the book was even worse. What a shitty human being she grew up to be, because no matter what she was spoiled, self-centered, and really didn't listen to her mom in stories. I may joke about my mother too and to her face, but we have that relationship (she does it to me), but if anyone talked shit, I would be talking back to those people.
My issues with the book were mainly with the ending. It's built up that June would visit the long lost sisters, but seriously, a page and half is all we get? We got more pages dedicated to their first night with the aunt. I don't even know if she told the sisters their mother died. Plus, some of the stories between mother and daughter weaved perfectly together and some just didn't. I struggled with some of the stories as really just wondering what the point was of this particular story.
I am so glad I finally read this book and I would definitely tell people to read this to just get that much more from the movie.
My issues with the book were mainly with the ending. It's built up that June would visit the long lost sisters, but seriously, a page and half is all we get? We got more pages dedicated to their first night with the aunt. I don't even know if she told the sisters their mother died. Plus, some of the stories between mother and daughter weaved perfectly together and some just didn't. I struggled with some of the stories as really just wondering what the point was of this particular story.
I am so glad I finally read this book and I would definitely tell people to read this to just get that much more from the movie.
agrimes01's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
sipblueberrytea's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
griffk07's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Beautiful, heartfelt, insightful
liamurph's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jacwol's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
vixenreader's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Although it is a product of its time, it is still a pinnacle work in depicting the lives of Asian women, and it is a tender portrait of the deep pain and love that is shared among mothers and daughters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Pregnancy, War, Child death, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Ableism, Abortion, Antisemitism, Infertility, and Rape
Be warned that there is divorce, intergenerational trauma, unrealistic expectations for children, arranged marriage, polygamy, long lost sisters, and drowning of a child.