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sydresnik's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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? N/A
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Stalking and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Racism
theresenatalie's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Racial slurs and Suicidal thoughts
adoesetfree's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I didn’t hate this book by any means but I didn’t like it either. It doesn’t deserve a 3 but I don’t think it deserves a 2 either, so have a 2.5.
I found the writing an odd mix of threadbare and try-hard (if this book asks me ONE more rhetorical question....) The story itself didn’t give me what I wanted, often skipping right over the things I was interested in seeing. The explorations of how complex mother-daughter relationships can be, how patriarchy affects women, and life as a Korean-American immigrant were thorough, but not especially intuitive or engaging; I wonder if maybe the author took on too many topics at once, particularly for a debut novel.
I found the writing an odd mix of threadbare and try-hard (if this book asks me ONE more rhetorical question....) The story itself didn’t give me what I wanted, often skipping right over the things I was interested in seeing. The explorations of how complex mother-daughter relationships can be, how patriarchy affects women, and life as a Korean-American immigrant were thorough, but not especially intuitive or engaging; I wonder if maybe the author took on too many topics at once, particularly for a debut novel.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Sexism
wai's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh, my heart. This book really captures the experience of Asian diaspora in the USA, with the story of Mina Lee, a Korean immigrant who first came to the USA in the last 1980s, and her daughter, Margot Lee. Adding in the mystery of how Mina died, and Margot's absolute resolve to know the truth, really pushes you to want to keep reading, if only to know how it ends. Plus, I honestly love dual narratives that includes switching between flashbacks of the past to what is the book's present (in this case, late 2014). This book was so touching and I know it will stay with me even as I move on to other books.
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, and Child death
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