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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I don't have the words yet, but this book deeply moved me amidst my own grief, and I highly recommend it.
This was recommended to me by my friend @maddysbookopinions on Instagram <3
I don't have the words yet, but this book deeply moved me amidst my own grief, and I highly recommend it.
This was recommended to me by my friend @maddysbookopinions on Instagram <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: War, Death, Racism, Colonisation, Medical trauma, and Medical content
liadh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
savvylit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ghost Forest is made up of a series of memories, of vignettes from our narrator's life. These vignettes are not in a linear chronological order - a quality that lends the novel a diaristic feel. I often imagined that Ghost Forest was actually a published copy of the narrator's private journal. The nonlinear order seems to mimic the narrator's real-time recollections.
As a whole, Ghost Forest is a heartbreaking and poetic portrait of family love, sacrifice, and grief. For that alone, Fung has written a novel unlike any other that I have read. Additionally, though, Ghost Forest is told through the unique cultural lens of a Hong Kong 'astronaut' family. The narrator's relationship with her father is strained in many ways. Some strain is due to their cultural differences as a native Hong Konger and his Canadian-raised daughter. But beyond that, so much strain can be explained by their physical distance. While the narrator immigrated to Canada with her mother and grandparents, her father stayed behind in Hong Kong.
Ultimately, this was a short and sparse read. However, the raw human emotions of Ghost Forest are potent and immersive. Fung has given readers a powerful reminder to appreciate the complexity of their familial relationships before it may be too late. I know I won't be forgetting this debut novel any time soon & I can't wait to read more from Pik-Shuen Fung in the future!
As a whole, Ghost Forest is a heartbreaking and poetic portrait of family love, sacrifice, and grief. For that alone, Fung has written a novel unlike any other that I have read. Additionally, though, Ghost Forest is told through the unique cultural lens of a Hong Kong 'astronaut' family. The narrator's relationship with her father is strained in many ways. Some strain is due to their cultural differences as a native Hong Konger and his Canadian-raised daughter. But beyond that, so much strain can be explained by their physical distance. While the narrator immigrated to Canada with her mother and grandparents, her father stayed behind in Hong Kong.
Ultimately, this was a short and sparse read. However, the raw human emotions of Ghost Forest are potent and immersive. Fung has given readers a powerful reminder to appreciate the complexity of their familial relationships before it may be too late. I know I won't be forgetting this debut novel any time soon & I can't wait to read more from Pik-Shuen Fung in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Minor: Colonisation and War
adelineania's review
emotional
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child death
kpdf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Medical content
brianareads's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Terminal illness
readundancies's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
This little ditty of a book absolutely WRECKED me.
We're talking 272 pages that forced me upon a temporary relocation to Bawl Town that I was not planning on making, where I got to experience what felt like never-ending rivers pouring down my face that consisted entirely of salty tears, cool sweat and entirely too much nasal mucous. The impromptu trip then ended in the most unfortunate result of puffy-eyed blotchiness alongside the general feeling of absence that was very prominent throughout the book itself.
So long story short, I was a real mess when I finished this story, and it's been a long time since that has been the case for me. I think I needed it.
This books reads very much like a memoir. While reading it, I had to keep reminding myself that it in fact was not a memoir because it could be and felt like one. Normally, that would be a giant turn-off for me because memoirs are truly just not my favourite, but it worked so well with the vignette styled delivery.
And the writing style of the vignettes themselves was so effective. It introduced the absence of story, since we only get to experience specific moments in time, and the fact that it tied together with the titular vignette explaining the one strike ink art perfectly? So satisfying and so well done.
The second half of this novel was the most emotionally arresting thing I’ve read this year. I had to purposefully stop reading this on the train during my commute home because I was tearing up real bad and *knew* I wouldn’t be able to make it home without losing all my composure. And I was right. I have cried more tears on August 9th than at any other point this year because the story was so moving. And really, what a genuinely compelling read. I didn’t want to stop reading at so many times because I was so lost to the prose, but I knew I had to because if not I would’ve been really just crying my heart out.
The discourse on grief and loss throughout the novel spoke to me. Revelling in the moment, and having the grace to love what you have and who you have and let them know it is not a message that is typically expressed in many Eastern culture, including literature, and exposing that in the frame of astronaut families, showing the struggle of children who are raised in a place where their family and culture is not at the forefront of the world around them was masterful. As a mixed race child myself I related to this story in a way I never have before and I'm still a little unsettled and teary-eyed just thinking about it. I've delayed writing this review for a week because I couldn't process just how affected I was without becoming completely overwrought again emotionally.
I loved how all of the family members blended into the unnamed narrator. Her voice becomes them, and their stories and thoughts become her and it is beautiful. Especially because you know the end is coming. That death looms upon the front stoop, waiting. And I won’t say it didn’t hurt when it happened. But knowing the end was near was also a blessing because at least you were prepared.
I don't think the impact of this novel has really hit me yet. All I know is that I desperately need a copy of this book to call my own.
So if you're thinking about picking this up, be prepared for tears.
And if you're not thinking about picking this up, all I can say is that you're missing out on something truly special. I'd suggest you reconsider.
We're talking 272 pages that forced me upon a temporary relocation to Bawl Town that I was not planning on making, where I got to experience what felt like never-ending rivers pouring down my face that consisted entirely of salty tears, cool sweat and entirely too much nasal mucous. The impromptu trip then ended in the most unfortunate result of puffy-eyed blotchiness alongside the general feeling of absence that was very prominent throughout the book itself.
So long story short, I was a real mess when I finished this story, and it's been a long time since that has been the case for me. I think I needed it.
This books reads very much like a memoir. While reading it, I had to keep reminding myself that it in fact was not a memoir because it could be and felt like one. Normally, that would be a giant turn-off for me because memoirs are truly just not my favourite, but it worked so well with the vignette styled delivery.
And the writing style of the vignettes themselves was so effective. It introduced the absence of story, since we only get to experience specific moments in time, and the fact that it tied together with the titular vignette explaining the one strike ink art perfectly? So satisfying and so well done.
The second half of this novel was the most emotionally arresting thing I’ve read this year. I had to purposefully stop reading this on the train during my commute home because I was tearing up real bad and *knew* I wouldn’t be able to make it home without losing all my composure. And I was right. I have cried more tears on August 9th than at any other point this year because the story was so moving. And really, what a genuinely compelling read. I didn’t want to stop reading at so many times because I was so lost to the prose, but I knew I had to because if not I would’ve been really just crying my heart out.
The discourse on grief and loss throughout the novel spoke to me. Revelling in the moment, and having the grace to love what you have and who you have and let them know it is not a message that is typically expressed in many Eastern culture, including literature, and exposing that in the frame of astronaut families, showing the struggle of children who are raised in a place where their family and culture is not at the forefront of the world around them was masterful. As a mixed race child myself I related to this story in a way I never have before and I'm still a little unsettled and teary-eyed just thinking about it. I've delayed writing this review for a week because I couldn't process just how affected I was without becoming completely overwrought again emotionally.
I loved how all of the family members blended into the unnamed narrator. Her voice becomes them, and their stories and thoughts become her and it is beautiful. Especially because you know the end is coming. That death looms upon the front stoop, waiting. And I won’t say it didn’t hurt when it happened. But knowing the end was near was also a blessing because at least you were prepared.
I don't think the impact of this novel has really hit me yet. All I know is that I desperately need a copy of this book to call my own.
So if you're thinking about picking this up, be prepared for tears.
And if you're not thinking about picking this up, all I can say is that you're missing out on something truly special. I'd suggest you reconsider.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content
deandra_lalonde's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Death
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