Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

24 reviews

tcrivera12's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense

4.0


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am2ara's review against another edition

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thelittle_seokmin's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense slow-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

4.25


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pyronautphea's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.75


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cc0906's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

2.0


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jennshelfishlife's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 “My life was written for me from the moment the name was given to me. Or it was not. That is the true beauty. That is the intent. We can practice all we want, telling and retelling the same story, but the story that comes out of your mouth, from your brush, is one that only you can tell. So let it be. Let your story be yours, and my story be mine.”

This is a beautiful but tragically sad story of a young Chinese girl named Daiyu. Daiyu had aspirations to become a calligrapher but her life changed when she was kidnapped and ferried away to the United States. Once in California, Daiyu along with many other very young Chinese girls are put to work in a brothel. Eventually, Daiyu is able to escape the brothel only to endure more hardships in Boise, Idaho. Daiyu continues to run to find freedom and her dream of returning to China to become a calligrapher. Along the way, Daiyu converses with Lin Daiyu, her namesake, that lies within her conscious. Lin Daiyu warns and urges Daiyu through her life and is a pivotal part of the story.
As I mentioned, the story is heartbreaking. The author beautifully executes the tragedies surrounding the prejudice of the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), the Rock Springs massacre and the hanging of 5 Chinese men in Idaho for killing a store owner (note that this was a kangaroo court).
Tears burned in my eyes as I was reading, fists and jaw clenched at the atrocities that the Chinese endured in the western territories in the late 1800s.
I will say there are triggers and graphic details that may be difficult to read but the author brings history to life and we should always remember and learn from our history.
I recommend this novel to those that want to learn more about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. 

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atamano's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.75


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truleejenann's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0


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twirlingpages's review against another edition

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sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0


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cait's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-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

3.0


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