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superlillative's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As an Asian American, it is sobering to read these accounts as history is meant to learn from, not something that can be cherry picked because someone does not agree or share an opinion.
I know it’s my own personal preference, but I would have enjoyed more historical descriptions of the environment as well, but I understand that this book is meant to focus on the characters.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Hate crime, and Rape
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
Minor: Kidnapping and Colonisation
anaiira's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I thought the book was full of gorgeous lines and descriptions, from beginning to end. Even the way that the author describes the ocean, "the cotton roar of the beach... the sea breeze one exhale around us" or the way she describes the relationship of Daiyu's parents "the tides gently pushing them towards each other... an imperative from the water". I appreciate that the author includes trafitional stories, after all, in 4000 years of history, there are stories aplenty to include, but she also chose to retell a small personal one, about a grasshopper that the main character inadvertently tore apart, about how it was a lesson to be more gentle with the world, to do better, that not all the beauty of the world needs to be plucked and held in the hand, sometimes it is good to let it go.
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Gun violence, Colonisation, Trafficking, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Violence, and Sexism
pyronautphea's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Trafficking, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Colonisation, and Pregnancy