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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
ghost forest is an elegy to the author's deceased father and a meditation on family. it's a sparse book both in form and content, but also a remarkably relatable one esp in regards to the asian family dynamics, things both said and unsaid, mourning for family lost, and fung's attempts - and failure - to learn more abt her family members as full, fleshed out individuals. it's like seeing my own life imprinted in this book.
there are moments where the truth of the author's words are so searing it brings me to tears, or so astonish me for the mere fact that another human feels the same way i do. while this book's emotional impact subtly ebbs and flows and there isnt much of a plot, it def serves as a great reminder of the fleetingness of life and the preciousness of the time remaining.
there are moments where the truth of the author's words are so searing it brings me to tears, or so astonish me for the mere fact that another human feels the same way i do. while this book's emotional impact subtly ebbs and flows and there isnt much of a plot, it def serves as a great reminder of the fleetingness of life and the preciousness of the time remaining.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Mental illness, War, and Colonisation
whosjessanyway's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Some of these vignettes were, somehow, very relatable. Beautiful writing, it left a lump in my throat from time to time.
“And I am overcome with envy for the people who live where they were born and raised. Why is it that I have to choose?”
“And I am overcome with envy for the people who live where they were born and raised. Why is it that I have to choose?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
tenderbench's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
elnelson's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Medical trauma and Medical content
Minor: Colonisation, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racism, Sexism, and Body shaming
brogan7's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This is a book that I wanted to start again as soon as I finished it.
Ok, but also when I got to the end, I realized it's classified as fiction and I thought it was straight up memoir.
The thing that bugs me about that is the grandma who taught herself to read. It's very hard to learn to read Chinese, because there are so many characters and a word is expressed in characters attached to meaning, not sound...so it's practically impossible for her to have taught herself to read. Why would you do that? Why does it matter to have an uneducated grandmother who soared above her age peers in ways that are actually impossible to accomplish? Why couldn't she just be awesome and illiterate?
I liked the flow of the book, the way memories arose and were spoken of and sometimes revised; the low-key tone, very conversational and accessible; the negotiation of different identities.
I liked it. And I'm mad it's fiction because I wanted to see her art piece from the exhibit. It sounded so accomplished and amazing.
Ok, but also when I got to the end, I realized it's classified as fiction and I thought it was straight up memoir.
The thing that bugs me about that is the grandma who taught herself to read. It's very hard to learn to read Chinese, because there are so many characters and a word is expressed in characters attached to meaning, not sound...so it's practically impossible for her to have taught herself to read. Why would you do that? Why does it matter to have an uneducated grandmother who soared above her age peers in ways that are actually impossible to accomplish? Why couldn't she just be awesome and illiterate?
I liked the flow of the book, the way memories arose and were spoken of and sometimes revised; the low-key tone, very conversational and accessible; the negotiation of different identities.
I liked it. And I'm mad it's fiction because I wanted to see her art piece from the exhibit. It sounded so accomplished and amazing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Medical content
katievh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This is a book you can read in literally one sitting or if you choose to listen to this via audio, only four hours of your time. Either way, this is worth reading. A lot of immigrant families (speaking from personal experience) tend to have a difficult time expressing love with their words, choosing actions or quality time rather than communicating. Our narrator, who is nameless, is trying to understand the grief she feels and the east vs west differences since moving to Canada after leaving Hong Kong. She relies on mom and grandma to help guide her confused feelings. The chapters are Uber short and sometimes veer a little off track from the re-telling of the past but will linger with you for a while even after you close the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Xenophobia
dustghosts's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
typedtruths's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Grief
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