Scan barcode
atreegrowsinbooks's review
emotional
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
savannahtrice's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The beginning of the book was great, the middle was dragging, and the end was great. I wasn't a huge fan of this, but I can't deny that Ng is a talented writer. If she wrote poetry, I would 100% read it.
A couple beautiful lines:
"To us, the deformed man is oddly compelling, the forgotten man is a good story, and a beautiful woman suffers."
"Blood and bones. The oldtimers believed that the blood came from the mother and the bones from the father. Ona was part Leon and part Mah, but neither of them could believe that Ona's unhappiness was all her own."
"...sorrow moves through the heart the way a ship moves through the ocean. Ships are massive, but the ocean has a simple superiority."
"I believe in holding still. I believe that the secrets we hold in our hearts are our anchors, that even the unspoken between us is a measure of our every promise to the living and to the dead. And all our promises, like all our hopes, move us through life with the power of an ocean liner pushing through the sea."
A couple beautiful lines:
"To us, the deformed man is oddly compelling, the forgotten man is a good story, and a beautiful woman suffers."
"Blood and bones. The oldtimers believed that the blood came from the mother and the bones from the father. Ona was part Leon and part Mah, but neither of them could believe that Ona's unhappiness was all her own."
"...sorrow moves through the heart the way a ship moves through the ocean. Ships are massive, but the ocean has a simple superiority."
"I believe in holding still. I believe that the secrets we hold in our hearts are our anchors, that even the unspoken between us is a measure of our every promise to the living and to the dead. And all our promises, like all our hopes, move us through life with the power of an ocean liner pushing through the sea."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
madde's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
sidrajaved's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Absolutely beautiful! I loved this to no end. The depictions of grief and loss are exceptional. I love the stories that revolve around families going through grief, sorrow, and loss together. Fae Myenne Ng's prose was beautiful. It was easy to read. Character portrayal also was an 11/10.
HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend.
"Leon told me once that what we hold in our heart is what matters.
The heart never travels.
I believe in holding still. I believe that the secrets we hold in our hearts are our anchors, that even the unspoken between us is a measure of our every promise to the living and to the dead. And all our promises, like all our hopes, move us through life with the power of an ocean liner pushing through the sea."
HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend.
"Leon told me once that what we hold in our heart is what matters.
The heart never travels.
I believe in holding still. I believe that the secrets we hold in our hearts are our anchors, that even the unspoken between us is a measure of our every promise to the living and to the dead. And all our promises, like all our hopes, move us through life with the power of an ocean liner pushing through the sea."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
More...