Reviews tagging 'War'

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

70 reviews

lizzyreadz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad 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? Yes

3.0

Vanessa Chens’s debut novel is a moving and confident work of historical fiction that I don’t know much about. Chen’s perspective is an important one that brings to life a part of history through the story of a family’s tragic journey. Colonization, power, and agonizing choices create the spirit of rebellion and resistance but without true redemption. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, War, Violence, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, and Torture

Moderate: Infidelity, Vomit, Child death, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, and Sexual assault

bookswithmissy's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.5

This book follows a mother and her 3 children in Japanese occupied Malaya during WWII.   The story is told in present day (1940's) by the 3 children and in the past (1930's) from the POV of their mother Cecily. I really liked the way this story was told, each person had such a different heartbreaking, experience with the war. Jujubee was the oldest daughter and worked in tea house serving tea to Japanese soldiers. Abel, the middle child, was kidnapped and forced to work in a Japanese labor camp. And Jasmine was the youngest and her family desperately tried to shield her from the realities of war. Abel's story was the hardest to read out of everyone, he suffered the most at the hands of the Japanese. 

This was an incredible story of an aspect of WWII that I personally have not heard/read much about. I really learned a lot about this time period and I really like books where I can also learn. The writing for this book is phenomenal and I would recommend the audio because the narration was excellent. 

I know that this book will not be for everyone, there are a lot of REALLY difficult scenes and topics discussed. I would check CW before reading, but I highly recommend picking this book up. 

What was the last book you read that was out of your comfort zone?

. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

happyknitter2020's review

challenging 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Absolutely tragic account of war, the significant abuse of young children & families, by those in control.

Observing a fictional family,  their friends & an exploitating lover, brought their horrific life experiences to life.  

Difficult to say you 'enjoyed' such a book, but definitely appreciate how this brings historical experiences to life & helps you to reflect on the current world wars & individuals experiences that are happening today.

The audio book was fantastic. Definitely recommend to others.

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me to listen to the audio book & provide this review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, War, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Murder, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Rape, Pedophilia, Torture, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Death, and Slavery

annecarts's review against another edition

informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Set in Malaya before and during WW2 this book gives a not often told (to a British audience) view of the war. I found the setting very evocative particularly the POW camp scenes with Abel and Freddie.
I would've liked more development and insight into some of the characters and their actions of the children of the family towards the end of the book were a little confusing in places why they did what they did.
Overall a great historical fiction if you want to explore the Japanese and British occupations of Malaya at this time.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Rape

Moderate: Rape, Racism, Child abuse, War, and Xenophobia

syy8's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Torture, Rape, Child death, and Colonisation

ellinlolis's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Even though there aren’t any direct SA scenes, it’s really intense in the beginning since it involves minors. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and War

ivi_reads_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The book portraits people who are in difficult situations trying to break free. The authors has a beautiful writing style but very heavy and traumatic topics are being discussed in this book. Please see the trigger warnings if you are a sensitive reader before picking up this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Rape, War, Addiction, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Deportation, Medical trauma, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Colonisation, Murder, Sexual assault, Blood, Violence, and Excrement

pamelaaaa's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

ackaleigh's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Colonisation, War, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault and Child death

lindsayerin's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Trafficking, Torture, Racism, and War