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murderpigeonsgobump's review against another edition
3.0
Still mostly a pretty solid 4 stars, but taking one off because of how much the ending sucks
(Review from first read:
An amazing and realistic portrayal of OCD set against the devastating and fascinating (as someone who knew nothing about the historical context going into it) backdrop of 1969 race riots in Malaysia.)
(Review from first read:
An amazing and realistic portrayal of OCD set against the devastating and fascinating (as someone who knew nothing about the historical context going into it) backdrop of 1969 race riots in Malaysia.)
repobi's review
4.0
Kira-kira, untuk masalah gangguan kecemasan begini, mana yang lebih baik? Mengeksternalisasikan kecemasan sebagai sesuatu yang bukan diri kita dalam bentuk jin atau menerima kalau itu adalah bagian dari diri kita?
teeggzz's review
2.0
*2.75
This book really missed the mark for me. It felt messy, unorganised and anticlimactic, which is a shame.
This book really missed the mark for me. It felt messy, unorganised and anticlimactic, which is a shame.
chelseachips's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
khardan's review
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.0
heavenlyrealms's review against another edition
5.0
Where to start because my heart feels so empty right after finishing the book and I could feel myself in pain every time I flipped the page. The story is beautifully written until I could absrob the energy and drowning myself into the book. And I agree, the Djinn was real. There might be people who had the same condition as Melati but it’s hard for people to understand her (especially do deal with their way to cope with the Djinn).
I could feel the desperation, the sadness, the stressfulness and everything that happened in the book. I was mad towards the people like— why would you do that? Why would you attacking each other and for what? Most of them were innocent, like Saf. They don’t deserve this. Everybody in this world deserves a safe place wherever they hold up the sky.
But not gonna lie, I was dhakdhsks (I don’t know how to pour it into words) to Melati because she’s so… confusing. But then again, it’s because of the Djinn and I’m glad Vincent and his family was really.. really nice to her. I should thank to Vincent and his family as well, for being one of the best people too. And it’s painfull when Vincent said “I’m Chinese. They won’t listen to me.”.
And the ending… at least I get a proper closure. A good book I must say and I keep crying for the entire book.
I could feel the desperation, the sadness, the stressfulness and everything that happened in the book. I was mad towards the people like— why would you do that? Why would you attacking each other and for what? Most of them were innocent, like Saf. They don’t deserve this. Everybody in this world deserves a safe place wherever they hold up the sky.
But not gonna lie, I was dhakdhsks (I don’t know how to pour it into words) to Melati because she’s so… confusing. But then again, it’s because of the Djinn and I’m glad Vincent and his family was really.. really nice to her. I should thank to Vincent and his family as well, for being one of the best people too. And it’s painfull when Vincent said “I’m Chinese. They won’t listen to me.”.
And the ending… at least I get a proper closure. A good book I must say and I keep crying for the entire book.
midvalkyrie56's review
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
phineasjames's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Mass/school shootings, Blood, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Murder, Mental illness, Gore, Hate crime, War, Violence, Grief, and Death
specificity's review
This was a really interesting read about a part of history I'd never read about before, and the horrors and their resulting shock and trauma were depicted respectfully and well without seeming voyeuristic, which I really appreciated. I really liked the way her OCD was depicted, intense but fitting well into the context of Melati's time (Alkaf talks a bit more about this in her preface author's note). That being said, I did find the writing, and especially the climax and denouement, rather cheesy, but at least
Spoiler
her standing up and talking about intercommunity peace was shown as something that bought them the time to escape and hopefully give the rioters something to think about later, and not something that magically ended the riots.joykku's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25