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kaneebli's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child death, Animal death, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent and Car accident
maggies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Ableism, and Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
just_one_more_paige's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
“It’s in our nature to give things value, and there are times [...] when we have to give these things up in order to stay whole, in order to keep going.”
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Abandonment
onewoman_bookclub's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism and Child death
Moderate: Car accident
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The writing quickly drew me in and I appreciated the four main characters in very different ways. Each had their own back story with individual hardships to overcome. Seeing the impact of the Cultural Revolution and migration through four different perspectives contributed to a more complete and nuanced picture than any one would have alone. The settings were also deftly handled, with the village of Trout River being especially vividly depicted.
I especially loved the way Chinese culture in the form of language was woven into this novel, almost as a key theme. Yuanfen and zaohua are introduced and an understanding of these words provides an invaluable lens through which to view the characters and their interactions.
Music, and art more generally, was a key thread throughout the novel, often bringing people together and providing solace at crucial junctures. The contrast in attitudes to the arts in China during the Cultural Revolution and in America was stark.
Janie’s disability and the reaction of others to her was another aspect of the novel I found interesting. While some people were unable to see a future for her, Momo was always optimistic and Junie focussed on what she could do.
While I enjoyed my reading experience I did have some reservations. I would have liked the novel to be a little longer so that we could see more of Junie and also of Dawn’s journey. The ending left me a little unsatisfied because it brought two characters together without any explanation. It just felt too coincidental and convenient.
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Ableism
spaghettireads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I quite enjoyed this reading experience. While I think that the description on the book jacket doesn’t represent very well what you actually get in the book, I was really impressed with the writing. The way that the 4 storylines were interwoven over quite a long period of time and with many different side characters was well done. I felt invested in all of their stories. The way the author writes about music is beautiful, and I think that if you are a music person this is worth a read just for that.
The book description makes it sound like the book is more plot-centred than it is in my opinion. I wish that I hadn’t read the description because it left me expecting something from the book that I didn’t get. However, after more reflection on the book I did really enjoy it for what it was and would recommend it!
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Abandonment
hilaryreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Violence
Minor: Ableism