Reviews

Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford

pam2375's review against another edition

3.0

This book was good but not great. The subject matter was, at times, absolutely painful to read. Families in the 1920's dropping their children off at orphanages because they are no longer able to feed them. Did the parents have any idea what the conditions of these orphanages were? I simply can NOT imaging thinking abandoning my children is my best option.

There is a lot to this story, hunger, loneliness, despair, etc. It is not a feel good story and it has taken me a long time to read it. I think that I am going to be reading a comedy or some other kind of fluffy something to get myself out of this darkness.

I am really not sure that I am able to actually recommend this book because of the way that it is written. It is just so dang sad!

Many thanks to Ballentine Books via Netgally for the Advanced Reader Copy.

roseleaf24's review

3.0

Two stories ate told, one of a Chinese boy in an orphanage in 1934, in Seattle during the depression; the other of his mother in the 1920s. They combine to tell the story of this mother-child relationship and how it came to be what it is. Life was rough for orphans and abandoned children during the Depression, and life was rough for first generation Asian Americans in the 20s, so the book was fairly depressing to me. There was a lot of hope, but a lot of it unfulfilled, and I'm not sure the ending was enough for me.

bree_of_the_woods's review

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, Racism, and Suicide

shirleytupperfreeman's review

The Chinese Americans in this story are amazingly resilient. While reading along, I just wanted something decent to happen to these decent characters but between poverty, prejudice, and cruelty, Willow Frost and her son William experienced many set-backs. They occasionally interacted with good and helpful people but life was sure hard. By the end, I could basically understand why William was in an orphanage but I still found Willow a difficult person to like. I wanted to finish but didn't love the story.

ka8g's review

slow-paced

2.0

wrentheblurry's review

I started it twice recently, but never made it past page 16. It just didn't appeal to me. Not rating it since I read so little of it.

vaylinn_levore's review

dark emotional hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

 Set in early 20th century, through the 20’s and 30’s it follows an american-chinese boy William Eng left in an orphanage but trying to reconnect with his mother who he believes is now a film star. 
The story slowly covers his mother’s story from before he was born to the present time in the novel. Unsurprisingly for it’s setting there is a great deal of racism towards the and surrounding the characters, though it doesn’t hit you over the. head with it, just tells it as it was.
Although I did appreciate the story I don’t think I need to read it again just as it does cover a lot of horrible suffering that is silently endured because no one cares/listens. Took off a slight star because

I weirdly felt the ending was a little unrealistic. Like I appreciate the crumb of hope but given that the mother had been very realistic as to her inability to support her son on her own up to then, it seemed a little stupid that now she’d throw all caution to the wind and claim him with no future income planned and no way to prevent the sperm donor from claiming him if discovered

also Charlotte is best character and left the strongest impression, poor thing. I had accidentally looked at the last page and seen her name mentioned while I was still early in the book so thought she was safe and didn’t see her suicide coming

lgmaxwell722's review

3.0

What made this book stand out for me was the location and time period in which it was written. Having spent time in the Northwest I found it familiar and comforting to read about a place in whose streets I had wandered. I enjoyed the time period as it was able to weave together some tough topics such as the depression, race, and the move industry. I liked the plot, but felt the ending was too predictable. Characters were well developed and likable (or not) depending on their role in the story.

meshuggeknitter's review

4.0

Interesting perspective of the 20's and 30's in that most stories that cover this era center around New York or Chicago and rarely touch upon the experiences of Asian-Americans or Seattle. Fascinating and a great read.

cathyatratedreads's review

3.0

Good book and nicely written. It gives a good view onto a time and place (1920s/30s) in Seattle, with how Chinese were treated, with insight into the early film industry. I just think I'm ready for something a little more fun and less sad.

Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/songs-willow-frost-clean-fiction-book-review/