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daniestla's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
garanciels's review
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
tara_pikachu's review
3.0
This book made me realise that I don't really know much about Taiwan's history...being half-Taiwanese and all that. For me this family saga sort of sagged midway...I could care less about the family's dreary times in 1980s California. Towards the end the author redeems herself with a very arresting turnaround, totally unexpected, graphic details and all that. I would have liked a bit more facts and history.
bookslayer's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
cami19's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
sakisreads's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
I bought this on my trip in Taiwan, because I was desperate to get insight into Taiwan’s horrific history.
This book was definitely a slow burner so I definitely took far longer than I usually would have with a book, but it undoubtedly taught me lots. For such a small, stunning island, it is so heavily politicised 😳
I will say there were moments that dulled my interest (e.g. there were parts where we could’ve touched on the history without taking away from the fiction), but I still would recommend to people who are trying to understand a bit more of Taiwanese history. 3 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨
This book was definitely a slow burner so I definitely took far longer than I usually would have with a book, but it undoubtedly taught me lots. For such a small, stunning island, it is so heavily politicised 😳
I will say there were moments that dulled my interest (e.g. there were parts where we could’ve touched on the history without taking away from the fiction), but I still would recommend to people who are trying to understand a bit more of Taiwanese history. 3 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Police brutality, Deportation, Body horror, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
ash7898's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
'Maybe this is what it meant to be a citizen of a place-bonded to each other by the histories thrust upon us.'
cpwang65's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5