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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Wasn't connecting with characters - more.them telling you about external events than exploring through inner dialogue/feelings. Might have also been that it followed Hello Beautiful and The God of the Woods that just wrote characters the way I enjoy.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to really love this one. The cover is pretty and the blurb about it sounded great. There were many many 5 star reviews…however, I was so bored 60% of this book that it couldn’t redeem itself. I loved the main character, Mineko and her story. A historical fiction about pre war Japan and a move to Texas to start a new life. 3.5 stars for me.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lia returns home refusing to explain why. She spends her days with grandmother Mineko, who tells Lia her life story. In dual timeline chapters, Mineko's story of love, loss and sacrifice comes to light. As Lia grows closer to Mineko, her own story develops, as she figures out who she is and where she belongs.
I very much enjoyed this book. It was a little slow at times but I loved the author's style. Her writing was wonderfully descriptive - you really felt like you were there with the characters. I was glad she integrated Japanese words in the story, but without knowing the translations it could be difficult to process. I spent a lot of time looking things up, which I actually love so that part was ok for me.
Mineko is an amazing character. I loved old Mineko the best but her younger self was great too. I was with Mineko and Akio right from the start. His letter to her was heart wrenching and made me almost angry at history. I could have read a book of just Mineko. The reader really gets a good sense of the author's grandmother (who this was based off) and can so easily see how much she loved her.
I very much enjoyed this book. It was a little slow at times but I loved the author's style. Her writing was wonderfully descriptive - you really felt like you were there with the characters. I was glad she integrated Japanese words in the story, but without knowing the translations it could be difficult to process. I spent a lot of time looking things up, which I actually love so that part was ok for me.
Mineko is an amazing character. I loved old Mineko the best but her younger self was great too. I was with Mineko and Akio right from the start. His letter to her was heart wrenching and made me almost angry at history. I could have read a book of just Mineko. The reader really gets a good sense of the author's grandmother (who this was based off) and can so easily see how much she loved her.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Chronic illness, Gore, Blood, Colonisation
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault