Reviews tagging 'War'

Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

46 reviews

xereads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-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

5.0

I love history, fiction reads, anything based on true events so I’m glad I picked this as a read for book club. The author did a great job at telling the story of complex and diverse characters; from a mixed race homeless Vietnam male to a White veteran with PTSD the detailed storytelling was amazing. This book highlighted on relationships in so many ways and the treatment of some of the characters pulled on my heart strings heavily. I also appreciated the parallel descriptions of soldiers during the Vietnam war as I’m not as familiar with it but I’ll definitely do some research now. Absolutely recommend this read to others!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Minor: Bullying and Domestic abuse

hannaashaffer's review against another edition

dark emotional informative

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Violence, War, Racial slurs, and Death

cicip's review against another edition

challenging inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, War, and Abandonment

serendipitous_mess's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and War

josiesprobablyreading's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment and War

Minor: Racial slurs and Domestic abuse

nialiversuch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Genocide, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Racism, Toxic friendship, Death, Death of parent, Ableism, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Infidelity, Rape, Violence, War, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Vomit

thevietvegan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-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

5.0

This is a very hard and emotional read, especially for Viet Kieu. It depicts all the horrible sides of war and the intersections between American and Vietnamese cultures. It’s really a sad book, but so beautiful and I think really captured the spirit of Vietnamese people so well.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Pregnancy, Death, Gun violence, Trafficking, Racism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Infidelity, Abandonment, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Racial slurs

beetsbydwight's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, War, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent

fvreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Racism

fkshg8465's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• 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? No

3.5

Fairly predictable, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless. It’s an important story to tell. There were and never are any winners in any war - only those who survive and those who profit. Really glad the author wrote this book and hope it helps all those in search of their families and those who need to make their histories whole.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Racism, Trafficking, War, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts