Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Swimming in the Monsoon Sea by Shyam Selvadurai

2 reviews

augie_'s review

challenging emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Car accident

ruthhelizabeth's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book was incredibly beautifully written. The descriptions of Sri Lanka were beautiful and vivid and the audio book narrator was fantastic. 

I found the plot hard to follow, and like some others on here, I found the

sexual attraction Amrith had for his cousin quite disturbing to read, especially as it was never really grappled with. It was as if the queerness was the real issue, which I found tricky to deal with. Where homophobia was challenged, this topic was not, and it disturbed me that it was in a YA book unchallenged at any point.

I think I am more sensitive to this than most, so I think others would still very much enjoy this book, but it wasn't totally my cup of tea for that reason. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Grief

Moderate: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Incest, and Death of parent