Reviews

Ru by Kim Thúy

joshlegere's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

5.0

lsparrow's review against another edition

3.0

i love the voice of this author, the way that she weaves stories together. although by the end i would be hard pressed to tell you what this book was about.

ilonare's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

5.0

cythera15's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

My favorite part of this book is how she describes the working girls of Vietnam and how they support the lives of their family 

sophiestasyna's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Xenophobia, and Sexual violence

vajaakirjahylly's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

sofiax's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

christie_esau's review against another edition

4.0

This book has a very untraditional format, and reads almost like a lot of very short (read: one page) stories. The prose is BEAUTIFUL, and the context of the stories is an important piece of what it means to have a home, etc. A worthwhile (and also fairly short) read.

soleil_soleil's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I absolutely ADORED this novel. So glad that I read it for my French course - it’s incredibly magical and enchanting, emotional, uplifting, sad, inspiring, and beautiful all in one. It’s such a powerful story, and the memories, and remembering, and forgetting, and love, and guiding people, and challenges… just amazing!!

On ne sait jamais l’histoire de quelqu’un (sauf si on nous la dise directement) - c’est tellement important de traiter tout le monde avec de la gentillesse, compassion, bienveillance et respect empathique. Le pouvoir d’aider les gens, de les accueillir et de les guider sur leur chemin de trouver leur « chez soi »… ou même juste de les remplir d’un sentiment chaud et profond d’appartenance… c’est tellement spécial. C’est comme un pouvoir magique quotidien des humains. ☺️

« Je me suis avancée dans la trace de leurs pas comme dans un rêve éveillé où le parfum d'une pivoine éclose n'est plus une odeur, mais un épanouissement ; où le rouge profond d'une feuille d'érable à l'automne n'est plus une couleur, mais une grâce ; où un pays n'est plus un lieu, mais une berceuse. Et aussi, où une main tendue n'est plus un geste, mais un mouvement d'amour, prolongé jusqu'au sommeil, jusqu'au réveil, jusqu'au quotidien. » (p. 138-139)

❤️ immense coup de cœur !!

tip_tamarack's review against another edition

5.0

Despite being an easy read, this short book explores some complex issues and emotions. It's short chapters accompanied by amusing anecdotes and a unique point of view left me feeling satisfied.