Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

45 reviews

romonko's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

This book is a very well-written, immersive novel that examines a time that was not familiar to me.  It is set in Malaya during WWII when Japan took it over from the British.  JuJube and her family lost the life of privilege that they had during the colonization by Britain, and become a family that is scared, starving and that has lost hope and a family that had to fight for their existence under the Japanese.  The novel is full of graphic and poignant moments and it examines themes like family, social status, unfriendly occupation, death and despair. The story is one that needs to be told, but I found it difficult to listen to.  I did listen to this on audiobook, and this type of story does not lend itself to that medium as well as it should.  I found that I had trouble getting through the story because of the graphic descriptions, and because I did not like any of the characters in it at all.  I could not sympathize with Cecily as much as I wanted to.  I couldn't understand JuJube and Cecily's younger daughter, Jasmine.  The only character that I sympathized with was Abel, her son.  The book illustrates clearly the consequences of keeping very dangerous secrets.  The ripple effect works it way down through the entire family and all friends and acquaintances with dire consequences. The book is compelling and quite unforgettable, and grips the reader by the throat until you read the final, bitter words.  .  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Genocide, Grief, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

This a totally graphic and descriptive book that does not spare any punches about the horribleness of war

hollydyer328's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-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

4.5

Set during a lesser-known aspect of WWII - the Japanese Occupation of Malaya - Vanessa Chan delivers a beautiful debut novel that explores grief, guilt, suffering, and the family secrets of the Alcantara family. I found the writing excellent (albeit graphic at moments) and the all four character perspectives compelling. I will definitely look out for Chan's next project!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Gore

Moderate: War, Sexual assault, and Torture

ailiscr32's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, War, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child death, and Violence

Moderate: Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Racial slurs, Bullying, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Racism

natalieba's review against another edition

dark emotional informative slow-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

3.5

I ended up doing a combination of reading this on the page and listening to the audiobook, which I got from my library. The audiobook is well-narrated by Samantha Tan. The novel is told in dual timelines and tells a WWII story I was unfamiliar with - British-colonized Malaya in 1935 and the same area during the Japanese occupation at the end of WWII.

Much of the story is raw and almost hard to read - torture abounds and the author doesn’t shy away from drawing a detailed picture of what life was like for Malayans during the Japanese occupation. The family at the heart of the story has lived for years alongside trauma, pain, and terror, and it is impossible to read this story with any sense of hope - only the hope for survival. And is that even worth seeking out when so much has been destroyed? It was truly bleak. 

I appreciate learning more about this (for me) uncovered aspect of WWII, knowing that these kinds of stories are no doubt happening in war-torn places today. But, despite claiming to touch on ‘pain and triumph’ (according to the publisher’s blurb), this novel seemed to only focus on pounding home the malicious, dark side of humanity. The blurb goes on to call the novel a ‘dazzling saga about the horrors of war’ and I don’t know how in the world the word ‘dazzling’ could be used to describe such a thing as war (or this book). 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Torture, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Rape, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Addiction

lizzyreadz's review

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

3.0

Vanessa Chens’s debut novel is a moving and confident work of historical fiction that I don’t know much about. Chen’s perspective is an important one that brings to life a part of history through the story of a family’s tragic journey. Colonization, power, and agonizing choices create the spirit of rebellion and resistance but without true redemption. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, War, Violence, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, and Torture

Moderate: Infidelity, Vomit, Child death, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, and Sexual assault

happyknitter2020's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Absolutely tragic account of war, the significant abuse of young children & families, by those in control.

Observing a fictional family,  their friends & an exploitating lover, brought their horrific life experiences to life.  

Difficult to say you 'enjoyed' such a book, but definitely appreciate how this brings historical experiences to life & helps you to reflect on the current world wars & individuals experiences that are happening today.

The audio book was fantastic. Definitely recommend to others.

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me to listen to the audio book & provide this review.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, War, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Murder, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Rape, Pedophilia, Torture, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Death, and Slavery

ellinlolis's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

Even though there aren’t any direct SA scenes, it’s really intense in the beginning since it involves minors. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and War

ivi_reads_books's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

The book portraits people who are in difficult situations trying to break free. The authors has a beautiful writing style but very heavy and traumatic topics are being discussed in this book. Please see the trigger warnings if you are a sensitive reader before picking up this book

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Rape, War, Addiction, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Deportation, Medical trauma, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Colonisation, Murder, Sexual assault, Blood, Violence, and Excrement

pamelaaaa's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

genius_koala's review

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault