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mariyakeeka's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is meant to be slow. It's meant to linger on pain and suffering and really give us the time and space to examine all the ways in which we can hurt. The prose is stunning and, for the most part, it didn't feel unnecessary. It was well used and so evocative. Thematically, it addresses guilt, family, power dynamics, greed, morality and what it means to exist as a woman. I enjoyed the discussion of good and bad and how these are ultimately subjective terms.
There was a point at the end,
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Trafficking, Grief, and Colonisation
maybak's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I like how author Vanessa Chan incorporated the topics of colonisation, occupation, colorism, race and identity, self-determination, survival, selfishness, the condition of women into her story. She touches on important themes with mastery. I thought her characters were well developed, complex, flawed, with clear fears and motivations.
Moderate: Alcoholism and Murder
Minor: Rape
fkshg8465's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
shannonlian's review against another edition
3.75
All in all I’m glad I picked up this book and hope to read more about this region and time period.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and War
danaaliyalevinson's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I tend to love historical fiction that centers fictional characters against the backdrop of world events, and while fictional, 1 always feel like it gives us a glimpse into how this massive world events may have affected real people. This book did not disappoint on this front; in turns towering and intimate, this is a beautiful portrait of shattered promises, family bonds, and the tides of history that hurl themselves at the barriers of safety people try to erect around themselves and their loved ones.
It is a multi-perspective book, and sometimes 1 tound the switches happening too quickly, just as I would settle into whatever storyline 1 was following in a particular chapter. And I felt some storylines converged at the end better than others. But it was still a really great read.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
craftyanty's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
The audiobook narrator, Samantha Tan, was incredible! I will be looking for more books narrated by her to listen to.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment
ailiscr32's review
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Excrement, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
between_2worlds's review
- 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
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Torture, and Colonisation
lizzyreadz's review
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
thrillofthepage's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship