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craftyanty's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
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
4.25
This book is a heavy read... lots of triggers warnings needed, but it really is excellent for a debut novel. The characters are well-written, and each of them faces their own personal struggles that come together to make this novel a very emotional read. In fact, this was almost a 5-star rated book for me, but the youngest daughter's character became less believable toward the end.
The audiobook narrator, Samantha Tan, was incredible! I will be looking for more books narrated by her to listen to.
The audiobook narrator, Samantha Tan, was incredible! I will be looking for more books narrated by her to listen to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Pedophilia, Rape, War, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Confinement, Grief, Infidelity, Classism, Vomit, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Death, and Trafficking
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Addiction, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Child abuse
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 warhollydyer328'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
strawberrymivvy's review
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
At times quite a challenging read, this novel told the story of WWII from the point of view of the people of Malaya, as British rule was overthrown and the locals had to learn to live under the Japanese.
With a dual timeline we see how regular housewife Cecily became a spy for the Japanese, falling in love with the Japanese general who groomed her.
Her teenage son is kidnapped and taken to work as a prisoner on the Burma railway; her oldest daughter serves the Japanese in a tea room; the family tries hard to protect the younger daughter by dressing her as a boy and hiding her away for hours at a time in the basement, so keeping her away from work in a "comfort station", or brothel full of child prostitutes.
I didn't find the characters as well-rounded as I would have liked, but the descriptions were vivid and the history distressing.
A writer to watch, I think
With a dual timeline we see how regular housewife Cecily became a spy for the Japanese, falling in love with the Japanese general who groomed her.
Her teenage son is kidnapped and taken to work as a prisoner on the Burma railway; her oldest daughter serves the Japanese in a tea room; the family tries hard to protect the younger daughter by dressing her as a boy and hiding her away for hours at a time in the basement, so keeping her away from work in a "comfort station", or brothel full of child prostitutes.
I didn't find the characters as well-rounded as I would have liked, but the descriptions were vivid and the history distressing.
A writer to watch, I think
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, and Torture
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
stone_stupas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Torture, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Colonisation
Moderate: Blood and Child death
between_2worlds's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Torture, Sexual violence, and Colonisation
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
thrillofthepage's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.0
The Storm We Made is a beautifully written, yet heartbreaking historical fiction novel that takes place in the mid 1930s through the end of WWII in Malaya (present day Malaysia). The dual timelines offer a slow unfolding of the way decisions can impact lives for years. The multi-POVs of Cecily, Able, Jujube, and Jasmine provide an inside and unfiltered look into what life was like during both the British and Japanese occupation. Vanessa Chan fully immerses her readers by writing about the devastation of colonization, occupation, and the horrors that come with it. I was left in tears realizing the tragic full circle of our title, The Storm We Made. This book and its characters will stay with me for a long time. Please check TWs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Slavery, Physical abuse, Rape, Classism, Colonisation, Violence, Death, Child death, and Confinement
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Deportation, Grief, Torture, Alcohol, Infidelity, Child abuse, and Racial slurs
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
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.
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