Reviews

Gobelin by Kien Nguyen

kdawn999's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this more than my book club did, but, I acknowledge, there are issues. The writing, dialogue, and word choices are clumsy in several spots, and the characters are lacking in depth. What is not lacking is action. Every page is engaging with events—some gory with violence. We have several memorable settings too—haunted mansions and a nighttime masquerade on a lake. Oh, there’s a pirate treasure map too! The villain is extremely villainous and the hero and his lover are blank-slate bland. The most interesting character is the hero’s adoptive mother-wife Ven—who really ought to be our protagonist throughout. The melodrama of the story makes it take on a fantastical, tall-tale feeling—like the movie Big Fish or Secondhand Lions. I liked this fairy-tale feeling and was not put off by the author’s note at the end in which he claims to have based the lovers off of his grandparents. I found it, overall, refreshing to read a story set in Vietnam that wasn’t obsessed with the American war or centered on white colonials. Impressive, too, that the writer composed this in English, which he didn’t learn proficiently until his teens.

aliciagriggs's review against another edition

5.0

Exceptional story about the author's grandparents; I couldn't put it down. A beautiful love story, full of sadness, betrayal, hatred, hope, and loyalty.
For those affected by physical violence, this would be a difficult book to read in places- I skipped the worst bits and still enjoyed and understood it all. Highly recommend

viviantuyle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring tense 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

marilynsaul's review against another edition

3.0

Not exactly what I thought it would be. More of a Romeo/Juliet tale. A little slow at the beginning, but picked up steam and had a somewhat satisfactory ending. I really can't say I learned much about Viet Nam during the turn of the 20th century. I kept envisioning the Imperial Palace as being in China, and I suppose there was quite a bit of Chinese influence, so I shouldn't have been surprised about being unable to distinguish Viet Nam from China. Again, it wasn't a history, but I am intrigued enough to want to read "The Unwanted" by the same author, which speaks more to the era of Viet Nam with which I am more familiar.

marla0505's review against another edition

5.0

FANTASTIC read. Highly recommend. Significant dose of violence, however....

gryczalke's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

When you think that things couldn't get any worst they actually can. There are no superheroes who arrive at the very last minute and save characters from injustice and that's why I like this book. The read gave you no false hope or positivity, it was very real- which also made it unpredictable. You can't stop reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Colonisation, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Blood, and Drug use

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Infidelity

maidinnah's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

Such a breath of fresh air to read a book set in turn-of-the-century Vietnam, a pretty overlooked setting in my experience. The novel's biggest strength is its gorgeous prose that details the creeping westernization brought on by colonization and how it slowly replaces age-old traditions. Although it's marketed as such, I don't consider the romantic-aspect of the book to be all that engaging or well-developed. Instead, I would classify "The Tapestries" as a coming-of-age period drama, since the novel's focal point is Dan's conflict surrounding his family duty. In addition to that, the book details moral lessons about love, revenge, and greed, caked in melodrama that rivals soap operas and folktales, which makes Nguyen's inspirations clear. When you approach the book from that angle, it's easier to get past some of the storytelling decisions (except for one that, for me, cheapened the ending of the book and prevents me from giving 5-stars).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Death

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Torture, Gun violence, Classism, Sexual violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

carlyque's review against another edition

4.0

Historical novels often clump...Couldn't read before Vietnam, loved it afterwards, even if it clumps at the end.

mir_i_am's review against another edition

4.0

I read this a long time ago, in high school or early college, because my best friend gave it to me for Hanukkah. I remember it requiring patience, but by the end, I was totally enthralled. I'm not sure about all of the negative reviews; it's mostly true, about the author's grandfather's life. What a life! It's interesting and engaging (but slow at the beginning), and definitely more so than MY life, that's for sure!

manglitter's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book so much that I can't express my emotions after I finished it. I started it and I could not put it down. I hope that I will find the time to re-read it because it's a story that you have to re-read.