Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Pět Číňanů oběšených v Idahu by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

17 reviews

rachellen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Having just closed the book seconds ago, I am in shock. I might need a few minutes. 

Spoilers mentioned. 

This was such an incredible story to read and I feel it is very special. Right when I felt the pace was too slow, bam! Another twist, another turn. Daiyu’s destiny was gut wrenching, as I began reaching the last 40 pages I thought ‘there will be a cliffhanger for a second novel or this novel will break me’. 

I found it really emotional and difficult to read parts of abuse and racism but understood entirely the importance of it. I felt more educated on Chinese American history after reading it, and really appreciated having learnt something, acknowledging my privilege at having to learn it by reading it rather than living it. 

I suppose Daiyu felt her luck never arrived for her, but through the story I saw how many times luck managed to get her to safety, though not as much as I would have liked. It’s a tragedy but one that was inflicted by racists and abusers. It’s simply horrid, and yet her storyline all still feels as she was in control. The minute that she didn’t go back to Boise to meet William, I knew. By calling out her real name, finally owning her name, it was as if she was calling her fate to meet her, not her captives, she didn’t wait. It was really captivating, particularly the line ‘my name is Daiyu[…] You will never forget me’. 

I adored the almost ethereal presence of Lin Daiyu, which had me questioning ‘is she real? Is this a sci fi? Am I seeing things too?’ I think at first I thought it was simply Daiyu’s coping mechanism, but I believe it was Lin Daiyu, tied with Daiyu from birth. Now I understand the importance of birth names and their inextricable ties to fate. 

Only praise rings from my brain right now. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, and Blood

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous 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

5.0

Beautifully written, a story that needed to be told. Will be gifting a copy to my niece. Worth reading through how the author decided to write this story. Historical fiction that probably happened to many Chinese women and Chinese citizens. Need to acknowledge it of part of US history too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Torture, Violence, Slavery, Police brutality, Murder, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Grief, and Confinement

whatwentsent'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Murder, Kidnapping, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Gore, Confinement, Child abuse, and Violence

j_hornick's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Death, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Kidnapping, and Confinement

heatherjchin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Kidnapping, Rape, Trafficking, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, Cursing, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Death, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Police brutality, Genocide, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse

Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Deportation, and Vomit

jmarquette's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Confinement, Hate crime, Sexism, Trafficking, and Death

thelittle_seokmin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Death, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Child death, Hate crime, Murder, Rape, Trafficking, Racism, Cursing, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, and Confinement

Moderate: Sexism, Gore, Misogyny, Body horror, Grief, and Blood

Minor: Alcohol, Addiction, Death of parent, Ableism, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Vomit

cassidy's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

Brutal. The authors note at the end was very insightful as to the purpose/importance of this book.
I think my favorite parts were the descriptions of calligraphy in relations to peoples names

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs

atamano's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, Confinement, Death, Grief, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Xenophobia

Minor: Death of parent and Murder

truleejenann's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Trafficking