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no_more_shelf_control 's review for:
The Storm We Made
by Vanessa Chan
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Some books are meant for discussion & THE STORM WE MADE by Vanessa Chan and narrated by Samantha Tan is absolutely one of those.
If you are not a fan of reading the synopsis, I hear you, but I would recommend reading just this part:
Spanning years of pain and triumph, told from the perspectives of four unforgettable characters, The Storm We Made is a dazzling saga about the horrors of war; the fraught relationships between the colonized and their oppressors, and the ambiguity of right and wrong when survival is at stake.
This is not a happy story. It is a story of what war does. It is an important story that shows how people are used and thrown away, how people want to be involved in something bigger than themselves yet for their own glory, how the innocent pay the biggest price. This would be included in my category of not "enjoyable" but vital. These are stories that deserve to be heard and witnessed. As a westerner, this is a story that enlarges my view of WWII and how it may impact current tensions in southeast Asia. History matters and we learn best through narrative. I was glad to listen to the audio of this: it was a perfect medium for me to engage this story. Tan embodied the multiple perspectives well.
I really had a difficult time engaging with the main character of this story. Cecily is a woman whose choices are predetermined in narrow channels who falls victim to a seduction that brings total destruction. While I wanted to develop a connection with her, I simply could not. The stories of her children were heartbreaking and much more engaging, though also brutal to read. I think it all mattered, however, to show what can happen when war comes. Ultimately a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
I would recommend this story, though be aware of the heavy content. It may take breaks to get through, and if you have a group like @bookfriendsbookclub to discuss it with, I highly suggest you do so. It helped me immensely. Thank you guys for choosing a meaty book and if anyone else would like to join the author chat on February 10th, let them know! I am very excited to hear more from @vanjchan about this book!
If you are not a fan of reading the synopsis, I hear you, but I would recommend reading just this part:
Spanning years of pain and triumph, told from the perspectives of four unforgettable characters, The Storm We Made is a dazzling saga about the horrors of war; the fraught relationships between the colonized and their oppressors, and the ambiguity of right and wrong when survival is at stake.
This is not a happy story. It is a story of what war does. It is an important story that shows how people are used and thrown away, how people want to be involved in something bigger than themselves yet for their own glory, how the innocent pay the biggest price. This would be included in my category of not "enjoyable" but vital. These are stories that deserve to be heard and witnessed. As a westerner, this is a story that enlarges my view of WWII and how it may impact current tensions in southeast Asia. History matters and we learn best through narrative. I was glad to listen to the audio of this: it was a perfect medium for me to engage this story. Tan embodied the multiple perspectives well.
I really had a difficult time engaging with the main character of this story. Cecily is a woman whose choices are predetermined in narrow channels who falls victim to a seduction that brings total destruction. While I wanted to develop a connection with her, I simply could not. The stories of her children were heartbreaking and much more engaging, though also brutal to read. I think it all mattered, however, to show what can happen when war comes. Ultimately a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
I would recommend this story, though be aware of the heavy content. It may take breaks to get through, and if you have a group like @bookfriendsbookclub to discuss it with, I highly suggest you do so. It helped me immensely. Thank you guys for choosing a meaty book and if anyone else would like to join the author chat on February 10th, let them know! I am very excited to hear more from @vanjchan about this book!