Reviews tagging 'Death'

How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee

38 reviews

zoe_macgechan's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I only wish I hadn't read Brotherless Night before reading this. They are similar enough to compare, although still quite different books, but I loved Brotherless Night so much this pales in comparison. 

That's such a deeply unfair statement as this book is packed with emotion in the concluding third. 

It's very slow in building the characters and intricacies of their relationships to bring them to the book's climax, but the depth of feeling at that climax is worth it. 

It's beautifully and sensitively written. All of the characters are deeply flawed and yet perfect victims of circumstance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and War

One of the main characters is a girl trafficked into sex work during WWII. While sensitively written, these are not easy topics.

jmkemp's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

3.75

A book from an unusual point of view, covering a difficult subject that still remains taboo for many. The story is told sympathetically and with only just enough detail to move it along. The ending is sort of ambiguous, but satisfying enough. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and War

Minor: Child death

j9wan's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, and War

Moderate: Bullying

I am heartbroken and so grateful for it.

tassillow's review

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Gun violence, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

thebookfestclub's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Pregnancy, and War

abi_dutton's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and War

adelheid's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

howdychowdy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, and Sexual violence

etyines's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

these are the stories that need to be told! fuck war and colonialism! 

i love the subtle nods to language here, wang di communicating with the girls in broken bits of various languages, kevin learning traditional chinese, it just adds a bit more richness and color and helps highlight how much of a melting pot singapore really is. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and War

enmcurrie's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

I didn’t know much about Comfort Women, or the Japanese occupation of Singapore prior to reading so it was so interesting to learn more about that time period. A beautiful book with different POVs that end up interconnected. Wang Di’s story is harrowing, her trauma remains with her for years and her refusal to delve into the past is saddening. The storyline is based on very real events that many vulnerable young women had to face, which makes it even more emotive. And although the overall tone of the novel is sad, the ending is quite heartwarming. I love this book, it’s a great read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: War and Injury/Injury detail