Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu

6 reviews

ittywitty's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Rape

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I received a copy of this book as a gift.
"Peach Blossom Spring" is a beautiful story that follows one Chinese family through decades. In 1938, Meilin and her four-year-old son believe that the future is bright, until the Japanese army start their invasion. Forced to flee their home, Meilin uses her charisma and wit to find refuge for her and her son. When Renshu is older, he has the opportunity to study in America, which is what he does under the name "Henry Dao". When he has a family of his own and a beautiful daughter named Lily, he refuses to talk about her heritage, and where he came from. Lily really struggles with not knowing anything about half of her. 
This story was absolutely beautiful. Although the book spanned decades, it felt very well paced, and I was very satisfied with the story we did get from each of the characters. 
I felt that one topic this book really explored well was the idea of identity. Henry saw his mother struggle, and he worked hard to create a better life for himself in America. He sacrificed being able to go back home so that he could continue to build his life in America. But Lily just saw her father keeping secrets and not sharing his heritage with her. She wanted to understand her family and to know where she came from, but those questions brought up difficult feelings for Henry. Henry was too close to the war to be able to comfortably talk about his Chinese self, while Lily was frustrated. It was devastating, heartbreaking, and critical to see three generations' reaction to their own story. 
I really appreciated Lily's character because it pushed Henry to look back on his life and the sacrifices his own mother made for him. He is a good father, doing only what he believed is best for his only daughter, but she never allowed him to completely lose his past. 
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a heartwarming story about family and identity. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, and War

Moderate: Rape and Colonisation

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative reflective 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

4.25

This was a terrific multi-generation historical fiction book.  The history of the Chinese-Japanese War and the Civil War that followed it was new to me.  And I think this might be the first book I've read with a setting in Taiwan. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

darkhorse488's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism

chaitai00's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Colonisation

saucywench813's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Wow. There was never a time in this book where I felt like there was unnecessary fluff or poor pacing. Every character is EXTREMELY well-written and realistic. I'm impressed that both generations held my attention, which is something I've learned to be wary of in multi-generational family sagas. Made me cry several times. I can't write any more as it's truly a story you have to experience yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War