Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Falling Leaves Return To Their Roots by Adeline Yen Mah

5 reviews

carlaabra's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

2.5

I’m not a big memoir or history person, picked this up on a whim. The parts about Chinese history were fascinating and much easier to digest through the lens of one family’s experience. 

The story of Adeline’s family members and Niang was filled with so much pettiness as to be almost unbelievable. I kept hoping someone would finally be nice to poor Adeline but was disappointed at every turn. 

Three gripes: One, the writing style is formal and almost clinical. I feel Adeline’s history could’ve had a stronger emotional impact if the style were more personable. Two, the ending was very abrupt to me, never a good thing for a sentimental book. And three, Adeline doesn’t grow very much as a person. She’s always depicted as “the good one” who’s treated horribly by her family, but yet she always comes back for more abuse. I get this to an extent - yes, it’s hard and pretty natural to be a young adult just wanting your parents’ approval. But to be 50-something, with your own kids and happy marriage, and still trying to get attention from your bitchy stepmother? Worrying about whatever plot(s) your siblings are cooking up over the parents’ wills when you’re already financially stable? At some point you have to let it go, Adeline. I’m surprised she managed to write a whole book about her past without realizing how futile all her groveling and worrying was. I hope she finds peace. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Domestic abuse

Child abuse is (imo) not graphic and told in the same clinical style as everything else. Adeline grew up in an unloving home so there are the normal triggers associated with that. Domestic abuse is very minor. No sexual abuse, no sex at all.

jjjreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Trafficking, and Alcohol

deadlizard's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War

bookhoarderbea's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Dementia, and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia

claudia_bow's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Blood

Minor: Addiction