jiao_li's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
5.0
The emotions that this book made me feelðŸ˜Â
Okay so it tells the story of a 9-year-old San San who is left behind in China when her family flees to Hong Kong. The book focuses on San San's struggles to get back to her family, also her family's effort as well. I swear reading this will make you cry for San San, imagine that little girl scared and lonely...Â
I applaud Kirstin Chen's writing and her ability to evoke emotion. Even though the book has many characters, none of them feel wasted. Each character adds depth and emotional impact to the story.Â
At first, I was kinda disappointed that the book didn't tell how San San got to her parents' apartment after they smuggled her in the ship. But I think it's for the best, because that story must be the most heartwrenching of all.Â
"Bury What We Cannot Take" deserves a place among my favorite Chinese historical fiction books. It successfully captures the period of Maoist China while delivering a deeply emotional story. 100% recommend it!
Okay so it tells the story of a 9-year-old San San who is left behind in China when her family flees to Hong Kong. The book focuses on San San's struggles to get back to her family, also her family's effort as well. I swear reading this will make you cry for San San, imagine that little girl scared and lonely...Â
I applaud Kirstin Chen's writing and her ability to evoke emotion. Even though the book has many characters, none of them feel wasted. Each character adds depth and emotional impact to the story.Â
At first, I was kinda disappointed that the book didn't tell how San San got to her parents' apartment after they smuggled her in the ship. But I think it's for the best, because that story must be the most heartwrenching of all.Â
"Bury What We Cannot Take" deserves a place among my favorite Chinese historical fiction books. It successfully captures the period of Maoist China while delivering a deeply emotional story. 100% recommend it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
emmacarambola's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-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
3.5
amm1y's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
bethanyconnie's review against another edition
4.0
For those interested in Chinese history or just want a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this book tells a very personal story about a family torn apart both physically and emotionally in the time of Chairman Mao. Physically, Seok Koon and San San were separated by a country border. Emotionally, Seok Koon was doing everything in her power to get her daughter back to her, while at the same time San San felt abandoned by her family and unwanted.
I felt so much empathy for San San because of all she went through despite being a very young girl. She dealt with rejection both from her family and from Gor and Auntie and witnessed traumatic events including the death of the only people that she felt could help her.
Ah Liam fits in with the theme of feeling torn. He wasn’t sure whether to honor his duty of supporting his country and the ideals his schooling had taught him or to honor his family. Despite his feelings of loyalty to China, he was devoted to his sister.
Another interesting relationship to watch was between Seok Koon and Bee Kim. Related only by marriage, the two women did not always get along but were unified in their goal to get San San home to Hong Kong.
Though the ending felt a bit abrupt, I really enjoyed the book and its balance between unity and separation. I look forward to reading future books by Kirstin Chen.
I felt so much empathy for San San because of all she went through despite being a very young girl. She dealt with rejection both from her family and from Gor and Auntie and witnessed traumatic events including the death of the only people that she felt could help her.
Ah Liam fits in with the theme of feeling torn. He wasn’t sure whether to honor his duty of supporting his country and the ideals his schooling had taught him or to honor his family. Despite his feelings of loyalty to China, he was devoted to his sister.
Another interesting relationship to watch was between Seok Koon and Bee Kim. Related only by marriage, the two women did not always get along but were unified in their goal to get San San home to Hong Kong.
Though the ending felt a bit abrupt, I really enjoyed the book and its balance between unity and separation. I look forward to reading future books by Kirstin Chen.
nlreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.25
sephranix's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I loved San San, and Seok Koon's desperation to get her back.
Spoiler tag, just in case.
Ah Liam - Classic brainwashed kid, but very believable. Glad he made the right choice in the end.
Zhai and Lulu - I liked seeing Zhai come to realize that he really didn't know what he was doing and that he'd been living beyond his means, but I could have done without the Lulu side-story. It was clear that she was just with him for the lifestyle and didn't really love him, as evidenced by her immediately leaving to go back to a guy with lots of money once she found out he was broke.
I will say I appreciated her getting the loan for his bank account for San San (even though that plan didn't work) but I think that was less about her feelings for Zhai and more about her connecting with Seok Koon over losing a daughter.
Bee Kim - Glad we found out what happened to her sister, but I thought this could have been fleshed out a bit more? I don't know. I mean, it didn't really explain her actions or make me feel any more or less sympathetic for her.
I loved San San, and Seok Koon's desperation to get her back.
Spoiler tag, just in case.
Spoiler
Ah Liam - Classic brainwashed kid, but very believable. Glad he made the right choice in the end.
Zhai and Lulu - I liked seeing Zhai come to realize that he really didn't know what he was doing and that he'd been living beyond his means, but I could have done without the Lulu side-story. It was clear that she was just with him for the lifestyle and didn't really love him, as evidenced by her immediately leaving to go back to a guy with lots of money once she found out he was broke.
I will say I appreciated her getting the loan for his bank account for San San (even though that plan didn't work) but I think that was less about her feelings for Zhai and more about her connecting with Seok Koon over losing a daughter.
Bee Kim - Glad we found out what happened to her sister, but I thought this could have been fleshed out a bit more? I don't know. I mean, it didn't really explain her actions or make me feel any more or less sympathetic for her.
readingjedi's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture and Abandonment