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rieviolet's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I really appreciated how the author explored war and its aftermath, both at a wider and at a more personal level (through the story of the Trần family). I think it did well in depicting all the contradictions and nuances in a country's history.
My only minor complaint in terms of the plot is the big revelation in the final chapters; I found it a little bit melodramatic and fortuitous.
I wasn't completely captured by the writing style but, here and there, there were some touching moments elevated by the prose.
Overall, this is a gripping and powerful book that I would encourage everyone to pick up.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
lycheeteareads's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, and Abortion
Minor: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
j9wan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Murder and War
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, and Abortion
brogan7's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: War
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Abortion
isleofwoman's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Abortion
anna_pizzichidilibri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Rape, and Abortion
bessadams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Excrement, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Suicidal thoughts
pamusialak's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Violence, Abortion, Sexual harassment, and War
b_harrington's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
sas_lk's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Painful, heartbreaking, but so inspiring and hopeful in the end. A novel about the horrors, and the truest beauties of life.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Miscarriage and Abortion
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Rape, Suicide, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail