Reviews tagging 'War'

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

19 reviews

malihareza_19's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This is a story I won’t forget. It will have a special place in my heart. As an Asian American, I know what they went through. Huong was my favorite character and I’m glad Ann didn’t end up with anyone at the end. Only her and kumquat 💘

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: War

jesspoemape's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage and War

srjennings's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

A beautiful, though often painful, story of 3 generations of women that shows the ongoing impact of war, abuse, and other trauma.  Despite secrets, brokenness, and dysfunction they find healing in themselves and in their relationships to one another.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and War

morethanmylupus's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

This is a heavy book. None of the generations seem to experience a lot of happiness overall. However, it is a beautiful treatise on the impact of war in terms of generational trauma.

- We didn't need Noah. He detracted from the story and felt like a "oh we better put in a male character" add in.
- A lot of the metaphors or similes felt forced, like they were shoe-horned in later to make the prose feel more formal.
- The part where a Vietnamese woman deciding that her making assumptions about a white man is the same as a white man fetishizing her was disturbing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and War

hi_its_micah's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Violence, and Pregnancy

Minor: Toxic relationship and War

jbro12's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: War

cytipton's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Xenophobia, and War

brynpemery's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

A good debut, but it was a bit underwhelming. I felt like the characters’ lack of communication throughout was unrealistic and there only as a plot device. I also found most of the twists pretty predictable. It was compelling reading though, and I enjoyed the exploration of mother/daughter relationships and generational secrets

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Infertility, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

bookishcori's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

Phenomenal. This shot straight to my top reads thus far. 

Set in a crumbling mansion, the Banyan House, we follow three generations of women - Minh, Hương and Ann - from Minh as a young girl in Vietnam to present day as Hương and Ann grapple with Minh’s death. Weaving all their stories together with impeccable prose. 

This is about mothers and daughters. Secrets and the unspokens. Inheritance and legacies. Ghosts and past mistakes. And ultimately, finding your own path. 

This isn’t out until June [in the US], but definitely get on your radar if you enjoy intergenerational stories, atmospheric vibes, and strong, imperfect women. 

An incredible debut. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and War