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smoothlikebutter'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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
marioosa517'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abandonment
I’bea_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
aksmith92's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The narrative unfolds with the passing of Minh, the Tran family's matriarch, which prompts Ann to return to her childhood abode, the enigmatic Banyan House, to reconcile with her estranged mother, Huong. Ann, a successful artist grappling with an unexpected pregnancy and a turbulent relationship, embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she and Huong sift through Minh's belongings, unearthing long-buried family secrets.
Through alternating timelines, Thai reveals the rich backstories of each woman. Minh's narrative takes readers from her youth in Vietnam to her struggles as a single mother in America, and even after her death. Huong's story highlights her escape from an abusive marriage, while Ann's journey focuses on her search for identity and understanding within the context of her family's history.
What I Liked: I adored Thai's writing—it was atmospheric and had such emotional depth. There were so many beautiful analogies, metaphors, and quotes. I felt seeped in this novel, and it was a stunning read. Thai also captured the Tran women's complexities through their relationships and individual struggles. The narrative's dual timelines enhanced the reader's understanding of how past traumas and sacrifices shaped the present, making Banyan Moon resonant and thought-provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed Thai's exploration of cultural heritage and family dynamics - there were incredible details in this novel that made it feel real.
Lastly, the novel was infused with a unique blend of magical realism and Southern Gothic elements. Though not essential to the plot, these elements added an ethereal and original touch to the story. They created a world where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural were blurred, enhancing the reader's experience. The poignant examination of love, grief, and forgiveness, combined with this unique blend of genres, made Banyan Moon a captivating read.
What I Didn't Like: While the writing was terrific and the overall storyline was beautiful, where I think it fell flat was character development and nuance. Minh, Huong, and Ann all seemed similar in their emotional capacity, character development, and overall decision-making. In a way, they all seemed emotionally detached from everyone and everything but each other, and I felt like something was missing. Maybe that was the point: generations of women continued the cycle repeatedly. But it was frustrating and didn't provide a lot of nuance to their own individual characters - they just all seemed the same. Additionally, they were not necessarily likable characters, which I could have gotten on board with if they were exciting and nuanced. I think that was lacking here, and I had trouble rooting for (or against) them - I was simply disinterested in their progression. I was thankful to have the plot with a couple of twists along the way to keep me vested because, without that, this would not have been a good read for me. Take it with a grain of salt, though, because I heavily err on the importance of connecting with the characters, their nuance, and their uniqueness.
Also, unexpected pregnancies are not my jam (not a spoiler!); however, it had little sway on my rating because it truly was part of the point.
Lastly, all the trauma, frustration, and anger were tied up so neatly at the end. I don't mind this per se, but I think it made the last 10% feel slightly rushed and thrown together.
Overall, though, this was a beautiful read, and I look forward to seeing what Thao Thai produces in the future.
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Blood, Murder, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, and Racism
kappafrog'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
4.25
The writing style is really beautiful. I highlighted so many different passages. Here are a few favourite quotes:
"I see Banyan House for what it is: a home for women, a shaggy, worn, and vicious protector of the bruised, the tender."
"How love, for all its treachery, finds me in the last, unexpected moments of light."
"And I didn't tell him that none of it had been wasted at all, because I knew he would not see it that way."
Each of the three main characters was so complicated. Ann was the least sympathetic, as she had a coldness towards her mother that was hard to read at times, but her character growth was really great. My favourite of the three was Huong.
Minh's passages were always so interesting, looking back on her long life. With each of these women, you understood why they did the things they did. I wish I had a more eloquent way of describing how rich the relationships in this book are. You can really feel the weight of the atmosphere of the places described in the book too. The heat and humidity of the Florida summer hangs down over everyone like bugs dancing on the water of a swamp. The Banyan House had such personality, and I loved the way that the folk tale about the moon was woven through.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes family sagas. This one feels like it will be talked about for a long time to come, read in classes and book clubs with discussions of all the symbolism, layers of truth, and revelations that come as the story goes on. It was hard to read at times and is very sad, but the three women were so interesting to read about.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Vomit, Medical content, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Stalking, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
mtnest's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
gondorgirl's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Colonisation, and Classism
brynpemery's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infertility, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail