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libraincarnate's review against another edition
3.75
I think the characters were the weakest link in this book for me - it took a long time for the main characters to develop into being likeable for me, and honestly Ann never really did, and the side characters felt like characters instead of people? I LOVED the atmosphere of this book, you felt the muggy humidity and the magic of the Banyan House. The plot wasn't terribly unique, but it was a well done version of multiple generations living in a sprawling falling apart mansion. I found the three POVs weaved between each other quite beautifully, and the different perspectives really have a lot of insight into the characters behaviors. There were a couple of things I had lingering questions about, but overall it was a satisfying read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Sexual harassment
oceanwriter's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.75
I’m almost always up for a book centered on family drama. Banyan Moon brings this to the table with the extra layers of generational struggles and the differences brought on by being raised in different cultures.
When Minh passes away, her daughter Huong and granddaughter Ann come together to mourn their losses. For Huong, her mourning feels doubled, envious of the good relationship Ann had with Minh that she could never achieve. For Ann, she’s also mourning the seemingly perfect life she’d built that began to grumble simultaneously. Together, Ann and Huong strive to mend their own complicated relationship all while uncovering long-kept secrets that had been hiding in Minh’s house all along.
I found the book to be a slower pace than I like to read with my eyes. I think I would have gotten more out of it had I listened to the audiobook. Having already purchased the hardcover and long waits at the library I pushed through. Minh was definitely the most interesting part of the story for me. I also very much enjoyed the complicated relationships between the three women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Infertility, and Murder
gondorgirl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
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
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