Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Certaines n'avaient jamais vu la mer by Julie Otsuka

6 reviews

k_pelowk's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Goodness gracious, this book is so beautiful. I just finished it and think I may pick it up and read it again right away.  Like a poem, rhythm, word choice and simplicity build effortless images and character sketches. It broadened my understanding of my American History and heritage. I loved every moment, even the frequent painful ones. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Most are very brief as the book is a series of vignettes.

rainbowarpaint's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism

parasolcrafter's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-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

4.0

the point of view for this book was SO effective

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism

bluebrooks's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

The style in which this book is written is excessively repetitive, but it reinforces the themes and mood of what Otsuka is trying to convey. Definitely gave me a lot of insight into how Japanese immigrants we're treated in the early/mid 20th century. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

ayammaya's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Otsuka’s ability to deeply inform a reader and force them to not only empathize with the characters but bring readers as close to experience their hardships as possible is nothing short of masterful.  I don’t often enjoy historical novels, but Otsuka has made me discover a passion for it that I didn’t think I could have.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Grief, and War

Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

ha1yan's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Grief

Minor: Infertility