atomicmelody's review against another edition
I feel very stupid reading this book. I just can't get into it. I've read two other books in the process of reading this one. Both books were over 500 pages. But this one is going to be the death of me. I'm sure it's probably an amazing book, which makes me feel even more stupid because I just don't see it. Is there something I'm just not getting? Maybe it's just not my style of literature, but I am determined to finish it and find something I like in it.
louhack's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
sirlancelot2021's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.75
gravunder's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
dajna's review against another edition
3.0
"I ought to go now, Mr. Maxted. It's time for the war to be over..."
No matter where or when humanity is conducting a war, we build camps. Concentration camps, refugee camps, camps for prisoner or whoever we consider being the enemy at that time.
Ballard was born in Shanghai from British parents, and were confined into the Civilian Assembly Centre (CAC) of Lunghua during WW2. In this book he turns his experience into the story of Jim, a kid that is held captive by Japanese soldiers in China. He is moved from camp to camp, he is starved and ill, he forges some unhealthy but necessary relationships. He survives, and we have our sort of happy ending.
My favourite novel in this genre is [b:La tregua|1720208|La tregua|Primo Levi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337872771s/1720208.jpg|1893457], by Primo Levi, the story of the jouney of a buch of Auschwitz survivors trying to go back home. There is also [b:When the Emperor Was Divine|764073|When the Emperor Was Divine|Julie Otsuka|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1368314069s/764073.jpg|2592921], if you want to experience Jim's war from a Japanese point of view.
They do look alike. I've been impressed when Jim's necessity for shoes mimick Primo's necessity for shoes.
I didn't enjoyed this novel as much as the other two. It fails to engage me completely. I'm new to Ballard and I'm going to try again, but I think his prose a little too heavy, too dense.
No matter where or when humanity is conducting a war, we build camps. Concentration camps, refugee camps, camps for prisoner or whoever we consider being the enemy at that time.
Ballard was born in Shanghai from British parents, and were confined into the Civilian Assembly Centre (CAC) of Lunghua during WW2. In this book he turns his experience into the story of Jim, a kid that is held captive by Japanese soldiers in China. He is moved from camp to camp, he is starved and ill, he forges some unhealthy but necessary relationships. He survives, and we have our sort of happy ending.
My favourite novel in this genre is [b:La tregua|1720208|La tregua|Primo Levi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337872771s/1720208.jpg|1893457], by Primo Levi, the story of the jouney of a buch of Auschwitz survivors trying to go back home. There is also [b:When the Emperor Was Divine|764073|When the Emperor Was Divine|Julie Otsuka|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1368314069s/764073.jpg|2592921], if you want to experience Jim's war from a Japanese point of view.
They do look alike. I've been impressed when Jim's necessity for shoes mimick Primo's necessity for shoes.
I didn't enjoyed this novel as much as the other two. It fails to engage me completely. I'm new to Ballard and I'm going to try again, but I think his prose a little too heavy, too dense.
didactylos's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting read, captures the scene and the atmosphere brilliantly, and I admired the moral confusion of Jim.
brannigan's review against another edition
I abandoned this a third of the way in. It’s not a bad book exactly, but I’m just not feeling very cheerful lately and so it was difficult for me to really connect with the protagonist and the subject matter. Maybe I’ll revisit it at some point in the future.
bonhomiebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Super quick read. If you're not into war time stories, I still suggest you give this one a try. It really is a short adventure of one boy and how he navigates life in China during WWII. I was not disappointed.
nph4's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25