maevebm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, and Violence
vicblue's review
- 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
Moderate: Rape and Violence
harvey7leah'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
5.0
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, Vomit, and Violence
chrisljm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Also, just in case there is anyone else out there who will have a similar experience to me, THEY ARE NOT SPEAKING CANTONESE IN THIS BOOK, IT’S TOISANESE 😭 I was losing my mind because I know Cantonese but was unfamiliar with Toisanese, but I’ve since learned it’s because they’re used interchangeably and prior to the 1960s Toisanese was the dominant language spoken in Chinatowns.
Another thing, this part of the blurb was the reason why I decided to read this book, “A stranger is searching for her in each time period. A stranger who’s loved her through all of her genetic memories,” but it was so misleading.
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexism, Slavery, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Medical content
Moderate: Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Grief, Forced institutionalization, War, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Cancer, Abandonment, Murder, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Classism, Bullying, Vomit, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Racial slurs, Self harm, and Colonisation
threadsof_kate'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
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Death, Homophobia, and Adult/minor relationship
maya_reads_books's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape
mikaelaandherbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: War, Violence, and Xenophobia
haleysversion's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, War, Toxic relationship, Rape, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Sexism, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Child death
unboxedjack'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
4.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Rape, Trafficking, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Grief, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, and Terminal illness
leahvanert'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? It's complicated
3.5
My brain kind of hurts after this one, but not in a bad way.
This novel spans 7 generations and centers around the theory of epigenetics (the study of inheriting trauma/memories/etc. through DNA). I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters and Ford's writing style is truly mesmerizing.
The science of it all and keeping track of where we were and who we were with in the timeline was a little over my head. The idea is fascinating, but I couldn't follow it completely.
Graphic: Racism and Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Sexual content
Minor: War