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mxae's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Honestly, would be a five star review but it's so sad that it hurts me to read it.
It's so beautiful and full of stories and songs and love and language.
Gorgeous writing.
It's so beautiful and full of stories and songs and love and language.
Gorgeous writing.
emmapydee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Beginning was hard to get through. Lots of dialogue and full sentences in other languages. I flew threw the second half but was still looking up a lot of events for it to make sense and to give context the author doesn’t give any and it can get confusing!
ciusky's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- 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
aidanwmitchell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
frankanalysis's review against another edition
3.0
There were part of this that I really enjoyed, and others that were so literary that I lost the plot with it a bit.
tropichop's review against another edition
4.0
this was fine, rly picked up in the back half. love a good diasporic story
saara_a's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
4.0
flashandoutbreak's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, and War
henry_edwards1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
eli_abroad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
An adventure story from Sarajevo to Shanghai set in the early half of the 20th century. It crosses through wars and conflicts in a sort of tragic Forest Gumpesque style - visceral and painful, yet sadly beautiful in its portrayal of love. Hemon's attention to the plight of refugees makes it relevant to modern times, and the story incited investigation into some historical events I knew little or nothing about.
The author employs some multi-lingual narration, which gives depth to the main character's history, background, and way of thinking. But, even having an understanding of 2 of the foreign languages incorporated into the narrative, it was disorienting and contained relevant ideas/imagery that are lost to those with no knowledge of the languages.
The author employs some multi-lingual narration, which gives depth to the main character's history, background, and way of thinking. But, even having an understanding of 2 of the foreign languages incorporated into the narrative, it was disorienting and contained relevant ideas/imagery that are lost to those with no knowledge of the languages.