The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kappafrog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The writing was really beautiful. I liked seeing the world through Bird's eyes, a child's perspective in a novel aimed at adults. I enjoyed the use of folktales, etymology, and gardening through out. There were many horrifying bits in the book. I can tell it will stay with me for a long time.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Blood, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Animal death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Violence, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Cursing, and Deportation
Minor: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Medical content, Rape, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Islamophobia, and Slavery
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Grief, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Trafficking, and Xenophobia
heatherjchin's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Trafficking and Kidnapping
Minor: Pregnancy, Blood, Gore, Animal death, and Bullying
erica_lannan'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Trafficking, Abandonment, and Hate crime
jbosio'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? No
4.5
Moderate: Racial slurs, Hate crime, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
vedpears'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? It's complicated
5.0
This should be considered an instant classic and to me is on par with 1984 and Animal Farm. Cautionary tales warning us all of the potential consequences if politics and media, and thus culture, continues on a certain trajectory.Â
It is incredible how many parts of Ng's book became reality while she was writing it. So many moments in this book have clear parallels in reality now, unfortunately. I hope we can turn American culture around and stop accepting the blind hate being paraded as patriotism.Â
I do have a favorite quote from this book - ""...unity required a common enemy. One box in which to collect all their anger. One strawman to wear the hats of everything they feared." This has been a worry of mine for a long time. Growing up here, it seemed really obvious to me that Americans need an enemy outside of us to focus on in order to come together and see one another as neighbors, or else we turn on each other. That is how our nation was born, so I suppose it makes sense that it is really hard for us to break away from that and learn healthier relationship skills, as a nation.Â
I feel this should be required reading.Â
Celeste Ng has solidified herself as my favorite modern day author.
Graphic: Trafficking, Xenophobia, Violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Stalking, Bullying, Classism, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
graff_fuller's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just like my disbelief in seeing what was happening on the Capitol on January 6th...I see this book in the same way. This is here for us to read...to make SURE that this is not the future that we want. This book IS fiction, and shall stay fiction. That, in itself is a sadness.
The idea that any race, gender, faith or creed could get the upper hand...hence making every other...bend the knee and be less than, especially in this wonderful country is anathema to me (and my family).
I don't want to speak any specifics, for this book does an amazing job in revealing the story...but there were a number of times that I wanted to hurl the book at the wall. Not because I was angry at the author, but that I was angry at the world that Celeste Ng had place our characters. These character that were hurting. Tears were shed for them. How could we (as a society) allow the encroachment of evil...to get THIS (the world at this time) far? BUT, I only look back a year ago...to see our Capitol and what happened on January 6th to see...this fiction, really isn't that far from a mad reality. This, to me, is horrific. This is the horror that makes me restless.
Also, the love of libraires...withing this story put a smile on my face. We who love the libraries in our world, would flourish in her world.
Marie (my wife) is currently reading this book. She knows how it effected me...and she knows how sensitive that I am about injustices...and she TOO wanted to see how the author was able to make my blood boil.
I've read a number of her books in the past, but I think that this one might be her best...though the others have been amazing, too.
Moderate: Hate crime, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Racism, Outing, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
internationalreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, War, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Classism, Death of parent, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Trafficking
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Why did you have to emotionally destroy me?Â
Regards,
A distraught readerÂ
Only complaint is the lack of quotation marks but in this book I can understand stylistically why it was done
Graphic: Police brutality, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Classism, Cultural appropriation, Antisemitism, Bullying, Gaslighting, Murder, Cursing, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Trafficking, War, Blood, Confinement, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, and Gun violence