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nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
vignettes on memory, family, and grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Death of parent
berriesreads's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
This book was fantastic. It’s comprised of short chapters/stories that all end up making sense at the end. The last few chapters had my bawling my eyes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
mel_baldock's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
siobhanward's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Sometimes I struggle with stories told through short vignettes, but this book was so well done, it was wonderful to read. I love how Fung created her narrative from the unnamed protagonist's POV while still incorporating other POVs as stories told to the narrator. She created complex and multi-dimensional characters that served as a reminder that no one is just one thing and that sometimes it can be a challenge to wrap your head around that.
I did find that the beginning dragged a bit, but as soon as focus shifted to the protagonist's experience with her father's illness, I couldn't put the book down. This was just a great read.
I did find that the beginning dragged a bit, but as soon as focus shifted to the protagonist's experience with her father's illness, I couldn't put the book down. This was just a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Medical content
kelsea's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Racism
jadeanne's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
this book had me teary-eyed near the last third. the vignette/poetry style allows for lots of reflection between and also fast reading. although not labelled as a memoir, it reads as one and is beautifully emotional and poignant. i really loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
deals in death/grief but in a very poetic stylethewordsdevourer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
ghost forest is an elegy to the author's deceased father and a meditation on family. it's a sparse book both in form and content, but also a remarkably relatable one esp in regards to the asian family dynamics, things both said and unsaid, mourning for family lost, and fung's attempts - and failure - to learn more abt her family members as full, fleshed out individuals. it's like seeing my own life imprinted in this book.
there are moments where the truth of the author's words are so searing it brings me to tears, or so astonish me for the mere fact that another human feels the same way i do. while this book's emotional impact subtly ebbs and flows and there isnt much of a plot, it def serves as a great reminder of the fleetingness of life and the preciousness of the time remaining.
there are moments where the truth of the author's words are so searing it brings me to tears, or so astonish me for the mere fact that another human feels the same way i do. while this book's emotional impact subtly ebbs and flows and there isnt much of a plot, it def serves as a great reminder of the fleetingness of life and the preciousness of the time remaining.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Mental illness, War, and Colonisation
whosjessanyway's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Some of these vignettes were, somehow, very relatable. Beautiful writing, it left a lump in my throat from time to time.
“And I am overcome with envy for the people who live where they were born and raised. Why is it that I have to choose?”
“And I am overcome with envy for the people who live where they were born and raised. Why is it that I have to choose?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
natalietan's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
elnelson's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Medical trauma and Medical content
Minor: Colonisation, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racism, Sexism, and Body shaming