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vitasf's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Child abuse
antiffa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Abortion
Minor: Drug abuse
lilly_anne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Cultural appropriation
jazzeeazz's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved it. The themes that struck me the most were afterlife, fatherhood, and how trauma impacts identity. There are some lengthy descriptions of sexual abuse of a child so please keep that in mind. So much happens in this book, so I’m just going to put some of my favorite quotes.
“I didn’t realize there were so many shades of dying. So many different levels” (348).
THE ENTIRE LAST CHAPTER BEFORE PART 7. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IVE EVER READ. I WILL THINK ABOUT IT FOREVER.
“But maybe that was the trick—to accept the responsibility and forgo the control? To love without expectation? A paradox for sure, but such a relief” (410).
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Dementia, and Abortion
alisonburnis'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
4.25
Next door, Cass has been taking care of Yumi’s parents for years, and her husband Will has acquired their land. Cass, more than anything, wants a baby but after years of trying, a bout of cancer, and nothing but pain to show for it, it’s another layer of resentment between her and Yumi and their complex friendship.
Enter the Seeds of Resistance. A group of environmental activists, they make their way to Liberty Falls to meet Yumi’s parents, who’ve been running a seed company, with values the Seeds believe align with their goals. A ragtag, unconventional story of family and friendship blossoms from their arrival: the challenges of loving people who make difficult decisions and hurt you, who you don’t always agree with, and the ways we build our communities.
I really enjoyed this, though it wasn’t my absolute favourite Ozeki. It’s very challenging - the characters make a lot of frustrating decisions to the very end. But Ozeki is kind to them, and in turn invites us to be easy on everyone in the story.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
lazydaisy's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I removed 0.25 stars because my sense of justice wished that the plotline with Elliott
I also wish there had been more conversation around the danger of allowing Lloyd (or someone like him) at the forefront of a movement, equating the efforts against GMOs to movements against abortion, especially given that the women in the Seeds identified as outspoken feminists. Calling out that tension and having a conversation about the nuances of so-called "sanctity" of life, perhaps with The Seeds and Yumi's children being given room to acknowledge the intense pain Yumi's father's shame had caused her, could have offered an interesting exploration of the gendered aspects of this political struggle.
Instead, Yumi is re-traumatized by her Dad's words once he becomes the spokesperson for this new movement, going back to her childhood rapist/boyfriend for comfort, and resented by her children because of this. Even though things do work out slightly better by the end, I was disappointed that Lloyd's treatment as the victim of this situation by characters surrounding him wasn't called into question (with Yumi's victimhood being seen as merely an excuse, or worse, her own fault), and Elliott didn't get more than a slap on the wrist (without deeper reflection on how this is often the case for manipulators/abusers).
However, overall it was a thought-provoking novel that tugged on my heart-strings and created characters that were complex, making it hard to put down the book.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Infertility, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Police brutality, and Dementia
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, and Religious bigotry