nataliegriffin's review against another edition
5.0
An absolutely gorgeous story! It had me fully captivated from beginning to end!
jannanis's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
nglofile's review against another edition
3.0
2 1/2 stars. Not without merit, but it didn't meet my expectations. A few of my complaints:
audiobook note: Once again, Cassandra Campbell's emotive narration helps better stabilize what would otherwise have been an uneven reading experience. Her talent and effort are what induced me to round up.
Spoiler
1) I'm so over the "lovers wrongly separated for years because someone intercepted letters and lied to keep them apart" construct. Why do so many writers lean on this? 2) The story-within-a-story structure only works if we are equally invested in both AND if there is satisfying payoff to both. Didn't happen here. 3)What I found most troubling was the betrayal of Julia and her mother by her father -- both ongoing for years in his heart and then in action without a word of goodbye, explanation, or concern. Selfish. Heartless. Unforgivable.audiobook note: Once again, Cassandra Campbell's emotive narration helps better stabilize what would otherwise have been an uneven reading experience. Her talent and effort are what induced me to round up.
hgranger's review against another edition
3.0
I finished this book in less than a day because I just had to know what would happen. Then I kicked myself because I should have taken the rather obvious clue from "The Prince, The Princess, and the Crocodile" and known that it would result in me sobbing ugly, snotty tears. So there's that.
I like the message that life doesn't have to have a happy ending to be beautiful. I liked Su Kyi's approach to life -- bad things happen to everyone, you can't control it, just try to find happiness when you can. I liked Julia's journey of discovery, and the descriptions that made me feel like I was right there in Burma (Myanmar!) with Tin Win, Mi Mi, and later Julia too. It is also interesting to read about superstitions that govern people's lives. (Tin's mother, uncle, etc.) Sometimes they seem ridiculous but are hey any more or less so than the things we let control us?
On the negative side: I don't like feeling emotionally manipulated, and I felt that I had been at the end of the book. The lovers dying together after one last reunion...meh. I prefer some good years with a bit of bickering but happiness found in everyday life. Also, Tin Win and Mi Mi's love story is very beautiful, but...
- she's a little too perfect. She really doesn't even get a little miffed when that abominable uncle sends her the letter? Come on!
- the "hidden letters" scenario is too used and too lazy as a tool to move the story along. Sorry. At some point, send a messenger if you're not getting a response.
- no matter how sweet and poignant and utterly unfair T and M's love story was, it's not enough for him to smile enigmatically and then just disappear. (Like his mother did to him....) He owed it to his family to at least say goodbye. No bueno, Tin.
I like the message that life doesn't have to have a happy ending to be beautiful. I liked Su Kyi's approach to life -- bad things happen to everyone, you can't control it, just try to find happiness when you can. I liked Julia's journey of discovery, and the descriptions that made me feel like I was right there in Burma (Myanmar!) with Tin Win, Mi Mi, and later Julia too. It is also interesting to read about superstitions that govern people's lives. (Tin's mother, uncle, etc.) Sometimes they seem ridiculous but are hey any more or less so than the things we let control us?
On the negative side: I don't like feeling emotionally manipulated, and I felt that I had been at the end of the book. The lovers dying together after one last reunion...meh. I prefer some good years with a bit of bickering but happiness found in everyday life. Also, Tin Win and Mi Mi's love story is very beautiful, but...
- she's a little too perfect. She really doesn't even get a little miffed when that abominable uncle sends her the letter? Come on!
- the "hidden letters" scenario is too used and too lazy as a tool to move the story along. Sorry. At some point, send a messenger if you're not getting a response.
- no matter how sweet and poignant and utterly unfair T and M's love story was, it's not enough for him to smile enigmatically and then just disappear. (Like his mother did to him....) He owed it to his family to at least say goodbye. No bueno, Tin.
jlvgriffin's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
- 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
orijuris's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
3.75
kuritsahreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was definitely not what I expected. Yes, it is a story about a very strong love, but I don't like the way it is presented (U Ba tells Julia the whoooole story), and it left some questions open, for example why the father married when he was in New York although he loved Mi Mi so much? ?
shinydiscoballx's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
cofetty's review against another edition
3.0
This book didn't live up to my expectations. The narrative felt slow-paced and wasn't a magical story I had expected. It felt too slow-paced and the plot was too simple. After finishing the book I was left with a feeling that it still made no sense to me.
I enjoyed the setting. I liked learning about Burma and it's history. Sendker manages a very realistic description of the third-world country, the poverty, the superstitious peasants inhabiting it. What sets this novel apart is that the people in the story are good-natured. You don't have to cringe with every new page. The protagonist faces hardships, but people around him are caring and helpful, there is an air of love.
At the same time I felt like some of the characters were too good, like they were not even human. As if by behaving in such an impeccable way they cast a shadow on the rest of us who are mere sinful humans.
I enjoyed the setting. I liked learning about Burma and it's history. Sendker manages a very realistic description of the third-world country, the poverty, the superstitious peasants inhabiting it. What sets this novel apart is that the people in the story are good-natured. You don't have to cringe with every new page. The protagonist faces hardships, but people around him are caring and helpful, there is an air of love.
At the same time I felt like some of the characters were too good, like they were not even human. As if by behaving in such an impeccable way they cast a shadow on the rest of us who are mere sinful humans.
mista_kemaker's review against another edition
5.0
Emozionante, scorrevole, l'ho letto tutto d'un fiato.
Una storia che riscalda il cuore.
Una storia che riscalda il cuore.