bee_eviljoy36's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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
5.0
This book holds a mirror up to Australia's racist past and present and the view is not pleasant.
It follows the stories of residents and staff of a nursing home called Cinamon Gardens in Sydney. Many of whom are refugees that fled Sri Lanka which was undergoing genocide and ethnic cleansing.
The stories unfold slowly in a gut wrenching and emotional tail of finding forgiveness for the decision made while under extreme trauma.
It follows the stories of residents and staff of a nursing home called Cinamon Gardens in Sydney. Many of whom are refugees that fled Sri Lanka which was undergoing genocide and ethnic cleansing.
The stories unfold slowly in a gut wrenching and emotional tail of finding forgiveness for the decision made while under extreme trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Genocide, Torture, and War
Moderate: Child death and Rape
ree333's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Torture, Islamophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
danajoy's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The beautiful, whimisical cover and cosy sounding name makes this novel appear to be a light choice. Based on those you'd likely be forgiven in believing that this was a warm, safe, story about a nursing home.
This is instead a deeply important but difficult and confronting story about survival, racism and violence. The content is highly confronting.
The Sri Lankan civil war is not a topic I was very aware of.
This story is brutal and important.
This is instead a deeply important but difficult and confronting story about survival, racism and violence. The content is highly confronting.
The Sri Lankan civil war is not a topic I was very aware of.
This story is brutal and important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Islamophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Genocide, Death, War, and Racism
Moderate: Rape
charlesbilby's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
5.0
Brilliant multi-generational story of war and community and healing and trauma. Also incredible tracing of how racist attacks happen in Australia and excellent deconstruction of male fragility and violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Rape
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