freddie's reviews
295 reviews

OK book with a decent plot. The book follows Dieu Lan, a woman from a landowner family escaping violent farmer mobs during the North Vietnam land reform with 5 children in tow in the 50s and Houng, Dieu Lan's teenage granddaughter living in the 70s around the end of the Vietnam War. There isn't much discussion on the how the conflicts transpired and more focus is put on how the people suffered during the wars. The novel is excessively sentimental and melodramatic (think: characters storming off during a quarrel and not talking to each other - they do that a lot in here) and it dilutes the emotional impact the novel is trying to give.

Nice, adorable story about the blossoming romantic relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. Nonetheless, given the sheer number of side characters in this book, it bothers me that they don't feel human enough. I must say that even Achilles don't feel fleshed out enough. Meanwhile, Patroclus (the narrator) is very fleshed out, so in this aspect, the contrast between Patroclus and other characters are so jarring. There's just something missing from the novel. I like the ending!

Very emotional. The main character's motivation is very clear and believable and the stakes are high. Fascinating that there is a YA novel that sets in one of the most highly politically-charged, contentious events in Malaysian history. Made me cry.

4.5/5 A compulsive read. Fast-paced. The main characters are sufficiently layered and nuanced. Wonderful bittersweet ending.

One quality I consider a "good" novel should have is a sense of "completeness" in its story - and this novel feels complete. The writing is wonderful and the characters are vivid. I like its exploration of mental health issues. This is a domestic fiction of epic proportion.

1.5/5 The only thing I like about this is the twist involving the main character, Hervé's wife at the end. Beyond that, this book is quite meh. Not a big fan of its use of fable-like / fairy tale writing style. Japan comes across as a whimsical and hostile place. The wife seems criminally dehumanised. And Hervé is supremely slappable.

Edit: Japan was indeed hostile to outside people because of its policy on foreign traders at that time... It's the whimsical part that bugs me.

Powerful coming-of-age story of a boy's sexual and political awakenings amidst the violent 1983 conflict between Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese. Every little realization that Arjie learns in the earlier chapters culminates into an arguably powerful yet personal act in the climax.

Love the various complexities in this novel. It is not a straightforward story about how wealth changes people - the wealth serves to highlight the idiosyncracy of the family's unique dynamics. Somewhat dark. Creepily relatable. I'm fascinated by the ant imageries.

Easily a 5-star for me. Many warned me about the tone shift that occurs between the first and second part of this book and while I can see where the frustration came from, I sort of like it! While the story starts with a gloomy tone, this is ultimately a heartwarming book about a found family, made up of a group of marginalized people.

I like the symbolism represented by the tea ceremony and its components like the cups and bowls. While the story isn't so bad, I'm not really moved by it as I'm often distracted by how melodramatic the characters can be.