Reviews with content warning for Rape - How We Disappeared

Una narrazione assolutamente splendida, che riesce a raccontare la crudeltà della guerra senza però fare pornografia del dolore.
Straziante tutto ciò che ha riguardo le donne di conforto, compreso lo stigma sociale succeduto alla fine della guerra.
Ho apprezzato il modo in cui la storia di Wang Di si interseca a quella di Kevin. I capitoli del ragazzo erano meno intensi ma comunque molto toccanti per il suo modo di raccontare il bullismo, la depressione del padre e il desiderio di rimediare.
Una lettura che mi ha commossa in più punti e che insegnando qualcosa di greve riesce allo stesso tempo a donare una conclusione liberatoria.

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1st22's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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abi_dutton's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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thelaurasaurus's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

This book made me so sad and angry, while also managing to contain occasional tender moments that made the misery bearable. While the treatment Wang Di received at the hands of the Japanese wasn’t exactly a surprise,

I was really upset by how she was treated upon her return, not just by her neighbours, but by her brother

. I had to take a break to sit and have a think (and a cry) when I finished.

I liked the Kevin storyline, but I wish that it had been slightly less depressing, and also better developed. I wanted it to both counteract the horror of what I was reading about Wang Di, and also move and engage me in the same way.

As a side note: I knew nothing about the history of Singapore, and this book provided me with a really interesting introduction to the country. I would like to read more.

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everyspades's review against another edition

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slow-paced

4.5

I find the book a bit slow, but it's beautifully written. There are triggering stuff, but it's not as triggering as I thought it would be. I enjoyed this book so much, although the ending wasn't really satisfying for me.

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