Reviews tagging 'Blood'

How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee

11 reviews

adelheid's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Trafficking, War, Kidnapping, and Misogyny

thelaurasaurus's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child abuse, War, Violence, and Blood

heliacentr's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, War, Physical abuse, and Rape

cerilou's review against another edition

dark emotional informative medium-paced

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

4.5

I stumbled across this book whilst looking for books based on refugees for a reading challenge. 

I have never really ventured in to reading historical fiction set in Asian countries especially around World War Two, Asian historical fiction is a sub genre that I was unaware of and I am a little disappointed to admit this. 

This was a very moving, intriguing, informative and inspiring read that I am glad that I stumbled upon by chance and I am certainly going to aim to add more Asian historical fiction to my TBR list.

How we disappeared follows Wang Di during the war as a ‘comfort woman’ for the Japanese soldiers during World War Two, as well as Kevin who ventures on a discovery of the truth based on this ailing grandmother. 

I certainly feel that I have learnt a very small snippet of Asian history from reading this book during World War Two and it broke my heart that this sort of thing happened and the horror and sense of shame is most certainly felt for the duration of the stories. Jing Jing Lee has done these women justice through this story about what the different families went through during World War Two. 

I will mention that it may cause triggers concerning rape, sexual assault, abuse 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and War

katiedatie21's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol and Blood

betag1013's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Violence, War, Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Rape, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery

drraytay's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Medical trauma, War, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Sexual violence, Death, Murder, Blood, Slavery, and Gun violence

Moderate: Death of parent and Pregnancy

rachyrexaphous's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective tense 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

5.0

Great for someone wanting insight into the experience of the Japanese occupation of Singapore, good glimpse into current socio-economic and cultural stigmas of sgrean society too

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Child death, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and War

barbiejoon12's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, War, Slavery, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Murder, Trafficking, Bullying, and Child death

Minor: Blood, Gore, and Violence

r0se's review

emotional informative sad tense

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment and Blood