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maidinnah's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Such a breath of fresh air to read a book set in turn-of-the-century Vietnam, a pretty overlooked setting in my experience. The novel's biggest strength is its gorgeous prose that details the creeping westernization brought on by colonization and how it slowly replaces age-old traditions. Although it's marketed as such, I don't consider the romantic-aspect of the book to be all that engaging or well-developed. Instead, I would classify "The Tapestries" as a coming-of-age period drama, since the novel's focal point is Dan's conflict surrounding his family duty. In addition to that, the book details moral lessons about love, revenge, and greed, caked in melodrama that rivals soap operas and folktales, which makes Nguyen's inspirations clear. When you approach the book from that angle, it's easier to get past some of the storytelling decisions (except for one that, for me, cheapened the ending of the book and prevents me from giving 5-stars).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Death
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Torture, Gun violence, Classism, Sexual violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
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