Scan barcode
jonwood's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I feel like this book at times suffer from having a poor translation, as there are some segments that just seem unintentionally funny or nonsensical in context that leaves me wondering if the translation was maybe a bit too literal at times, for instance when the doctors as "You want the big one or little one", I would not immediately think that was a question about saving the mom or a baby . So, due to not knowing if some of my issues are due to a translation or not, I feel unfair to judge. The book does have a broad scope, encompassing a lot of Chinese history and how it impacted the lives of the main character and his family. The beginning sets up Fugui to fall from his own hubris before becoming a mediation on grief and suffering that I found moving by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Medical content, Gun violence, Child death, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Death, and Sexual violence
Moderate: War
Minor: Pregnancy
More...