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A review by charlotteregan
The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Started: 051923
Finished: 052023
Reviewed: 061223
I am not the same after having read TVB. Me taking too long to fully review this book says a lot about it. If you’ve read negative things about this book, don’t listen to them. DO NOT. I kid you not, you have to read this book.
Jimenez’s writing has me in awe, it perfectly captured my entire being just from its first chapter. His compelling and complex characters, alongside its vivid and incredible setting/plot, gripped me, making me not want to put the book down. Tbf, I was traveling while reading this book and when I reached the last chapter and the last lines, I forced myself to not cry because I was with my family and I wasn’t gonna cry there. But the night after I finished TVB, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and how it made me feel so many emotions all at once. I have a thing for books that can elicit the strong and hidden emotions inside of me, yup.
The lines here about scientific progress and the effects of capitalism and the planet full of dogs and distancing yourself from others AND LITERALLY FUMIKO WERE INCREDIBLE, I HAVE NO WORDS. How did Jimenez debut with this novel?? HOW?? IS HE A MASTERMIND??? I will never know. The found-family here was even more insane.
ALSO FUMIKODANA. FUMIKODANA. I CANNOT TALK ABOUT THEM WITHOUT CRYING. LISTEN TO ILLICIT AFFAIRS AND CLOSURE BY TAYLOR SWIFT AND CRY WITH ME ISTG THEY WRECKED ME AND I WILL NEVER READ OR HEAR THE WORD CHERRY BLOSSOMS THE SAME ANYMORE.
Finished: 052023
Reviewed: 061223
I am not the same after having read TVB. Me taking too long to fully review this book says a lot about it. If you’ve read negative things about this book, don’t listen to them. DO NOT. I kid you not, you have to read this book.
Jimenez’s writing has me in awe, it perfectly captured my entire being just from its first chapter. His compelling and complex characters, alongside its vivid and incredible setting/plot, gripped me, making me not want to put the book down. Tbf, I was traveling while reading this book and when I reached the last chapter and the last lines, I forced myself to not cry because I was with my family and I wasn’t gonna cry there. But the night after I finished TVB, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and how it made me feel so many emotions all at once. I have a thing for books that can elicit the strong and hidden emotions inside of me, yup.
The lines here about scientific progress and the effects of capitalism and the planet full of dogs and distancing yourself from others AND LITERALLY FUMIKO WERE INCREDIBLE, I HAVE NO WORDS. How did Jimenez debut with this novel?? HOW?? IS HE A MASTERMIND??? I will never know. The found-family here was even more insane.
ALSO FUMIKODANA. FUMIKODANA. I CANNOT TALK ABOUT THEM WITHOUT CRYING. LISTEN TO ILLICIT AFFAIRS AND CLOSURE BY TAYLOR SWIFT AND CRY WITH ME ISTG THEY WRECKED ME AND I WILL NEVER READ OR HEAR THE WORD CHERRY BLOSSOMS THE SAME ANYMORE.
It was the movement that did it. The way she tucked the nozzle against her right temple, until the nozzle became a cherry blossom, tucked behind her ear by a blond woman with purple eyes, and the pistol slipped from her trembling hand, clattering to the floor, as did her knees, as she wept, for after centuries, she remembered Dana’s name.
AND AHRO MY BABY. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I CAN’T SAY ANYTHING SO I’LL JUST CRY.
LASTLY, NIA AND THE CREW OH MY GOD JIMENEZ WILL PAY FOR WHAT HE DID WITH THEM. 😭 NIA IMANI IS SO JUST LIKE ME IT’S SCARY HOW JIMENEZ WROTE HER.
I have no words anymore. If you wanna read this book, read it. If you don’t, I get it because who would wanna read 400 pages of grief?? NO ONE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt