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I really appreciated how the author explored war and its aftermath, both at a wider and at a more personal level (through the story of the Trần family). I think it did well in depicting all the contradictions and nuances in a country's history.
My only minor complaint in terms of the plot is the big revelation in the final chapters; I found it a little bit melodramatic and fortuitous.
I wasn't completely captured by the writing style but, here and there, there were some touching moments elevated by the prose.
Overall, this is a gripping and powerful book that I would encourage everyone to pick up.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Blood, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Slavery, Abortion
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism, Abortion