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Graphic: Violence, War
Moderate: Child death, Death, Rape, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
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: Alcoholism, Rape, Violence, Abortion, Sexual harassment, War
It could also be frustrating; despite how much I loved the book, I often felt like the characters were almost too naïve deliberately so the author could use them as a mouthpiece for philosophical arguments; i.e. Huong being 15 and not understanding what rape is so that the book can make the argument that no one should be shamed for violence inflicted upon them. There were other instances of this that tested believability, but for me it didn't drag down the impact of the novel. I'd recommend this to anyone and it will have a permanent place on my bookshelf and rotation of revered books.
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infertility
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Abandonment, War
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Abortion
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Genocide, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape, Torture
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: Violence, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment
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