Reviews tagging 'Rape'

How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee

78 reviews

sunsetsam723's review against another edition

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emotional informative sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Emotional. Written in a simple style that fits for the delivery of the deeply troubling emotional content. Eye-opening. Appreciated the exploration of grief and trauma, and their impact through the generations, from various perspectives both during and after the war, and the unique insight of seeing both time periods through children’s eyes. Glad book club led me outside of my comfort zone to this one.
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jmkemp's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

A book from an unusual point of view, covering a difficult subject that still remains taboo for many. The story is told sympathetically and with only just enough detail to move it along. The ending is sort of ambiguous, but satisfying enough. 
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j9wan's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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tassillow's review

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4.5

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lovely_bookshelf's review

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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thebookfestclub's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional

4.0

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claudiatralenuvole's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Una narrazione assolutamente splendida, che riesce a raccontare la crudeltà della guerra senza però fare pornografia del dolore.
Straziante tutto ciò che ha riguardo le donne di conforto, compreso lo stigma sociale succeduto alla fine della guerra. 
Ho apprezzato il modo in cui la storia di Wang Di si interseca a quella di Kevin. I capitoli del ragazzo erano meno intensi ma comunque molto toccanti per il suo modo di raccontare il bullismo, la depressione del padre e il desiderio di rimediare.
Una lettura che mi ha commossa in più punti e che insegnando qualcosa di greve riesce allo stesso tempo a donare una conclusione liberatoria. 
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1st22's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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abi_dutton's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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? No

4.5

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thelaurasaurus's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

This book made me so sad and angry, while also managing to contain occasional tender moments that made the misery bearable. While the treatment Wang Di received at the hands of the Japanese wasn’t exactly a surprise,
I was really upset by how she was treated upon her return, not just by her neighbours, but by her brother
. I had to take a break to sit and have a think (and a cry) when I finished. 

I liked the Kevin storyline, but I wish that it had been slightly less depressing, and also better developed. I wanted it to both counteract the horror of what I was reading about Wang Di, and also move and engage me in the same way. 

As a side note: I knew nothing about the history of Singapore, and this book provided me with a really interesting introduction to the country. I would like to read more. 
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