Book of The Month discussion

A spellbinding, sweeping novel about a Malayan mother who becomes an unlikely spy for the invading Japanese forces during WWII—and the shocking consequences that rain upon her community and family.

Malaya, 1945. Cecily Alcantara’s family is in terrible danger: her fifteen-year-old son, Abel, has disappeared, and her youngest daughter, Jasmin, is confined in a basement to prevent being pressed into service at the comfort stations. Her eldest daughter Jujube, who works at a tea house frequented by drunk Japanese soldiers, becomes angrier by the day.

Cecily knows two things: that this is all her fault; and that her family must never learn the truth.

A decade prior, Cecily had been desperate to be more than a housewife to a low-level bureaucrat in British-colonized Malaya. A chance meeting with the charismatic General Fuijwara lured her into a life of espionage, pursuing dreams of an “Asia for Asians.” Instead, Cecily helped usher in an even more brutal occupation by the Japanese. Ten years later as the war reaches its apex, her actions have caught up with her. Now her family is on the brink of destruction—and she will do anything to save them.

Spanning years of pain and triumph, told from the perspectives of four unforgettable characters, The Storm We Made is a dazzling saga about the horrors of war; the fraught relationships between the colonized and their oppressors, and the ambiguity of right and wrong when survival is at stake.

Hmmm. . .looking at other buddy reads, did we want to start on January 10th?

Sounds good!

YAY!! I'm so excited!

Me too, my first BR in this group! Woo hoo!

5 chapters

this is a really tough read. the abuse is rough

(view spoiler)[ it breaks my heart - what these kids are going through

and Jujube, having to grow up and clean, work and take care of the house and remaining kid while her mom checks out. It's tough.

and poor Yuki and Abel. their abuse is just awful

I wonder what we'll learn next (hide spoiler)]

15 chapters

(view spoiler)[well, that was an easier set of chapters

I'm glad the boys are getting down time to connect and be safe
but Abel will be such a different boy when he comes home. him murdering the brother was just awful (even though he did awful things)

Interesting, this story of Cecily we're getting. she's just so quick to come undone. But is she working to undo having the British there? Is she in support of the Japanese taking over the country?!?! Oh no. . ..

I wonder when they will find Jasmin. could she be his? I'm glad Jasmin was safe over with him but her running around and her friend. I wonder how long she can be safe when she constantly runs around in the dangerous area. I wonder if he, too, is despondent over what he and Cecily helped their area become (hide spoiler)]

20 chapters

(view spoiler)[ wow, a turn
I hope the boys make it out. I hope Abel makes it home and recovers from the drinking and the trauma. I wonder where the other boys are from, where all they took boys from

I'm so glad Cecily decided to help her friend. She really was a good friend to her (she had no idea she was sleeping with her husband!) and HE was just going to keep leaving, keep thinking of himself. And now we know what their scheming has done. It's the other timeline, the other now. WOW!

We didn't get an update to Jasmin so I hope she's okay too, although I wonder that he has her and yet Cecily hasn't gone to him. she must not talk to him anymore (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

(view spoiler)[ heartbreaking
I'm glad he did give Cecily up, that he was hung for his crimes
but oh, they thought they were freeing themselves

who would have thought they'd be giving themselves up to even worse captors

and Jasmin and Yuki. I knew Jasmin just did not seem to understand the danger all around her. But to perish in the fire. Just so sad.

and Abel made it back but couldn't save Freddie. So glad he got those drawings out but ugh, at what cost.

I'm glad Jujube pushed the tea out of his hand - but I don't blame her for her rage. But she was taking it out on the wrong man. But ugh, what her family went through. awful. (hide spoiler)]

Whoa, that was fast! So glad you liked it! We've been taking care of business & errands today, so I haven't had a chance to read anything except I did finish a book I started yesterday. I'll start this one shortly.

Trisha wrote: "5 chapters

this is a really tough read. the abuse is rough

it breaks my heart - what these kids are going through

and Jujube, having to grow up and clean, work and take care of the house and re..."

Good to know, Trisha. I think I'll wait until tomorrow to start only because I had a LONG day and I'm just too tired to read and it's only 7:30. IF I get a second wind, I'll start. lol

Yeah, it's a tough start. I'd wait until you're well rested and refreshed! lol

That’s the plan. :)

Well, I didn't get started yesterday but I'm about to start now. My granddaughter, Julianna, is bringing her BIG puppy, Georgia, over for a puppy play date with Daisy. I'm not sure when or how long she'll be here but I'm definitely starting my book now!

Through Ch. 5

(view spoiler)[ I swear men can be so disgusting, raping little girls! Ugh...and, yes, Abel and Yuki are in terrible conditions and abuse. And poor Jasmin too, wearing Abel's clothes and losing his scent. That's something to be sad about that because his scent is probably all they (she) has left of him right now. SUPER sad first 5 chapters! (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 15

(view spoiler)[Oh. My. God. The section where Abel killed Brother Luke...ugh! Just awful to read. And I am worried for Jasmin with the talk about hurting private parts. I don't trust her friend's situation, finding young girls laying around in their underwear? I wonder if they're being sex trafficked or something of that nature. I am worried she could end up raped and she's only 8 years old. She shouldn't be out there like she is. Cecily's relationship with Fajiwara (sp) is bad news. I think Lina might have it in for Cecily too. If Cecily is pregnant and it is not Gordon's, I wonder what will happen. A lot is about to occur.

It does seem possible that Cecily is in support of the Japanese taking over, so I guess I'll see. (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 20

(view spoiler)[I feel so bad for Lina! She is a good friend to Cecily too, taking care of her family when Cecily didn't return home on time. But poor Lina. Fujiwara isn't a very good man to have by your side. He's not faithful and he doesn't seem to truly care about either woman, or if he does it's not for the right reason. I wonder what will happen when they both have their babies and if they'll be able to tell for sure whose baby Cecily's is.

I am SO SAD about what's happening to Abel. He's changing so much. And Freddie, all the boys. It's just awful what they're doing to those boys. Yes, I hope they escape.

Yeah, Jasmin's situation at this point is unclear. I think the last we heard about her, she'd gone to her friend's so I'm concerned because that situation didn't look good at all. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[So, Yuki was Lina's daughter! Makes sense. What a sad ending! I never expected Lina to die. Jasmine was far too young to understand the dangers she was surrounding herself with, but yes, SO sad! All too sad.

I liked how the author had short chapters for all the characters at the end, so you felt (I felt) like all the ends were tied together. Loved it! (hide spoiler)]

I'm so glad you liked this one too!
such a tough read. Hard to say you "liked" it but it was eye-opening and just so sad. . .

Exactly!