Sorry, that person's shelf is private.
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125
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| 0593598873
| 9780593598870
| 0593598873
| 3.89
| 16,178
| Jul 16, 2024
| Jul 16, 2024
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it was amazing
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I had read Meg Shaffer’s debut
The Wishing Game
last year and absolutely adored it. That story was an imaginative, bookish take on
Charlie and
I had read Meg Shaffer’s debut
The Wishing Game
last year and absolutely adored it. That story was an imaginative, bookish take on
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
that was both charming and endearing. This time around, with
The Lost Story
, Shaffer takes her inspiration from another children’s classic,
The Chronicles of Narnia
, while also paying tribute to fairy tales and the world of make-believe in the process. In all honesty, I don’t have words to describe how I felt reading this beautifully written story – one that drew me in from the very first page and I never wanted to end. This was such a fun, delightful, charming story – truly a fairytale in every way, from its structure (with its storyteller who begins the story with “once upon a time” and ends it with “happily ever after”) to its magical, make-believe world consisting of castles and unicorns, heroes and heroines, knights in shining armor, villains that disappear and reappear in puffs of smoke, animals with the intelligence of humans, huge thousand feet trees with leaves in every color of the rainbow, etc. – yet on the other hand, this was also a very “adult” story that dealt with some very real and difficult issues (such as abuse, discrimination, bullying, for example). Just like in a fairy tale, there was a deeply profound and meaningful moral lesson buried underneath the fantastical elements, but everything blended together so seamlessly that, at times, it was easy to get lost in the tale itself. There was so much to love with this one: the characters were wonderfully-rendered and I actually loved all of them (Rafe, Jeremy, Emilie, Skya, as well as all the supporting characters) from the moment I met them within the first few pages, but I especially loved the way the characters interacted with each other; the descriptions of both the real and fantasy worlds were breathtaking and so well done that I definitely felt like I was completely immersed in a different time and place; the humor was also wonderfully done and there were so many scenes that had me laughing so hard, I started getting stomach cramps; most important of all however, was the underlying “lost and found” storyline (especially the one involving Rafe and Jeremy) that was both powerful and moving. This was no doubt an emotional read for me – a roller coaster ride that had me laughing one minute and crying the next. At the same time, I also couldn’t help feeling a bit nostalgic and wistful due to all the memories that this brought back from my childhood – as an avid reader, I of course read everything I could get my hands on, but I especially loved fairy tales. One of my favorite books growing up was a special hardbound edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales that I had read so much that it eventually fell apart to the point that I was forced to get rid of it (which still pains me when I think about it even now). The fact that I essentially stopped reading fairy tales after that incident (plus my reading tastes after I became an adult were markedly different from what I used to read as a child), made the nostalgia feel even more poignant. Getting the chance to revisit this aspect of my childhood through Shaffer’s story was definitely a welcome escape from all the craziness that has been a part of my life in recent months. I don’t want to say much more about this book because revealing too many details would spoil the magic. If you loved Shaffer’s debut The Wishing Game as much as I did, definitely pick up this sophomore novel of hers – it’s written in the same vein, yet also vastly different in many aspects. Even though I ended up loving this one just a tad bit more, both are amazing reads that I highly, highly recommend! Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 20, 2024
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Jul 22, 2024
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Jul 24, 2024
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Hardcover
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124
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| B0CL1YQLB5
| 4.24
| 104,686
| Jul 02, 2024
| Jul 02, 2024
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it was amazing
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With summer in full swing, I’ve been trying to catch up on all the reading I had planned to do, which, admittedly, has not been easy given the many ot
With summer in full swing, I’ve been trying to catch up on all the reading I had planned to do, which, admittedly, has not been easy given the many other obligations that I’ve been trying to juggle as well. Having said that, I’m working through my stack slowly but surely, prioritizing the “must-reads” by favorite authors that I’ve been looking forward to for months. One of those favorite authors is Liz Moore, whose 2 previous works
Long Bright River
(2020) and
The Unseen World
(2016) I had read and loved. Moore’s newest novel, The God of the Woods, is her most ambitious novel to date and absolutely a brilliantly written masterpiece! This intricately crafted, multi-layered story weaves together several complex threads, told from the perspectives of multiple complicated (and often morally ambiguous) characters, to create a wonderfully nuanced narrative that I honestly could not put down (despite clocking in at nearly 500 pages, I flew through this one in two sittings). The story begins with a mystery – the disappearance of teenager Barbara Van Laar from a family run summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains (in New York) – but when it is revealed that another Van Laar child had also disappeared from the same family compound 14 years ago (Barbara’s older brother Bear), the possible connection between the two cases leads to a riveting exploration of family dynamics and much, much more. This is truly a wide-reaching novel that covers many themes and social issues, including family and marriage struggles, parent/child relationships, class disparities and the implications of these differences on the rich vs the poor, gender discrimination, land conservation vs exploitation of nature, coming of age, identity and belonging, abuse and neglect vs caretaking and found family, inequalities within the criminal justice system, etc. At the same time, there are also historical elements that Moore incorporated into the narrative that aren’t readily apparent without reading the Author’s Note (which I highly recommend). There is so much to unpack with this story, yet at the same time, it’s not the overly complex type of story where you have to read it several times to understand what it’s trying to say. In addition to the mystery / suspense element being superbly done (at multiple points when I thought I had figured out the ending, turns out I was completely wrong), the atmospheric nature of the writing (to the point that I felt transported back to a different time and place) gave this a historical fiction feel, while the extensive coverage of various contemporary social issues also made the story and characters highly relatable. One of the things I love about Moore (in addition to her knack for creating memorable characters that I can’t help stop thinking about) is her ability to take a subject that I’m usually not too keen on reading about (i.e. drug addiction/opioid crisis, computer science and technology, environmentalism) and craft such an emotionally compelling story around it that it piques my interest and I find myself wanting to read/learn more about the subject. This brilliant, genre-defying novel is the perfect summer read and one that I highly, highly recommend. If this is your first-time reading Moore’s novels, this is a great place to start, but definitely go back and read her previous novels as well, if you can (I myself still have to read her first 2 novels, which are on my list to get to at some point). I can’t wait for what Moore decides to write next – hopefully we’ll hear something soon! Received ARC from Riverhead Books via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 13, 2024
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Jul 14, 2024
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May 22, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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122
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| 1250908566
| 3.82
| 15,815
| Jan 02, 2024
| Jan 02, 2024
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really liked it
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4.5 stars I’m somewhat behind with my reading goals this month, as I took on a bit more than I should have with school and work, plus an unexpected fam 4.5 stars I’m somewhat behind with my reading goals this month, as I took on a bit more than I should have with school and work, plus an unexpected family incident upended some of my plans for this week — but the good news is that, going into next month, I was able to sort things out so that I should be able to get my reading back on track very soon. With that said, I was able to squeeze in and finish another January ARC a couple days ago, Mercury by Amy Jo Burns — a book that I’ve been wanting to read ever since I found out about it several months back. I had read Burns’s fiction debut Shiner (she had written a memoir prior to it) a few years back for book club and it became one of my favorite reads that year (one that I had rated 5 stars). There was so much I loved about that book: the lyrical, immersive writing that flowed so beautifully that I found myself highlighting one quotable sentence after another; the atmospheric portrayal of time and place that made me feel as though I was right there alongside the characters; and of course, the strong female characters (the heart and soul of the story) who loved fiercely and devotedly, yet rarely got anything in return, instead having to forge their own paths in a world dominated by men whose power often when unchallenged and unchecked. (For more of my thoughts on Shiner, please check out my review of it). While Burns’s second novel, Mercury was a fantastic read that I loved quite a lot, if I had to choose between the two, Shiner would still be my favorite. Mercury is about a family of roofers who live in a “great house” in the small river valley town of Mercury, Pennsylvania — the family patriarch Mick Joseph, his wife Elise, and their three boys Baylor, Waylon, and Shay. One day in 1990, teenager Marley West arrives in Mercury with her mother Ruth and while stopped at a light they spot 3 men standing atop a roof at the far side of the road. The next day, Marley encounters two of the men (the Joseph brothers) at a baseball game, where she also meets the youngest Joseph brother (10-year-old Shay) as well as their mother Elise — a woman who was beautiful, impeccably dressed, unapologetically cool and collected in a way Marley had never seen before, and also had the ability to “command attention [from everyone around her but especially from her boys] with a single word.” Marley is captivated by this family and as a perpetual loner who is tired of having to move from town to town, she yearns for a seat at the Joseph family table. Soon, that’s exactly what happens, as Marley’s world becomes inextricably melded with the family’s. As she comes to understand the Joseph family dynamics though, and encounters one difficulty after another, Marley soon realizes that she got more than she had bargained for. Years later, a discovery in the church attic unearths past hurts and the family finds themselves on the brink of falling apart. As the Josephs scramble to save their family, they must also rethink their priorities and decide what matters most to them. Just like with Shiner , there were many things I loved about this book: the writing, of course, which was engaging and immersive and made me feel transported to the small town of Mercury; the characters were also well-developed and wonderfully drawn, especially the 3 Joseph brothers, who each had their own distinctive personalities as well as strengths and weaknesses (though admittedly, I couldn’t stand the patriarch of the family, Mick, who, to me, seemed to be a reincarnation of Briar from Shiner); most of all though, I loved the women in this story — Marley and Jade especially, and even Elise to some extent — who were all strong in their own distinctive ways and fought to forge a path for themselves despite society’s convictions and judgments. My one complaint is that there was a tad more romance than I expected, which made some scenes come across a little “soapy” to me, but luckily it wasn’t overwhelming so didn’t detract from the story too much. Overall, this is definitely a story worth reading. One of the things I love about Amy Jo Burns is that she writes with lot of heart and empathy for her characters — even the “bad” characters are written in a way that you end up feeling sorry for them rather than hating them. I will admit that, despite the dysfunction of the Joseph family, I couldn’t help rooting for all of them (this is saying something, since dysfunctional family stories can be a hit or miss for me). I felt invested in the ups and downs that this family goes through — both the heartbreaking moments and the joyous ones — but most of all, I appreciated the message of resilience and hope that Marley’s experiences especially demonstrated. This was a wonderful read and I can’t wait to see what Burns comes up with next! Received ARC from Celadon Books via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 14, 2024
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Jan 17, 2024
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Jan 20, 2024
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Hardcover
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121
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| 0593497287
| 9780593497289
| B0C1YK9V82
| 3.83
| 3,943
| Aug 17, 2023
| Jan 02, 2024
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it was amazing
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Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and that, like me, you were able to spend some time immersed in a good book! :-) Kicking Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and that, like me, you were able to spend some time immersed in a good book! :-) Kicking off the new year, I’ve been busy with my studies, but I did get the chance to squeeze in one of the January 2024 ARCs on my list, so I’m happy about that. I chose to start my reading year with a new release from an author whose works I’ve loved since reading her debut novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo , a few years back. In my opinion, Christy Lefteri is an underrated and under appreciated author whose works everyone should be reading. She writes in a way that is atmospheric and poetic, with beautifully-rendered descriptions of time and place that make us, the readers, feel completely immersed. Lefteri sets her third novel in a Greek village where a devastating wildfire has ravaged the once-idyllic forest, destroying nearly everything — living and non-living — in its path. A close and loving family used to live in that forest: Irini, a talented musician who could play the most beautiful songs with the instruments handed down over generations from her father and grandfather; her husband Tasso, an artist who could paint the forest so realistically that the sights and sounds of nature seemed to come alive just looking at the paintings; and their 10-year-old daughter Chara, a happy and playful girl whose name means “joy.” Along with their devoted greyhound Rosalie, the family lived in a picturesque environment surrounded by the beauty of nature. However, on a fateful day that starts off just like any other day, their paths cross with the fire and within hours, their lives are changed forever. Their bungalow in the forest is destroyed (along with all of Irini’s instruments), Tasso’s hands are burned to the point that he can no longer paint, Chara endures second-degree burns that leave horrific scars, and Irini’s father-in-law Lazaros goes missing (he’s presumed dead). Many of their friends and neighbors are either dead or missing, while those who survived are physically and emotionally scarred for life. As if that were not enough, everywhere they turn, they are forced to witness the charred remains of the destruction around them — the trees burned down to stumps, the barren ground where abundant plants and flowers once grew, and the pervasive, choking smell of burnt things. Months later, the family (and the village) haven’t completely come to terms with all they lost, but are actively trying to rebuild and move on with their lives. It is during this time that Irini inadvertently encounters the man responsible for destroying their lives — a land speculator she refers to as Mr. Monk, who had started the fire on a small piece of land he didn’t own in the hopes of acquiring it (illegally), not expecting it to rage out of control like it ended up doing. Mr. Monk is mysteriously injured and appears to be on the brink of death — when Irini finds out who he is, she makes a last minute decision out of anger, which follows her for the rest of the story. The investigation that follows will bring to light some painful truths about the community and its interactions with its surrounding environment. As she did with her previous two novels, Lefteri once again delivers a hauntingly beautiful, emotional story that is at once heartbreaking and poignant, but also hopeful in its portrayal of humanity in the wake of tragedy. Lefteri has a gift for writing about real-life (often controversial and difficult) issues relevant to society in a way that is thought-provoking and meaningful, yet not heavy-handed or preachy — in The Beekeeper of Aleppo , it was immigration and refugees fleeing from the situation in Syria; in Songbirds , it was the exploitation of foreign domestic workers in Cyprus; now in The Book of Fire , she explores the relationship of humans with nature and the wide-ranging effects that our actions can have on our environment. I live in Southern California and remember the deadly 2018 wildfires that Lefteri mentions in her Author’s Note (which, by the way, is a must-read in and of itself) as well as the many other fires that have occurred in the region the past few years, so this story definitely resonated with me. The dilemma that Irini faces in the story is a difficult one and I will admit that if I were in her shoes, I would have probably struggled as well. I finished this book a few days ago, yet I’m still thinking about this story and its endearingly-drawn characters. Needless to say, I will definitely be on the lookout for what Lefteri comes out with next! Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 30, 2023
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Jan 2024
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Jan 01, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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120
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| 0802160506
| 9780802160508
| 0802160506
| 4.35
| 2,270
| Oct 03, 2023
| Oct 03, 2023
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it was amazing
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As soon as I turned the last page of Pulitzer Prize winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen’s new memoir, my first reaction was, well, silence because I was
As soon as I turned the last page of Pulitzer Prize winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen’s new memoir, my first reaction was, well, silence because I was too awe-struck to speak. I sat there for quite some time, reflecting on what I had just read (to say there was A LOT to reflect upon is an understatement), but also marveling at the brilliance that I had just witnessed. Believe me when I say that this is no ordinary memoir — the content itself (with Nguyen’s eloquent yet unflinchingly honest writing style) is powerful enough on its own, but the way he plays with elements of form throughout the book honestly just blew me away. The formatting of the book is important here — the sections that mimic poetry, the clever use of white space, the different size fonts, the use of “TM” after certain words, the thoughtful (and careful) placement of words / phrases / sentences on the page to convey specific ideas, the shifting of voice and point of view, the interspersing of family photographs where appropriate, etc. (truly, I could go on and on) — all of this had the combined effect of creating a unique and powerful reading experience unlike any other. I’ve read my fair share of memoirs over the years, but I’ve definitely never read anything like this one. As I mentioned earlier, Nguyen writes eloquently, using language and prose in a way that captivates, yet doesn’t come across as pretentious or highbrow. In fact, Nguyen writes in such a straightforward, lucid manner that, at times, I couldn’t help but feel taken aback by the brutal honesty of his words. At the same time, I also resonated deeply with much of what he wrote (even though our backgrounds couldn’t be more different). Case in point — I had actually received an advance copy of Nguyen’s memoir and started off reading the e-arc, but barely a few pages in, I was already highlighting so many things that resonated with me, that I wound up getting a physical copy of the book instead so I could have something tangible in which to make notes (I ended up using an entire sleeve of colored sticky tabs because I found things I wanted to flag on nearly every page). Something else that struck me with this memoir — Nguyen talks about a lot of very difficult topics in here (as he mentions himself at certain points, this is his family’s story, but also a “war story”), yet he also infuses the entire narrative with a self-deprecating sense of humor — the net result being a perfect balance of serious and funny that made the “heavy” topics easier to engage with. Personally, I found myself laughing and crying in equal measure while reading this book. To be honest, I don’t think any review will be able to do justice to the brilliance of what Nguyen was able to achieve with this memoir. I initially thought about including a few quotes in this review that especially resonated with me, but there were so many good ones that I had trouble picking only a few, so I decided not to include any. Instead, I recommend anyone reading this review go pick this one up (a physical copy, as that’s the best way to appreciate this memoir with such an unconventional structure) and experience it for yourself. Lastly, I wanted to put in a plug for Miwa Messer’s interview with Viet Thanh Nguyen on her Poured Over podcast. The conversation they had about this book was absolutely wonderful and inspiring — definitely a great supplement to the reading experience with this one! Received ARC from Grove Press via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 17, 2023
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Nov 19, 2023
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Nov 20, 2023
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Hardcover
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112
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| 0593598830
| 9780593598832
| 0593598830
| 4.07
| 143,841
| May 30, 2023
| May 30, 2023
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really liked it
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4.5 stars Meg Shaffer’s smart, whimsical, and utterly delightful debut novel The Wishing Game is the feel-good story I didn’t know I needed! Inspi 4.5 stars Meg Shaffer’s smart, whimsical, and utterly delightful debut novel The Wishing Game is the feel-good story I didn’t know I needed! Inspired by the beloved children’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , this was a retelling of sorts, but set in the world of books. Instead of a chocolate factory, there’s a “writing factory” that is the home to Jack Masterson, the reclusive and eccentric children’s author of the mega-bestselling Clock Island series. The fantastical book series is so beloved in part because of the books’ ability to help the children who read them find solace and comfort during difficult times in their lives. One of those children is Lucy Hart, who grew up in a family with parents who were neglectful and ended up abandoning her in favor of her older sister Angie. To combat her loneliness, Lucy found solace in books, especially the Clock Island series, with its magical world where a mysterious figure named Master Mastermind “granted wishes to brave children” and in so doing, helped them face and overcome their fears. Many years later, 26-year-old Lucy is a teacher’s aide at an elementary school in California, where she meets 7-year-old Christopher Lamb, an orphan in foster care with whom she develops a close relationship. Her biggest wish is to adopt Christopher and give him a forever home, but unfortunately, her lack of funds and unstable living environment make that wish all but impossible. It’s during this time that Jack Masterson, who had mysteriously quit writing 6 years ago, re-emerges and announces that he has written a new book in the Clock Island series – not only that, he has devised a contest where specially chosen readers of his books will get to compete for the sole copy. When Lucy is chosen as one of the 4 contestants who receives the “golden ticket” – the invitation to travel to the real Clock Island (located off the coast of Maine) to compete for the coveted prize – she sees the opportunity to finally make her wish come true. But it won’t be easy, as Lucy not only has to beat out 3 other contestants who have equally compelling reasons for needing to win, she also has to deal with Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books and Jack’s caretaker of sorts on the island. Unbeknownst to all of them though, Jack actually has reasons of his own for putting on the contest that could end up changing the lives of all involved in ways they weren’t expecting. This was a charming, clever, immersive story that sucked me in right from the first page. Shaffer did a magnificent job with the world-building in this story, to the point that I was blown away by how simultaneously similar and different this was from its inspiration, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . There were the obvious parallels of course: the stand-in for the chocolate factory, which in this case was the setting of Clock Island, with each location whimsically named based on the segments of a clock (such as ‘The City of Second Hand’ or ‘Nine O’Clock Dock’ or ‘One O’Clock Picnic Spot’); the character of Jack Masterson, whose eccentric personality and endearing nature gives off serious Willy Wonka vibes; the contest where the lucky recipients of the blue envelope containing the invitation (equivalent to the golden ticket in the chocolate bar) are the ones who get to go visit Clock Island; the main protagonist coming from a poor background and so the opportunity that the “golden ticket” presents is particularly life-changing. But there were also significant differences, with the obvious one being the romantic storyline between Lucy and Hugo; the literary theme involving the fictional Clock Island book series (complete with excerpts from the books scattered throughout the story); the exploration of various “heavy” topics such as parental abuse and neglect, illness and death, the foster care system, the effect of childhood trauma lasting into adulthood, free choice versus circumstance, etc. — all of these topics were covered in a way that acknowledged their importance but wasn’t heavy-handed (which I appreciated), while also fitting perfectly with the vibe of the book (whimsical, light-hearted, hopeful, etc). Another element that was done really well in here was the humor, which felt very natural and seamless throughout the story. I love banter between characters that isn’t deliberately funny, but still has the ability to make me laugh, and there was the perfect amount of that in this story. It’s even more wonderful when the banter isn’t just between the characters in a romantic relationship (though yes, it was fun following the back and forth between Lucy and Hugo in most of their scenes), but also features significantly into the relationships between the other characters as well. I especially enjoyed the dynamics of Jack and Hugo’s “pseudo father/son” relationship, which had me laughing one minute and moved to tears the next minute. Actually, the various relationship dynamics was one of the main elements that set this story apart from its inspiration, which is also what made the story more compelling in my opinion. If I had to sum this one up, I would say that it’s an imaginative, magical, bookish take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , but for adults. It’s also a story with lots of heart (I agree with everyone who said reading this book is like getting a big warm hug, lol), but what I love most is its underlying message about hope and wishes as well as the power of books to change lives. A wonderful homage to books and reading as well as a tribute to a childhood favorite (I love how Shaffer dedicated this book to “Charlie”), this is a book that I highly recommend and hope that many readers will love it as much as I did. P.S.: The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous! I read an e-ARC of this one, but I’m actually considering buying a physical copy so I can pull it out and look at the cover whenever I feel like it. Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 18, 2023
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May 20, 2023
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May 20, 2023
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Hardcover
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113
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| 0063267101
| 9780063267107
| 0063267101
| 3.92
| 27,007
| Jun 27, 2023
| Jun 27, 2023
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it was amazing
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I’ve been reading quite a few new releases the last couple of months and while many of those I enjoyed immensely (majority have been 4 and 4.5 star re
I’ve been reading quite a few new releases the last couple of months and while many of those I enjoyed immensely (majority have been 4 and 4.5 star reads thankfully), I had yet to come across one that I could truly categorize as a 5 star level “this book blew me away” type read (so far this year, I’ve rated 2 books 5 stars, but both were backlist reads). Well, heading into summer reading season, I’m happy to report that I’ve finally come across my first 5 star read among the plentiful 2023 new releases — Thao Thai’s spectacular debut novel
Banyan Moon
(scheduled for publication in June). There was so much to unpack with this book, I’m honestly not sure where to begin. Perhaps the best place to start would be what attracted me to this book in the first place — as soon as I read the premise, especially the following last paragraph, I knew that this was a book I abs had to read: “Spanning decades and continents, from 1960s Vietnam to the wild swamplands of the Florida coast, Banyan Moon is a stunning and deeply moving story of mothers and daughters, the things we inherit, and the lives we choose to make out of that inheritance.” First of all, I love sweeping family sagas, but in particular, I’m drawn to stories about mother/daughter relationships. Part of the reason I gravitate toward these types of stories is because I have a complicated relationship with my own mother, so I’m constantly on the lookout for books that explore this — particularly between Asian mothers and daughters, as there are usually familiar cultural dynamics involved that inform these relationships, which can hopefully help me make sense of my own. To be honest, reading this book was like a gut punch for me because I resonated so deeply with each of the 3 main characters — Minh (grandmother and family matriarch), Huong (Minh’s daughter and Ann’s mother), and Ann (Minh’s granddaughter, Huong’s daughter, and herself about to become a mother) — and the various misunderstandings and disagreements that defined their relationship with each other. I understood Ann’s feeling of being adrift and floating and not really knowing what she wanted to do with her life, only that she wanted to escape from the perpetual tension that always existed when she was in her mother’s presence. I also understood Huong’s feelings of inadequacy — both as a mother and as a daughter — and feeling like she had no choice but to resign herself to a life that reflected what others wanted rather than what she actually wanted. And yes, I also understood Minh’s struggle, why she became the overbearing force to be reckoned with in the family, and what necessitated her urge to protect her granddaughter at all costs. So many of the dynamics that were at play between these three women felt so familiar to me, as they reflected some of my experiences and struggles with my own family over the years: for instance: the inability to communicate our true feelings no matter how hard we try, and then being bogged down by endless guilt and regret that never truly goes away; the resentment and hurt built up from a lifetime of letting fear and desperation dictate our words and actions, resulting in us saying things to each other that we may not really mean, but that end up dealing irreparable damage to our relationships; and for me, this one was the most poignant and heartbreaking — the constant struggle with understanding the different ways to love someone and the impossibility of choosing a “right” or “wrong” way to love (especially where family is concerned). As an indication of how deeply this story resonated with me — during various points as I was reading, I actually had to set the book down in order to wipe away tears that seemed to appear of their own accord. Another thing that blew me away with this book was the writing. I love beautiful prose and this one definitely had plenty of it! When I read fiction, I tend to read straight through without marking up any passages because I don’t want to break up the flow of the story, but in this instance, I couldn’t help myself — some of the passages, in articulating the complexities of the relationship between the 3 generations of Tran women, also described my own feelings so precisely that I just had to mark them for rereading and reflection later. One other thing I wanted to mention is the format of the narrative, which, except for the first chapter, alternated between the perspectives of Minh, Huong, and Ann, both in the present day as well as going back to the past. This format was powerful, I felt, as juxtaposing the three women’s stories in this way not only helped us see how each navigated her role as daughters (which is important because of how much these experiences shaped their future roles as mothers), but it also helped us to see how similar some of their motivations were, yet how differently their lives turned out based on the choices they made. As I mentioned earlier, there is a lot to unpack with this one and the above only touches upon a few of my initial thoughts about certain aspects of the story that resonated with me, which of course only scratches the surface of what this book is about. This is why I’m so glad that one of my book clubs chose this as a monthly read, as I now have an excuse to go back and reread this in preparation for the discussion. Definitely looking forward to it! Received ARC from Mariner Books via BookBrowse First Impressions program. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 26, 2023
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May 28, 2023
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May 16, 2023
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Hardcover
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116
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| 006332752X
| 9780063327528
| 006332752X
| 3.98
| 351,404
| Aug 01, 2023
| Aug 01, 2023
|
it was amazing
|
Ann Patchett has done it again! One of my favorite authors on the planet has once again written a poignant, beautiful story, masterfully told in a way
Ann Patchett has done it again! One of my favorite authors on the planet has once again written a poignant, beautiful story, masterfully told in a way that had me hanging on to her every word from the first page to the last (and never wanting it to end). Told from the first person viewpoint of the main character Lara Kinnison, who lives with her husband Joe on a cherry farm in Michigan, the story weaves seamlessly between past and present as Lara tells her three grown daughters (who have returned to the farm during the pandemic to help with cherry picking) about the time she played summer stock at a theater company named Tom Lake, where she also had a brief romance with an actor named Peter Duke (who later becomes a hugely popular and famous actor). I mention the pandemic, but please note that this is NOT a pandemic novel — instead, this is a novel about complicated family dynamics (especially the relationship between parents and their children), about love in its many iterations, about the innocence of youth, and above all else, about the complexities of human relationships. With this novel, Patchett once again does what she is so good at — she presents an epic, luminous, profoundly perceptive story, but in a way that is subtle, exquisite, and never feels overwhelming. Patchett writes with an emotional subtlety that I absolutely love, but it was especially effective with this story, which, at its core, is an homage to Thornton Wilder’s classic play Our Town . There was so much to love about this book — the gorgeous prose, the flawless writing, the endearing characters, the subtle humor, the picturesque setting, the quiet beauty of the story told in a wistful yet hopeful tone, the perfect amount of detail to establish a sense of place that made for an incredibly immersive experience, etc (and that’s just scratching the surface). In terms of the Our Town references — I had actually never read that classic, but immediately after finishing Tom Lake , I went and bought a copy of Our Town because I felt compelled to finally read it (on a recent podcast interview that Patchett did, the host said she should get a commission for all the times someone bought Our Town after reading her novel and I agree 100%!). Given how much I adored Patchett’s newest novel, of course I recommend that everyone read it. For me, I will read anything she writes at this point and while I wait for future new work, I will continue to slowly work my way through her backlist as I have been doing (I intend to be a completist of her work at some point). Received ARC from Harper via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 02, 2023
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Aug 04, 2023
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Dec 30, 2022
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Hardcover
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114
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| 1668022761
| 9781668022764
| 1668022761
| 4.36
| 126,142
| Jun 06, 2023
| Jun 06, 2023
|
it was amazing
| Lisa See is one of my favorite authors! I’ve loved every book I’ve read of hers so far and after finishing The Island of Sea Women (one of my all Lisa See is one of my favorite authors! I’ve loved every book I’ve read of hers so far and after finishing The Island of Sea Women (one of my all-time favorite novels) four years ago, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the day when her next book would be published. Well, that day has finally arrived — her newest historical novel, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women , came out earlier this month and as soon as I received my copy, I of course dropped everything in order to read it. And once again, I was not disappointed, as this book met every expectation and then some. In an essay at the back of the book (I bought the Barnes and Noble exclusive edition), Lisa See writes that there are generally three themes that run through all her novels: “stories about women that have been lost, forgotten, or sometimes deliberately covered up; the unique physiology that defines us as women; and our desire to record through writing our moments on earth.” In her latest work, all three of these themes are explored through the captivating story of Tan Yunxian, a real female doctor who had lived during the Ming dynasty in China. Yunxian was from an elite family in Wuxi who got sent to live with her paternal grandparents after her mother died when she was only 8 years old. As one of China’s few female physicians, Yunxian’s Grandmother Ru was in the unique position of being able to treat female patients up close through the Four Examinations (looking, listening, touching, asking), which allowed her to help many women with their illnesses, especially those related to childbearing (this was important because male physicians during that time period were not allowed to do any of those things with female patients and instead had to rely on an intermediary to pass messages back-and-forth from afar, which often led to shoddy diagnoses and treatments). Yunxian is taken under her grandmother’s tutelage and learns everything about medicine from her, but faced with the various restrictions placed on women at the time, as well as the necessity for a woman of her status to adhere to societal traditions, she was largely prevented from practicing her trade. Fortunately, Yunxian was supported by a “circle of women” — including her childhood best friend, a midwife named Meiling — through whom she was able to put her skills to use, helping many women and girls in the process. One of the things that always stands out with Lisa See’s novels is the meticulous research she does in order to bring the historical aspects of her stories to life, which I absolutely admire. Each time I read her books, I’m blown away by the amount of intricate and exquisite detail she is able to incorporate so seamlessly into her stories, to the point that I always feel completely transported and immersed in the time period she is writing about. With this book in particular, even though I was already familiar with many of the traditions and other historical elements described in the story due to having grown up in the Chinese culture, I appreciated the fact that I was still able to learn so much. I also love how See presents the historical contexts behind her characters and events authentically, and doesn’t mince words to try to make things more “palatable” for readers. Of course, this means that there were quite a few scenes that were difficult to read (the ones describing the footbinding process and some of the patients’ specific medical conditions especially made me cringe), but they were realistically rendered, which I appreciated. For me, the mark of truly great historical fiction is its ability to immerse me in the story to the point that, after finishing the book, I feel compelled to read up on the subject matter / event / historical figure at the center of the story. I definitely did that that with this book — I was so fascinated with Tan Yunxian’s story that I spent hours afterwards googling and reading more background about her (Lisa See’s website has some links to sites she used in her research that were especially interesting to explore). I could go on, but I will stop here and end with the recommendation to read this book, since no amount of description on my part would be able to do it justice. As a fan, I hope I won’t need to wait another 4 years to read a new Lisa See book (though if that’s what it takes, I will wait of course, lol), but at least in the interim, I can go back and read her backlist books that I hadn’t gotten a chance to read yet (which I intend to do at some point soon). ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 21, 2023
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Jun 23, 2023
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Nov 21, 2022
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Paperback
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109
| 
| 0593534727
| 9780593534724
| 0593534727
| 3.91
| 35,364
| Oct 18, 2022
| Oct 11, 2022
|
it was amazing
|
It’s not often that I find myself at a complete loss for words after finishing a book, to the point that I have to sit with it for a few days in order
It’s not often that I find myself at a complete loss for words after finishing a book, to the point that I have to sit with it for a few days in order to form any semblance of coherent thoughts to actually put down on the page. That’s how awed I was by Dani Shapiro’s latest book,
Signal Fires
(her return to fiction after 15 years). Though I had not read any of Shapiro’s fiction or non-fiction works prior to this (something that I intend to rectify of course), I decided to pick this one up because of strong recommendations by a few book friends who said I would probably love this because the writing style is reminiscent of one of my favorite authors, Fredrik Backman. And they were right, of course, as I did end up loving this one! This book is one where it’s best to go in knowing little to nothing about the plot in order to get the full emotional experience of it (though with that said, I do think that the publisher did a darn good job with the summary, which came across to me as carefully crafted with particular word choice in mind so as not to give away certain important plot points). This is a character-driven story through and through (which I love!), but uniquely told in a nonlinear format that jumps back and forth between multiple perspectives as well as timeframes. Usually, books of this nature (told from multiple characters’ perspectives plus jumping back and forth in time) don’t work too well for me, as it’s distracting and often interrupts my reading flow — but for some reason (and surprisingly), it didn’t bother me in the slightest with this book. In fact, I barely noticed the unusual structure as I was reading, only figuring it out when I finished the book and was getting ready to write this review — undoubtedly a testament to Shapiro’s mesmerizing and exquisite storytelling. Indeed, I could not put this book down once I started it, nearly foregoing sleep just to finish it. As mentioned earlier, I love character-driven stories, which was definitely an advantage going into this one, but even without that predisposition, I probably would’ve fallen in love with all the characters in here anyway based on the way they were written. My favorite character was definitely Waldo, but Ben and Theo also stole a piece of my heart with their story arcs. Even Shenkman and Sarah, two hugely flawed characters who tried so hard to do the right thing in the hopes of turning their lives around, got to me emotionally with their struggles, to the point that I was rooting for them as well. Emotionally, there was actually a lot to unpack with this story and if I’m being honest, I would say I’m not quite ready to move on from this one yet (though I know I need to given the pile of books I have yet to get to). I admire and appreciate the way that Shapiro was able to take life’s most ordinary moments (moments we often take for granted) and build them into a story so rich with emotional nuance and poignancy. This was a quiet but powerful story, with an undercurrent of sadness throughout that broke my heart, yet at the same time, there was also an overarching message of hope and love that balanced things out so beautifully. Needless to say, I recommend this book wholeheartedly, though be prepared for the emotional journey that it will take you on. For me personally, I intend to delve further into Shapiro’s backlist books when I get a chance — can’t wait! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 08, 2022
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Nov 09, 2022
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Nov 11, 2022
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Hardcover
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106
| 
| 0063227738
| 9780063227736
| 0063227738
| 3.97
| 11,767
| Aug 30, 2022
| Sep 13, 2022
|
it was amazing
|
**EDIT: Tracey Lien did an interview with Books & Boba podcast where she talked about her inspiration for the book. It was such a great conversatio
**EDIT: Tracey Lien did an interview with Books & Boba podcast where she talked about her inspiration for the book. It was such a great conversation that, as a member of the Asian diaspora (just like the author and both hosts), resonated so much with me! I highly recommend listening to that episode, as it greatly complements the book!
When I first read the premise for Tracey Lien’s debut All That’s Left Unsaid , I knew this was a book I wanted to read. Comparisons to some of my favorite authors (Liz Moore, Celeste Ng, Brit Bennett) aside, I was intrigued by the case at the center of the story: 17-year-old Denny Tran attends a dinner at a local restaurant in Cabramatta, Australia (a suburb in Sydney) with his friends, but before the night is over, he is brutally murdered in plain sight of over a dozen witnesses, yet all of them claim not to have seen a thing. The Tran family is devastated, but faced with an indifferent police force in a refugee enclave where the proliferation of drugs (specifically heroin) as well as violent crime have become commonplace, Denny’s parents seem to have no other recourse but to accept the “bad luck” of their beloved son’s murder. But Denny’s sister Ky refuses to let things simply get swept under the rug. Desperate to assuage her feelings of guilt for leaving the family in order to pursue her own life in Melbourne (an act akin to “abandoning” the family and is severely frowned upon in traditional Asian households), Ky returns to Cabramatta and, after her brother’s funeral, decides to seek out and interrogate each of the witnesses herself in order to find out the circumstances behind Denny’s murder. With each person she speaks to, Ky gets closer to understanding what happened to her brother, but at the same time, she discovers the myriad complexities and difficulties of navigating the path to justice and closure for her family in a community where its citizens are mostly resigned to their fates. There was honestly so much to unpack with this story that it is impossible to cover every angle in a brief review such as this one (personally, I highlighted so many things in this book that were significant to me, it would take me pages and pages to parse all of it). I will attempt to relay a few thoughts that stood out, but I encourage people to actually read this book in order to get the full experience. I do want to start off by saying that this book is technically incorrectly classified under mystery / thriller. While it’s true that the plot overall revolves around unraveling the “mysterious” circumstances behind Denny Tran’s murder, it quickly becomes obvious (a chapter or so into the story, in fact) that his death is actually the trigger point for a deeply complicated and intricate exploration of community, society, class struggle, immigration, culture and assimilation, systemic racism, family bonds, parent-child relationships, generational trauma, mental illness, abuse, etc (and that’s just scratching the surface). The “mystery” itself was easy to figure out, which essentially rendered the ending anti-climactic, but the gut wrenching process of getting to that point was really the crux of what made this story work so well. With its “social commentary” angle, I feel like this would’ve fit more appropriately into literary fiction, though from a time and place perspective — Cabramatta (which was an actual place in Australia) in the 1990s, during which time there truly was a heroin epidemic — there was also a historical element to the story as well that I didn’t expect, but made the story even more compelling. Before I go into talking about the characters, I wanted to comment on the title and structure. This book actually has one of the cleverest titles I’ve ever seen: it complements the book perfectly because when we peel back the layers, the story is essentially about “the many things that are left unsaid” by every character in the book — not just the witnesses from that night, but also the parents, Denny, and even Ky herself. So in this sense, there is a deeper meaning to the title that can only be understood after reading and reflecting on the entire story. Structure-wise, I love how the narrative alternated between various perspectives — sure, we got Ky’s perspective primarily, but there were also chapters narrated from the perspectives of the witnesses as well as Ky’s parents. Through these chapters, we were able to get the backstories to the various characters, which helped us understand what ultimately drove each character’s decision that fateful night. Structuring the narrative this way not only made the story more powerful and poignant, it also helped make the characters realistic and relatable, which I felt was very important to this story overall. Speaking of the characters, I truly appreciate the brilliant job that the author Tracey Lien did in the area of character development, especially with Ky and Minnie. Reading this book was actually quite an emotional roller coaster for me because of the resonance I felt with the characters and so much of what they went through. With Ky especially, I saw so much of myself in her — from her struggles with identity and acceptance, to her analysis of her own shortcomings and insecurities, her feelings of anxiety related to the environment in which she grew up, and most significantly, her relationship with her mother. I’ve always been drawn to stories about parent/child relationships, but those between Asian mothers and their daughters are especially resonant with me because of my cultural background and the hope that reading about these relationships will help me navigate the complex dynamic that exists there. One of the other things I loved about this book was how, through the character of Ky (and Minnie to some extent), Lien so accurately expressed the realities of life for many Asian women like myself — daughters of immigrants (and/or refugees) who may or may not have been born in the Western countries where we grew up and currently live — and how many of the conflicts that we constantly deal with, be it the cultural expectations or the societal pressures that come with being Asian and female, greatly inform how we end up interacting with our parents (and with others as well). I wanted to share the below passage from the book, which blew me away when I read it because it hit the nail on the head and made me feel “seen” in a way that so few books I’ve read in the past have been able to do. “To anyone else, [his] reason would have been baffling. But Ky understood. She hated how well she now understood. After all, hadn’t she kept every hurt she’d ever experienced from her own parents? Hadn’t she hidden the bullying, the name-calling, the cruel acts of strangers, the times she’d been told to go back to where she came from, the ching-chongs, the pulled-back eyelids, the blondies with the Cabbage Patch Kids, the way she was forced to play the monster, the way she was asked why she couldn’t just take a joke, the times she was told that Asian women were ugly, kinky, docile, crazy, nerdy, unworthy, the way she was dismissed by men, the way she was dismissed by white men, their comments about what Asian women were and weren’t, what Asian women could or couldn’t be, the way she smiled with her tongue pressed against her teeth even as an ache beat in tandem with her heart—hadn’t she hidden all of that? And hadn’t she lived her own ambitious, exciting, anxious, uncompromising life while knowing that she could never, ever, ever, ever tell her parents about what she had been through? Because knowing would break their hearts. Because she had to help them believe that their sacrifices had paid off. Because she had to help them believe that moving to a country where they didn’t speak the language and weren’t seen as individuals had been worth it. Because she had to convince them that they’d done right by their children, that no one had failed, that no one had been let down, that they were one of the lucky ones who’d followed the path and found success. It made perfect sense. You lied to protect. You lied because of love.” This is a book I definitely recommend and will likely want to re-read myself at some point. However, with that said, a word of warning that this is not going to be an easy read — it is sad and heart wrenching, it presents truths about our society that may be difficult to face, and it may take you places that you would rather not be, especially with some of the things going on in the world at the moment. But is is a worthwhile read — I would even say that it’s a necessary read — for those who are up to it, of course. This was a fantastic debut and I definitely look forward to what Tracey Lien has in store for us next. Received ARC from William Morrow via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 07, 2022
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Sep 09, 2022
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Sep 10, 2022
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Hardcover
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103
| 
| 4.29
| 1,432,523
| Mar 31, 2022
| Apr 05, 2022
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it was amazing
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This was such a unique story and an absolutely delightful read!! Elizabeth Zott is a character I will remember for a long time, but she wasn’t the on
This was such a unique story and an absolutely delightful read!! Elizabeth Zott is a character I will remember for a long time, but she wasn’t the only one that made this story work so well…the rest of the characters — Calvin, Frask, Madeline, Harriet, Walter, Wakely, and the character I adored the most, Six Thirty (Elizabeth’s dog), were all essential in creating a special kind of chemistry that made this book such a fabulous read! From the very first page, I was hooked and found it tremendously difficult to put the book down. To be honest, when I first read the premise for Bonnie Garmus’s debut novel, I was a little apprehensive given the story’s “science” theme (I usually don’t do too well with overly “science-y” books) — but I actually didn’t need to worry, as this ended up not being a book about “science” per se, but rather, a story about two scientists and the chemistry that ensues when they meet and fall in love. Yes, this is a love story, but not in the traditional sense (it’s definitely not a romance); this can also be considered historical fiction, as it is set in California in the 1960s and comments on the social conventions of the time, but even here, the timeline blurs a little — with its exploration of male- dominated workplaces, sexist attitudes towards women, the inclination in a patriarchal society to suppress women’s achievements and relegate them to the household without the ability to ever stray outside those lines, the idea that women are not allowed to be their own individual selves and must get “permission” from the men in their lives for every little thing, etc. — the story is both timely and resonant to modern times as well (especially in light of our country’s recent encroachments on women’s rights). The debate over religion in the story, while a bit more subtle, was also reflective of the debate in society at large. The other unique aspect in this book was the humor, which I felt was rendered brilliantly throughout the entire story — this, admittedly, was one of the things I loved most about the story (aside from the characters of course). I love books that are funny without deliberately meaning to be, but at the same time, are also poignant and emotionally resonant without veering into melodramatic. This one combined both wonderfully, and to great effect. And the characters, I can’t say enough about them! Mad and Six Thirty stole my heart from the start (in fact, I adored Six Thirty to the point that, immediately after finishing the book, I felt a great urge to get a dog of my own and teach it to understand 900+ words, lol!). Elizabeth is a character I greatly admired — whip-smart, capable, confident…the type of woman who is not afraid to stand up for her rights, even if it means being cast out and shunned. I loved Elizabeth’s straightforward personality and how oblivious she was to what others thought of her: some of my favorite scenes were the ones where the men who were trying to “put her in her place” found themselves going absolutely apoplectic when she didn’t react the way they expected (for me, these scenes alone were “worth the price of admission”, lol)! I also loved Harriet and wish I had a neighbor like her (and yes, her “curiosity” notwithstanding). I could go on but I will let you read the book and get to know these characters for yourself. And with that, yes, I wholeheartedly recommend this one, no doubt about it! This was a book I didn’t know I needed right now and while the writing wasn’t always perfect, the endearing characters and engaging story more than made up for it. I sincerely hope that Bonnie Garmus writes another novel and if she does, I will definitely be there for it! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 16, 2022
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Jul 18, 2022
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Jul 19, 2022
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Hardcover
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105
| 
| 4.15
| 1,025,069
| Jul 05, 2022
| Jul 05, 2022
|
really liked it
| I’m not a video game fanatic by any means, but I have definitely played my fair share of video games growing up. Even though nowadays, I don’t play vi I’m not a video game fanatic by any means, but I have definitely played my fair share of video games growing up. Even though nowadays, I don’t play video games as much as I used to, I still play enough to keep myself informed about the various gaming trends out there, mostly due to my nephew being an avid gamer. Overall, I would consider my interest in gaming-related stuff to be moderate, so the fact that Gabrielle Zevin’s newest book is about gaming, by itself, wouldn’t necessarily make this a “must-read” for me. Rather, what attracted me to this book were the following (in no particular order): 1) the timespan, which covered most of the 1990s through contemporary times, some of which mirrors the time period of my youth (though admittedly, the 1980s was a huge part of that as well); 2) the setting, with a large part of the story taking place in Los Angeles, which is where I grew up (and where I still live); 3) the intricately complex premise as described in the plot summary, which essentially promised that this story would be about much more than just gaming (which was indeed true!) and that it would be different from anything I’ve read before (also true!); 4) I’m a sucker for nostalgia and it was pretty obvious, even before reading this book, that there would be plenty if that throughout the story; 5) this is by the same author who wrote The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry , which is one of my favorite books of all time. In the end, what ultimately drew me in and kept me reading were all of the above, yes, but also, the characters, who were all so realistically rendered — it was hard not to empathize with Sam and Sadie and, given all they go through, root for them even during those times when they made frustratingly horrible decisions. Oh and of course, there’s Marx, who plays such a critical role in both Sam’s and Sadie’s lives — these three characters, their trials and tribulations, form the heart of the story, though if I were to choose a favorite character, it would probably be Sam’s grandfather Dong Hyun, whom I adored despite his brief appearances throughout the story. In addition to the brilliant writing as well as the wonderfully drawn characters, another aspect that makes this book stand out is its unique structure — there are segments that switch between different points of views and perspective, as well as scenes that take place in the gaming world and also in the real world. While it was a bit difficult to keep up with at times, the journey to the end was well worth he effort, in my opinion. This is one of those books that needs to be experienced to be effective, which is why I’m keeping my review deliberately short as well as vague. This is also a book that’s very hard to categorize, as there is a little bit of everything in here — there are aspects of multiple genres in here, from historical to contemporary to romance (though as the premise suggests, this is not a typical love story), with subtle hints of science fiction and nonfiction elements sprinkled in throughout. There is humor and warmth in the story, but there is also tragedy and heartbreak — though most impressive for me in terms of the structure is Zevin’s ability to incorporate such a wide range of current affairs and social issues into the story, but in a way that didn’t feel contrived or overwhelming. I felt that the story overall was way more complex than her previous works, plus the emotional elements were also well done, though for me, this one was a bit less poignant and resonant than The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry , in my opinion at least (that book made me cry multiple times as I was reading it!). While you don’t need to be a gamer to enjoy this one, I do feel that having some familiarity with the gaming world does make a difference in that it enhances the reading experience (at least that’s what it did for me). I loved the bit about the trick for getting Mario on top of the flag, (where was this tip 30 years ago when I was obsessed with playing Super Mario Bros? LOL!) as well as the various other references to games that I was familiar with (whether through playing those games myself at some point or hearing my nephew and his cousins / friends talk about them). Given everything that has gone on the past couple years, I was definitely happy getting the chance to relive those fun, nostalgic moments of childhood, even if only for a short while! Even if you’re not into gaming, I still highly recommend reading this one, as the story on its own goes deep — though some parts do take a little bit of patience to get through, but to me, the journey was worth it in the end. Received ARC from Knopf Publishing via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 02, 2022
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Jul 05, 2022
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Jul 06, 2022
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Hardcover
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102
| 
| 3.48
| 94,883
| Jun 07, 2022
| Jun 07, 2022
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really liked it
| 4.5 stars I started Kirsten Chen’s new novel Counterfeit on Friday and it was so engrossing that I nearly finished it in one sitting. Well-writt 4.5 stars I started Kirsten Chen’s new novel Counterfeit on Friday and it was so engrossing that I nearly finished it in one sitting. Well-written and cleverly-structured, the story revolves around two Chinese-American women, Winnie Fang and Ava Wong, who become involved in a scheme selling counterfeit luxury handbags. As the story opens, it quickly becomes apparent that Ava is confessing her role in the scheme to a detective, while Winnie is somehow missing in action. Through Ava’s confession, we learn both her backstory as well as Winnie’s, with each chapter revealing more and more clues that help us eventually understand the course of events that led up to that moment. Later on however, the story switches to Winnie’s perspective and I will admit that, when I read her chapters, I started second-guessing some things that had been revealed earlier (and that’s all I’m going to say about it — you will need to read the book for yourself to find out what I’m talking about). The way the story was structured, plus the fast pace of the plot, definitely made for a fascinating read! With all that said though, this wasn’t just a superficial story about a counterfeit handbag business gone awry. It actually went much deeper than that, as it also explored recent social, political, and economic issues such as anti-Asian sentiment, immigration and the American Dream, racism, the strained U.S.-China trade relationship, etc. It also dealt with Chinese cultural elements (as well as stereotypes) in ways that were insightful and respectful, yet not heavy-handed. Despite some of the serious themes, there was a lightheartedness to the story that made this a well-balanced read. In terms of character development, I feel that Chen did a great job with both Winnie and Ava. Even though I disagree with their actions and the decisions they ultimately made, I was able to relate to the struggles they went through as Chinese women who grew up in traditional Chinese families. Ava especially resonated with me, as I recognized so much of her family dynamic in my own — i.e.: the pressure to choose a “prestigious” career path that ultimately leads to wealth, even if it’s not a career that I would want for myself (this quote sent shivers down my spine because it’s almost verbatim what I experienced: “…in my family there were only a few acceptable paths—law, medicine, engineering. Law was the one I’d disliked least. From the very beginning, I’d known my lot in life: to be good enough at my job, and to tolerate it until retirement.”); the expectation to be an overachiever in school (anything less than straight A’s was frowned upon) and maintain the image of the “good Chinese daughter” so as not to disappoint my immigrant parents who sacrificed so much for their children to have such opportunities; the cultural significance of “face” and the huge impact it has on how, as a Chinese woman, I’m supposed to live my life (another quote that applies almost verbatim to my own situation: “…but when you grow up as I did, schooled in the supremacy of “face”—the figurative face, the image, reputation, honor that must be fought for and preserved at all costs—breaking free from constraints to think for oneself becomes a Herculean task.”). One of the things I love about the reading experience is coming across characters whom I am able to relate to in some way (even if our life circumstances are completely different) and that certainly was the case here — this makes the time and effort spent reading this all the more worthwhile. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this “fun” and engrossing read, but more than that, I also appreciated the fact that it was a welcome departure from the “heavier” books that I’ve read lately. Immediately after finishing this one, I put both of Kirsten Chen’s previous books on my TBR, though of course, I also look forward to what she might have in store next. Received ARC from William Morrow via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 10, 2022
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Jun 11, 2022
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Jun 12, 2022
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Hardcover
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100
| 
| 4.37
| 1,117,535
| Feb 14, 2012
| Feb 14, 2012
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it was amazing
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This book has been on my TBR for quite some time already, but of course, with so many books on my list, I never got around to reading it. Recently tho
This book has been on my TBR for quite some time already, but of course, with so many books on my list, I never got around to reading it. Recently though, my nephew’s school assigned this one for all the students to read, so I figured I would read along as well. I’m so glad I did, as I ended up loving it so much! From the first page, as August Pullman narrated his experience attending middle school for the first time after being home-schooled most of his life, I couldn’t help falling in love with this smart, funny, precocious kid — a kid who had to endure more than his share of grief and pain in life because of his face, yet always managed to take everything in stride. Auggie knows he is different and by now, he is used to all the stares as well as the weird looks and whispering behind his back — but even so, that in no way prepares him for what he ends up experiencing at school or the various challenges that cropped up in his interactions with his classmates. As Auggie navigated these challenges, encountering both good moments as well as bad ones, I also couldn’t help rooting for him every step of the way. While majority of the story was told from Auggie’s perspective, there were also chapters told from the points of view of various people in Auggie’s life, such as his sister and her boyfriend, his classmates, his sister’s childhood friend, etc. This narrative structure took me by surprise, yet I loved the way it was done, as it gave so much more depth to the story and also made the characters come alive. The narrative from the perspective of Auggie’s sister Via moved me the most, followed by his classmate Jack’s narrative as well as the one by Justin (Via’s boyfriend). Not surprisingly, this was an emotional read from beginning to end. Auggie’s journey is heart wrenching but also uplifting, and It’s impossible not to be moved by his courage as well as resilience. Even though I knew throughout the time I was reading this that the story is fictional (and R.J. Palacio emphasizes this fact in her Author’s Note when she talks about her inspiration for the story), it nonetheless felt so real to me that, at times, I I would forget that Auggie isn’t a real person — regardless though, what he stands for and the powerful impact of his story is the most important. Despite being marketed as a novel for children, the story actually contains life lessons for all ages and absolutely deserves to be read — though of course, be ready for the roller coaster of emotions that will undoubtedly accompany this one (I cried pretty much the entire time I was reading this, so it was a good thing that I read the entire book all in one sitting). Lastly, I know there was a movie adaptation of the book and while I’m not a fan of adaptations in general, I heard that the movie was particularly well done, so this is one I definitely intend to watch at some point. ...more |
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1
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May 14, 2022
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May 15, 2022
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May 15, 2022
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Hardcover
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107
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| 0593446062
| 9780593446065
| 0593446062
| 3.91
| 70,025
| Sep 20, 2022
| Sep 20, 2022
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it was amazing
| This was a pandemic novel I didn’t know I needed! With Elizabeth Strout being one of my favorite authors, I will pretty much read anything she writes This was a pandemic novel I didn’t know I needed! With Elizabeth Strout being one of my favorite authors, I will pretty much read anything she writes — so of course I was ecstatic to have been approved for an early copy of her latest novel, Lucy by the Sea , which brings back one of my all time favorite Strout characters, Lucy Barton. This time around, it is the very early stages of the COVID pandemic and Lucy is whisked away to Maine by her ex-husband William, who, as a scientist, knows a thing or two about the situation going on with the virus. Lucy agrees to go with him to the isolated house by the sea for what they both think will be “only a few weeks” (one of my favorite scenes was early on in the book when Lucy is in her apartment packing her things and trying to decide what to bring for what she anticipates will be a short stay in Maine — the laptop scene was classic “Lucy and William bantering over the most mundane things” and I loved the familiarity of it!). As the weeks turn into months, the situation escalates, with Lucy and William eventually going into pandemic lockdown as things around the world become more and more dire. Just like with the previous Lucy books, we as readers essentially live inside Lucy’s head the entire story as she narrates her day-to-day experiences (whether good or bad), observations, and feelings toward everything that happens. As Strout does brilliantly with each of her novels, she provides keen insights into the human condition through her characters’ astute observations and empathetic, heartfelt emotions that reflect the realities of our everyday lives. One difference this time though, is that many of Lucy’s experiences and sentiments hit extremely close to home, given the timeframe spanning recent events such as the pandemic lockdown, the George Floyd murder and subsequent protests, the January 6th insurrection, etc. — resulting in shared feelings of anxiety, fear, unease, and a sense of feeling unmoored in a country becoming more and more divided. I read Oh William! last year and while I did enjoy that one, I felt that focus was more on William’s story rather than Lucy herself, and in that sense, it felt a little less relatable than the first book My Name is Lucy Barton did. This new book, Lucy by the Sea , brought the focus back to Lucy, which I definitely appreciated, as it gave me the same poignant, relatable vibe that the original one did, which made me love this one just as much. Fans of the Lucy Barton series will no doubt love this newest sequel, though it’s definitely recommended to read the previous books before this one (except Anything is Possible , which is part of the series but doesn’t focus as much on Lucy herself — I still need to read this one myself). Also, Elizabeth Strout fans who have read her other books will love the Easter eggs scattered throughout the story, especially the appearances by other characters who featured prominently in some of her other works. This added a “fun” element to the story that helped to balance out some of the “heaviness” of the subject matter for me. While I’m not sure if there will be another Lucy book after this one, I will absolutely read whatever else Strout comes out with in the future! Received ARC from Random House via NetGalley. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 17, 2022
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Sep 19, 2022
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Mar 24, 2022
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Hardcover
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97
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| 0393354415
| 9780393354416
| 0393354415
| 4.11
| 18,099
| Jul 26, 2016
| Jun 13, 2017
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it was amazing
| This book blew me away, which, to be honest, I absolutely was not expecting. When I first read the premise, all the mentions of things like “computer This book blew me away, which, to be honest, I absolutely was not expecting. When I first read the premise, all the mentions of things like “computer science” and “artificial intelligence” and “virtual reality” and “cryptanalysis” made me wary, as I thought this would be one of those “overly science-y” books that would go way over my head and end up being a struggle to read. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong! Yes, there was “science stuff” in here and computer as well as coding-related terms that didn’t make tremendous sense to me at times — but what I appreciated was that these elements didn’t overwhelm the main story; rather, they were more in the background. complementing the story, and only being brought to the forefront occasionally as necessary. Despite the book’s title as well as its science-themed elements, this story, at its core, is actually a coming-of-age tale that follows the main character Ada Sibelius as she navigates an unconventional life raised by her eccentric single father David, who runs a computer science lab in Boston in the 1980s. Ada is homeschooled and accompanies her father to his lab everyday where she learns the ins-and-outs of his work, so that by the time she is twelve years old, she is already a prodigy in the area of computer tech and coding. It is around this time that David is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and his mind begins to deteriorate more rapidly than anticipated — a diagnosis that deals a devastating blow to Ada, as David was essentially her entire world and now she finds herself unequipped to face the “real” world outside. Ada goes to live with David’s colleague and neighbor Diana Liston, a divorcee with three sons who is also David’s closest and most trusted friend. Before Ada has a chance to adjust to the new circumstances of her life however, she finds out that her beloved father actually is not who she (and everyone else who knew him) thought he was. This leads Ada to embark on a convoluted path to unravel the secrets that David had been hiding — a journey of discovery that follows Ada from adolescence to adulthood and becomes a necessary means to understanding her own existence. As I mentioned earlier, I went into this one a bit apprehensive, but ended up loving it so much. Admittedly, this is a story that takes awhile to get into, especially the first third or so, as the author Liz Moore takes her time introducing and building up the characters (which definitely pays off in the end given how attached we become to these characters — specifically Ada, David, and Liston). This is very much a character-driven story told primarily through the lens of Ada’s coming-of-age and interactions with those around her, yet the arc involving her father David’s past and the quest to find out his identity is also written so compellingly. It’s always a good sign when I pick up a hefty book such as this one (which clocks in at nearly 500 pages) and find myself unable to put it down because I care so much about these characters and want to keep turning the pages so I can find out as much as possible about them. This is the second book of Liz Moore’s that I’ve read (the first one was her newest novel Long Bright River, which I read in early 2020 and also loved) and I’ve noticed that her stories always seem to have sad undertones to them (probably because she writes about serious, difficult subject matter) where her characters experience their fair share of heartache and pain, and of course things don’t necessarily turn out perfectly in the end — though with that said, there is also hope and resilience, which prevents the story from descending into complete bleakness. This is a poignant, beautifully written story that is well worth the patience it takes to get through some parts. It’s also a story that invokes thought and self-reflection and definitely won’t be easily forgotten. I’m glad I took a chance on this one and I’m also grateful that this is one of my book club reads, as discussing a book of this nature (where there are aspects I still don’t really understand) usually helps clarify and enhance the reading experience for me. One last comment that I would like to make about my rating of this book: throughout the time I was reading, I kept wavering between whether to rate this 4.5 or 5 stars, as I felt it could’ve gone either way. Well, in the end, it was the Epilogue (which was amazing!) that pushed this up to 5 stars for me. Given how much I enjoyed the two Liz Moore novels I’ve read so far, no doubt that I am definitely interested in exploring her backlist at some point! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 09, 2022
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Feb 11, 2022
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Feb 13, 2022
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Paperback
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108
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| 0593492544
| 9780593492543
| 0593492544
| 3.80
| 189,202
| Oct 04, 2022
| Oct 04, 2022
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really liked it
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4.5 stars In her Author’s note at the end of this book, Celeste Ng writes, “Bird and Margaret’s world isn’t exactly our world, but it isn’t not ours, e 4.5 stars In her Author’s note at the end of this book, Celeste Ng writes, “Bird and Margaret’s world isn’t exactly our world, but it isn’t not ours, either.” This quote encapsulates my first reaction as soon as I turned the very last page of the story: this book scared the hell out of me. No, this was by no means a horror novel in the sense that there were no evil monsters lurking in the shadows or gory murders taking place every couple pages or anything like that. What made this story so scary was how recognizable the dystopian world that Ng created was, especially when looking at the past history of our country, the current realities of what our society has become, and where we are headed in the future. Even scarier still for me was reading this book as a Chinese woman with a background that shares some similarities with Margaret’s, and also having myself experienced first-hand many of the prejudices and micro-aggressions that she did at various stages of her life, it heightens the notion that this dystopian society will indeed (unfortunately) become our grim reality in the years to come. As I was gathering my thoughts to write this review, I decided to deliberately keep it short and vague, mostly because I feel the power of this story is in the experience of reading it. This book was definitely a departure from Ng’s previous works and to be honest, I did hesitate to pick it up at first knowing that it would be science fiction (a genre that isn’t usually my cup of tea). But as soon as I read the first page, I was drawn in by Ng’s beautiful and absorbing writing as well as her masterful storytelling. Now after having read this book, I feel that it would be more appropriate to put this in the “genre mashup” category rather than solely science fiction, as there were aspects of historical, literary, and contemporary fiction in here — I think this is important to point out in case there are other readers like me who might be put off reading genres that they don’t usually prefer. I actually ended up finishing this book in essentially one sitting, as I got so absorbed in the story that was unfolding, I had to keep going in order to see how things would turn out. Lastly, a word about the rating, which I agonized over for quite some time. While there was so much about this book that deserved 5 stars, I ended up going the 4.5 stars route because I felt that the story overall didn’t quite have the level of emotional resonance as Ng’s previous books, especially as it relates to the characters — which I guess wasn’t too surprising given that some of the focus had to be shifted to the “world-building” aspects of the dystopian society that was both a reflection and not a reflection of our current society. As I mentioned earlier in my review, I definitely felt fear and anger at everything that was happening throughout the story, but I didn’t really feel the personal, emotional connection to the characters that I was expecting. Having said that, I still found this to be brilliantly written and a worthy (I would even say necessary read) — though of course, given the subject matter, it won’t be an easy read by any means. ...more |
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1
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Oct 28, 2022
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Oct 29, 2022
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Jan 20, 2022
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Hardcover
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95
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| 4.29
| 473,521
| Sep 15, 2016
| Apr 25, 2017
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it was amazing
| Once again, I am rendered speechless by a Fredrik Backman book! The man definitely has a way of telling a story that is so utterly compelling that, ev Once again, I am rendered speechless by a Fredrik Backman book! The man definitely has a way of telling a story that is so utterly compelling that, every time I read one of his books, I find it nearly impossible to tear myself away (which is why I’m glad I started this on a weekend so I could spend all day reading if I needed to). Before I go further, I need to make a confession: I’ve never been into sports and under normal circumstances, I probably would not have gravitated toward a book about hockey. But as nearly everyone who has read and reviewed this book mentioned, this is more than just a novel about hockey (or, more accurately, about a small town in the forest that is obsessed with hockey). In fact, this book blew me away with the wide range of themes it explored, which ran the gamut from parent/child relationships, to identity, belonging, class conflict, society bias, love, friendship, loyalty, the difference between right and wrong, etc. Beyond all that though, this is also a richly rendered character study about ordinary people living their lives and struggling with real life issues such as loneliness, abandonment, death, abuse, bullying, financial hardship, circumstances outside our control, etc. These are characters that we can absolutely relate to because they are flawed and realistic — characters that make us feel the entire spectrum of human emotion and then some. Backman is a masterful storyteller with a unique writing style that I absolutely love — a combination of serious and slightly humorous, yet also gut-wrenching and emotional. I’ve been told that it’s nearly impossible to come away from a Backman novel without feeling something (whether positive, negative, or indifferent) for the characters and I have to say that I absolutely agree! That was definitely the case with every single character in this story. In fact, by the end of the book, I was so emotionally invested in these characters that I didn’t want to leave them — which is why I intend to pick up the sequel, Us Against You , right after this one so I can stay with the characters longer (and yes, I am eagerly looking forward to the final book in this series, which is scheduled to be published here in the U.S. in September). ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 14, 2022
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Jan 15, 2022
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Jan 16, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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101
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| 0593197828
| 9780593197820
| 0593197828
| 4.12
| 13,070
| May 24, 2022
| May 24, 2022
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really liked it
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4.5 stars I’ve read all of the books in Chanel Cleeton’s Cuban series about the Perez family and have enjoyed each one (though some more than others). 4.5 stars I’ve read all of the books in Chanel Cleeton’s Cuban series about the Perez family and have enjoyed each one (though some more than others). Of course, the one that will always be my favorite is the first book from 2018, Next Year in Havana , which introduced us to the Perez siblings and the entire extended family. Though that first book was essentially from the perspective of the third Perez sister Elisa, it did such a great job laying the story groundwork for this fascinating family that by the end of it, I was hoping we would get additional books for each of the other sisters as well. That wish was granted in 2019 when Cleeton published her second book in the series, When We Left Cuba , which is from the perspective of fiery and passionate second sister Beatriz (who, remains one of the most beloved characters from the Perez family saga). After that, as Cleeton indicates in her Author’s Note, she took a break from writing about the Perez sisters and instead, came out with 2 novels about the lives of 2 different Perez ancestors — the sisters’ aunt Mirta Perez in The Last Train to Key West and their cousin Rosa’s grandmother Marina Perez in The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba . With her newest novel (which published this month), Cleeton returns to the Perez sisters, this time giving us eldest sister Isabel’s story with Our Last Days in Barcelona . Picking up essentially where When We Left Cuba ended, Our Last Days in Barcelona has Isabel heading from Palm Beach, Florida to Barcelona in Spain to locate her sister Beatriz, who is involved in dangerous intelligence work with the government. Once there though, Isabel finds herself partnering with an unlikely ally, Beatriz’s friend Diego, with whom she eventually forms a close bond. But that’s not all — in Beatriz’s apartment, Isabel discovers a photograph of herself at barely 2 years old, sitting with her mother Alicia Perez in a Barcelona cafe meeting with a mysterious man — though when Isabel asks her mother about the photo, she vehemently denies ever having been in Barcelona. While looking for her sister, Isabel also unearths additional fragments of the story behind the photograph, which eventually changes her life in profound ways. In an alternating timeline between present day (1964) and the past (1936), the story of Isabel’s mother Alicia as well as her father Emilio’s cousin Rosa unfold. Later, both timelines intertwine as Isabel faces some of the same struggles and family expectations that her mother did 28 years ago — in the end, will Isabel choose the same path her mother does or will she follow her heart instead? In this novel, Cleeton does the same wonderful job as she did with her previous 4 novels conveying the historical context related to Cuba, though this time, it’s the country’s relationship with Spain and the civil war that occurred there that provides the backdrop for Isabel’s and Alicia’s stories. One of the reasons I like reading historical fiction is to learn about historical time periods, events, people, places, etc. that I didn’t know about, which has certainly been the case with Cleeton’s works. Though the Perez family is fictional, Cleeton has done such a great job developing these richly nuanced characters (especially the Perez women) that I couldn’t help feeling as though I was reading about a real family (as mentioned in my review of the first book in this series, Cleeton herself is Cuban-American and actually wove in some of her own family’s history as well as experiences fleeing from Cuba into the Perez family story). Each time I read one of Cleeton’s books featuring a character from the Perez family, I feel like going back and re-reading Next Year in Havana all over again (the only thing holding me back from doing a re-read of any book is my overflowing TBR and a dogged determination to get through every single book on the list), since that’s the book that kicked things off and first introduced us to the family. Speaking of the characters— up until this point, my favorite Perez sibling was Beatriz and while I still love her dearly (especially her fiery and defiant personality), I’ve also come around to Isabel too now and consider her a favorite as well. I also appreciated how we were given additional insight into Alicia as a character and the background of some of the things that happened in her life during her youth that eventually shaped the woman she became later (especially in the context of her role as wife, mother, and Perez family matriarch). I’m not sure whether Cleeton will write another book about the Perez siblings (my guess is yes, as there is still one more Perez sister’s story left to tell — youngest sister Maria’s), but having followed this fictional family from the beginning, there’s no doubt that I will want to read that book as well (if / whenever it comes into being). While technically it’s not necessary to read the previous 2 books about the Perez sisters in order to read this one, I do recommend doing so only because you get the full background of the family history — which, for me, makes a huge difference in terms of reading experience. Even if Cleeton’s next novel won’t be about the Perez sisters specifically, I’m pretty sure she will incorporate another character from the Perez family into it — identifying the connection between the characters in each of her books to the ones in the original story (as well as to her other books) is part of the “fun” of reading her novels, at least for me. Received ARC from Berkeley Books via Edelweiss. ...more |
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1
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May 27, 2022
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May 29, 2022
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Jan 05, 2022
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Paperback
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