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sofiadanielle's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Ah, a lot to unpack in this book from the relationship a mixed child has with their two cultures, the feeling of being ‘othered’ for not being White, the rocky relationship of an immigrant mother with her daughter, the history of Okinawa…
It’s a bit heavy, I won’t lie. I saw some of my my own habits, thoughts, emotions, all laid out in front of me in this book, as a first generation Asian child born in America. I saw my mother and I in Elizabeth and her mother, even when I wish I couldn’t. I understand her emotions, why she went through some of the situations she did, when you just want to say: well, why would you ever do that?
Beautiful read. I find the second half to be more moving. I hope to find peace with my mother in the way Brina managed, too.
It’s a bit heavy, I won’t lie. I saw some of my my own habits, thoughts, emotions, all laid out in front of me in this book, as a first generation Asian child born in America. I saw my mother and I in Elizabeth and her mother, even when I wish I couldn’t. I understand her emotions, why she went through some of the situations she did, when you just want to say: well, why would you ever do that?
Beautiful read. I find the second half to be more moving. I hope to find peace with my mother in the way Brina managed, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, and War
aweekinthelife's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
i really appreciated this memoir and the ways Brina wove together her personal story with Okinawa history. she brought nuance to the story - every person in her family (including herself) with their own flaws and strengths to tell a story about what it means to be family across languages and oceans and the power dynamics enmeshed in all of that.
for a historical perspective that i think pairs really well content-wise, i'd suggest checking out How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr.
for a historical perspective that i think pairs really well content-wise, i'd suggest checking out How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Violence
Minor: Rape
courto875's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Suicide, Murder, War, Alcoholism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide
plainplantains's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Police brutality, Genocide, Sexual violence, Racism, Death, Colonisation, Alcoholism, War, and Violence
Moderate: Antisemitism
seoul0613's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
2.5
Although I appreciated the author’s reflection on her childhood and grappling with her identity, I found the self-hate experiences that she included and the way she treated her mom as a kid too uncomfortable for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, Self harm, Xenophobia, and Sexual violence
george_tte's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Xenophobia
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