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isabellamarg's review
4.0
Beautifully written. Always love hearing different perspectives and have been really into memoirs lately so this filled my niche. I really loved Grace's voice and her use of pictures and documents to help tell her story. This made me feel more connected to the characters and places she mentioned. TW: SA for anyone who wants to read this novel. It is a pretty heavy storyline but Grace is able to show the healing from generational trauma and how we can move forward while still continuing to deal with our past.
jecinwv's review
5.0
This book was a really good read. It was also a very brutal read. I will list some trigger warnings for people: detailed sexual abuse, cancer surgeries/recovery, and some gore.
This memoir is one of the most open, honest, and detailed I've read in a while. The author, Grace, doesn't hold back on the dark and hard topics. I read this book because I was looking for a story that I could hear that was somewhat like my own. A sharing of some trauma. What I received from this memoir was much deeper and richer. Note* I listened to the audio book read by the author herself.
Chapters in this book are detailed snapshots of a life filled with familial abuse, catholic life, Philippines, immigrants to the U.S., experiences with racism, cancer, rape, and surgery. Grace's family comes to the U.S. from the Philippines when she is young and her story is laid out and gives us, the readers, an inside look of one immigrant's experience.
This made me laugh, nod in agreement, listen with empathy, hug myself from sharing a similar pain, cry, and breathe because life has a lot of hard things in it. But we have a voice and the ability to use it. Grace talks about the importance of telling a story and how that story can impact your reputation and those of your loved ones, especially as a woman of color.
This memoir is one of the most open, honest, and detailed I've read in a while. The author, Grace, doesn't hold back on the dark and hard topics. I read this book because I was looking for a story that I could hear that was somewhat like my own. A sharing of some trauma. What I received from this memoir was much deeper and richer. Note* I listened to the audio book read by the author herself.
Chapters in this book are detailed snapshots of a life filled with familial abuse, catholic life, Philippines, immigrants to the U.S., experiences with racism, cancer, rape, and surgery. Grace's family comes to the U.S. from the Philippines when she is young and her story is laid out and gives us, the readers, an inside look of one immigrant's experience.
This made me laugh, nod in agreement, listen with empathy, hug myself from sharing a similar pain, cry, and breathe because life has a lot of hard things in it. But we have a voice and the ability to use it. Grace talks about the importance of telling a story and how that story can impact your reputation and those of your loved ones, especially as a woman of color.
deecreatenola's review
3.0
Grace Talusan's memoir incorporates here complicated history of trauma and sexual assault with what it's like to be an immigrant in suburban America. She has a lot to say and teach us.
There's so much here that I think I would've actually liked two memoirs, one devoted to the assaults she suffered from and one about the immigrant experience. Combined was almost too much.
The story is framed - it begins as she returns to the Philippines after having come to America at age 2 and then returns to that same trip at the end. She eludes to the trauma but it's several chapters before you find out what happened. I think I would've liked to have known up front, to have the trauma story out there right in that first chapter and then going back to her arrival to the U.S. and what her early years were like.
She's a strong survivor, one who really tries to make things better for everyone, often neglecting her own needs. With this memoir I hope she can begin to truly heal and live for herself.
There's so much here that I think I would've actually liked two memoirs, one devoted to the assaults she suffered from and one about the immigrant experience. Combined was almost too much.
The story is framed - it begins as she returns to the Philippines after having come to America at age 2 and then returns to that same trip at the end. She eludes to the trauma but it's several chapters before you find out what happened. I think I would've liked to have known up front, to have the trauma story out there right in that first chapter and then going back to her arrival to the U.S. and what her early years were like.
She's a strong survivor, one who really tries to make things better for everyone, often neglecting her own needs. With this memoir I hope she can begin to truly heal and live for herself.
kutklose302's review
5.0
very interesting read, culture, family, pedophilia, depression and family loyalty.
moonpie's review
4.0
There were a few times I felt like this was a collection of disjointed essays or blog posts that had been stitched into one big book—you know how, when you're reading that kind of thing, something will be mentioned once in one essay and then mentioned again as if it had never been brought up before in a later essay? That took me out of the story a bit. Editing issues, I guess.
Putting that aside, Talusan's writing is honest and compelling, especially when it comes to her family's immigration experiences and their shared history.
I skipped Talusan's descriptions of childhood sexual assault—though I understand why they were included and am sure it was a thoughtful inclusion—so I can't say I read every word of this one. But the words I read were good.
(three and a half stars)
Putting that aside, Talusan's writing is honest and compelling, especially when it comes to her family's immigration experiences and their shared history.
I skipped Talusan's descriptions of childhood sexual assault—though I understand why they were included and am sure it was a thoughtful inclusion—so I can't say I read every word of this one. But the words I read were good.
(three and a half stars)