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bwguinig's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Still processing this memoir. Found she was coming to my area for a reading. Tells an amazing story that is both unique and yet universal. Having come to the United States when just two years old in the early 70s, Grace Talusan recounts a tale familiar to a generation Filipino and Filipino Americans. Her memoir includes episodes of personal trauma, cultural and generational reflections, effect of spiritual and physical health.
I found it captivating and want to share it with many, but particularly, the AAPI community.
I found it captivating and want to share it with many, but particularly, the AAPI community.
kodamafriend's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
i always find it hard to rate memoirs, it's like you rate the life of a person.. and the sadder the life, the better the book.
anyways, i really enjoyed reading this! reading about graces challenges being an immigrant, about grief and trauma. it took me to another world which ive never heard much about and now im glad i did cause i hate to leave important stories unheard-of!!
anyways, i really enjoyed reading this! reading about graces challenges being an immigrant, about grief and trauma. it took me to another world which ive never heard much about and now im glad i did cause i hate to leave important stories unheard-of!!
marginaliant's review
4.0
An extremely tear-jerking memoir that had me sniffling in the waiting room as I finished it. Talusan touches on her experience as an Filipino-American, an immigrant, and a survivor of CSA, and the memoir dwells on themes of body, place, self, and family. Each chapter dwells on a different theme that goes roughly chronologically, although there is plenty of bouncing back and forth in the timeline as well.
However, as with many memoirs written by younger people, the ending felt anticlimactic. This may also be because the story was constantly bouncing between chronologies. Still, I am glad that I read it and hope that other people do as well.
However, as with many memoirs written by younger people, the ending felt anticlimactic. This may also be because the story was constantly bouncing between chronologies. Still, I am glad that I read it and hope that other people do as well.
gennalie's review against another edition
5.0
The Body Papers was a lovely memoir that I, a first-gen Filipina-Australian could relate to. Grace's writing was poetic, heartwarming and heartbreaking. Her tale as a daughter of two hard-working migrant parents is one not too dissimilar to my own. After reading this memoir, it had me in an introspective state of my own relationship with my family and the Philippines. Thank you Grace for your amazing and vulnerable memoir. Would definitely recommend.
madisonfrank's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Colonisation, and Classism
lynnsbookshop's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
This book was extremely heartfelt but a very difficult read. It brings to light many problems in our society and though not a fun read a very important one. It's good to know that people can recover from trauma. I did think the pace was quite slow and sometimes I felt like things were overexploited, but overall it was a good book. I've never seen a style of writing like it before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Incest
Moderate: Cancer, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief