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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
chu viet never fails to disappoint. the emotion in this book was so palpable, and it was almost like i was watching him work out the dilemma he had in front of me because the writing of the book was so detailed, realistic and personal. on that same note, the best word i could use to describe this book if i were only given one is *personal*. he really bares his soul to his readers, imbuing it with a quality that even the most soul-exposing memoirs i've read sometimes lack. perhaps i'm biased though, since this book feels so representative of myself. i've never felt so seen in a piece of literature that contains the word "american" in its description.
this book made me change my perceptions about vietnam, america, and myself. however, it confirmed my perceptions of my parents, or maybe even deepened them. the impact of the war on vietnamese refugees was very well elucidated and, as best as it could, explained the unexplainable. i have been contemplating my complex relationship with my ancestry and my family's roots since high school, and although reading this book did not show me out of that maze i realize now that there is glory in that shadowy nature. i came out even more confused about myself and my relationship to all i'm connected to, and i revel in it. there's only two things that i'm clear about at this very moment: 1) viet thanh nguyen is a legendary writer and 2) i want to hug my parents. also cry probably
this book made me change my perceptions about vietnam, america, and myself. however, it confirmed my perceptions of my parents, or maybe even deepened them. the impact of the war on vietnamese refugees was very well elucidated and, as best as it could, explained the unexplainable. i have been contemplating my complex relationship with my ancestry and my family's roots since high school, and although reading this book did not show me out of that maze i realize now that there is glory in that shadowy nature. i came out even more confused about myself and my relationship to all i'm connected to, and i revel in it. there's only two things that i'm clear about at this very moment: 1) viet thanh nguyen is a legendary writer and 2) i want to hug my parents. also cry probably
7He should have called this book: A Man of Many Aims. Yet it is so erudite, critical, witty, self-deprecating and loving that it hangs together. There are many literary and film references to research. The second person and prose/verse structure were unusual but it flowed easily.
The Memoir brought me a better understanding of Nguyen's justifiable anger at anti-Asian racism. The portrayal of Asian women by Hollywood is a violent subjugation of Other. I'll never glance over that again. Nguyen "re members" his disconnection from home as a refugee. The fall out from the war included Ma's dementia, sister's abandonment, and forced separation in the refugee camp in PA. Brutal.
The Memorial brought a tear to my eye. Ba Ma, Vietnamese for Mom/my and Dad/dy, I presume, were the subject(s) of reverence. So so sweet.
The History lesson concerned the "war that should not have been" and AmericaTM as the militarized, genocidal, white supremacist, colonizing superpower. If you can handle criticism of AmericaTM from a no-longer refugee, I highly recommend this book.
The Memoir brought me a better understanding of Nguyen's justifiable anger at anti-Asian racism. The portrayal of Asian women by Hollywood is a violent subjugation of Other. I'll never glance over that again. Nguyen "re members" his disconnection from home as a refugee. The fall out from the war included Ma's dementia, sister's abandonment, and forced separation in the refugee camp in PA. Brutal.
The Memorial brought a tear to my eye. Ba Ma, Vietnamese for Mom/my and Dad/dy, I presume, were the subject(s) of reverence. So so sweet.
The History lesson concerned the "war that should not have been" and AmericaTM as the militarized, genocidal, white supremacist, colonizing superpower. If you can handle criticism of AmericaTM from a no-longer refugee, I highly recommend this book.
reflective
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
This book was so well-written. True poetry. I loved the flow of it, and I’m so glad I read it as a physical book. The kindle probably would have messed it up. The narrative was written in a way that you felt like you were talking to yourself. I really got to dive in and it made it easy to get into the perspective taking. I know I’m already gonna love memoirs and non-fiction, so of course I loved this book.
Like all of Viet’s work, he seeks to break barriers and mix up categories, all in search for a more profound, honest truth. At the same time deeply humble and sharply critical, he manages to integrate his subjective experience and the broad political forces that buffet a life. A book that should be read by anyone trying to understand our times, or to write a memoir, or to struggle for justice.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced