Scan barcode
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great glimpse into a thoughtful life. The author describes what life is like for her as the child of an Indian father and an Irish Catholic mother. Family history and anecdotes keep the reader involved as they move between NYC and India. I loved the perspective of the child who simply relays what occurs and then follows up with the lessons her parents taught her or she figured out herself. At times the writing seems choppy and composed of brief memories, but this doesn't detract from the overall story. It feels like you've asked a new friend about their life.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
”To me, the point of love is to overcome difference. Nothing is too hard for love. Not threats, not a lifetime of alienation, not money, not religion, not skin, not ruined reputation, not illness, not gigantic corporations with a long reach, not famine, genocide, poverty, government, not the power of one’s raising, Nothing is too hard for love. Nothing.
In my family, difference is a way of life. A constant negotiation of respect, ignorance, new understanding. There was society, and there was our family. Public space, private space. Family was resistance. What was not accepted by society was real and lived by me and mine. Love, the great border crosser. No passport required.
There is no such thing as too different. There is only an unwillingness to love enough.”
“’I’m Irish,’ she snaps, as if I wouldn’t understand, as if I’m not Irish too, although a lesser percentage than her. It is like that for children. We are all a lesser percentage than our parents.”
I know I got this memoir through the Paperback book swap. I am guessing that I looked for it on a whim and when it was available, I took a chance. Then last night, I took another chance and decided to read it. Total serendipity – I had forgotten I even had this book.
If even half of my reading during 2021 is as enjoyable as Vaswani’s story, I am going to have a very good year. Vaswami tells the tale of her parents and their parents, the story of their very different countries of origin and her own saga. This is a lovely book, unlike anything else I have read. Vaswami has obviously thought long and hard about how her existence as a racially mixed woman affects her and how people see her.
I am not sure how I will find a book to link to this one. It is such a mixture of history, personal memories and feelings.
In my family, difference is a way of life. A constant negotiation of respect, ignorance, new understanding. There was society, and there was our family. Public space, private space. Family was resistance. What was not accepted by society was real and lived by me and mine. Love, the great border crosser. No passport required.
There is no such thing as too different. There is only an unwillingness to love enough.”
“’I’m Irish,’ she snaps, as if I wouldn’t understand, as if I’m not Irish too, although a lesser percentage than her. It is like that for children. We are all a lesser percentage than our parents.”
I know I got this memoir through the Paperback book swap. I am guessing that I looked for it on a whim and when it was available, I took a chance. Then last night, I took another chance and decided to read it. Total serendipity – I had forgotten I even had this book.
If even half of my reading during 2021 is as enjoyable as Vaswani’s story, I am going to have a very good year. Vaswami tells the tale of her parents and their parents, the story of their very different countries of origin and her own saga. This is a lovely book, unlike anything else I have read. Vaswami has obviously thought long and hard about how her existence as a racially mixed woman affects her and how people see her.
I am not sure how I will find a book to link to this one. It is such a mixture of history, personal memories and feelings.
More...