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memawls's review
3.0
The heart of this debut novel explores a mother-and-daughter relationship through the eyes of Elsie and Luljeta, respectively. Told in the past and present through alternating voices, Elsie falls in love with a married immigrant from Albania while Luljeta wants to know more about her absent father. As the story melds together, it's clear that even when you think you know the whole story of Elsie's past, there are always other sides to consider. Rich with themes of immigration and coming of age, this glimpse into working class life and love lost and found offers a fresh perspective of what it means to dream the American dream.
momadvice's review
3.0
Brass explores a beautifully complex mother and daughter story as the duo go on their own parallel journeys. Elise, our mother in the story, is working as a waitress when she meets and falls in love with the diner's line cook, Bashkim.
What Bashkim failed to share with her is that he was already a married man.
He promises her the moon, but delivers on nothing and Elise must make the difficult decision to stay and raise their child together or leave.
Seventeen years later, Luljeta has a very complex relationship with her mother. She has never understood why she has left and she decides to go find the answers herself and the father she never knew.
This story is told in parallel narrative and Aliu does such a great job weaving the complexities of mother daughter relationships into these two characters. If you like your family stories a little messy, like me, I have a feeling that you will really enjoy this read.
What Bashkim failed to share with her is that he was already a married man.
He promises her the moon, but delivers on nothing and Elise must make the difficult decision to stay and raise their child together or leave.
Seventeen years later, Luljeta has a very complex relationship with her mother. She has never understood why she has left and she decides to go find the answers herself and the father she never knew.
This story is told in parallel narrative and Aliu does such a great job weaving the complexities of mother daughter relationships into these two characters. If you like your family stories a little messy, like me, I have a feeling that you will really enjoy this read.
capeybara's review
5.0
Oh man, I loved this book so much. Both Elsie and Luljeta were really compelling narrators, wry and funny and interesting. I'm also half-Lithuanian with a mother from Connecticut, so that was just a fun personal point of connection for me.
francescamoroney's review
4.0
Smart and literary without being too demanding of the reader. Would make a great vacation or “downtime” book!
saundra's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
interesting characters. I liked the duel timelines and, surprisingly, the use of the second person didn't really bother me. I appreciated that the main characters came from countries that aren't usually written about.
anneaustex's review against another edition
3.0
In Waterbury, CT where “the last of the brass mills locked up their doors and hauled ass out of town once and for all”, Elsie has a “job at the Betsy Ross diner, slinging poutine fries and spanikopita to third-shifters.” It’s there she meets Bashkim, an Albanian line cook. After a few weeks of dating “in the front seat of [his] Fiero” Elsie discovers she is pregnant.
Seventeen years later her daughter Luljeta is trying to cope after receiving a rejection letter from NYU. Dissatisfied with the idea of being stuck at home with her mother, Lulu is determined to find out about the father she grew up without and about whom her mother has told her nothing.
These two characters, in parallel storylines and alternating chapters, tell their respective stories of struggle and family, parenthood, disappointments and loss. In sharp and sometimes witty prose the reader comes to know Elsie and Luljeta as if they lived next door.
Seventeen years later her daughter Luljeta is trying to cope after receiving a rejection letter from NYU. Dissatisfied with the idea of being stuck at home with her mother, Lulu is determined to find out about the father she grew up without and about whom her mother has told her nothing.
These two characters, in parallel storylines and alternating chapters, tell their respective stories of struggle and family, parenthood, disappointments and loss. In sharp and sometimes witty prose the reader comes to know Elsie and Luljeta as if they lived next door.
chris387's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
megsmyname's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a while to get into this one but once I did I enjoyed it. 3.5
zarazuck's review against another edition
4.0
“I’m scared,” I said.
“Scared is fine. You’re a mother now, you will get used to it.” 267
4.5 stars. This book was wonderful. Luljeta, Elsie, and even Yllka were perfect characters - complicated, selfish, sympathetic, honest. This was one of those books where you finish and think, I know these were real people - they just have to be.
“Scared is fine. You’re a mother now, you will get used to it.” 267
4.5 stars. This book was wonderful. Luljeta, Elsie, and even Yllka were perfect characters - complicated, selfish, sympathetic, honest. This was one of those books where you finish and think, I know these were real people - they just have to be.