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jktran_'s review against another edition
3.0
Rating: 3/5
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Lulu Lam
My parents immigrated over from Vietnam, which makes me
first generation Asian American. I found many parts of this story to be relatable. And it made me feel thankful to have such supportive parents and sister. I am so grateful for everything my parents have done for me and my sister.
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Lulu Lam
My parents immigrated over from Vietnam, which makes me
first generation Asian American. I found many parts of this story to be relatable. And it made me feel thankful to have such supportive parents and sister. I am so grateful for everything my parents have done for me and my sister.
perpetualexistentialcrisis's review
normally would not give up so quickly but i am not in a headspace for mother/daughter generational narratives rn
ruffian23's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
averyvm's review
2.0
2-3 stars. I really liked the stories in this book, but they felt choppy and unfinished, there were so many parts where I wanted the author to continue the story but they just ended with the chapter.
derekbrody10's review
3.0
Really wanted to like this book more than I did, but I found the style pretty flat and the pacing uneven. I did love getting a more comprehensive view into the Vietnamese community in New Orleans, but couldn’t overlook the other issues I had. 2.5/5 stars
elizabethwillett's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
caseysilk's review
3.0
Strong start but fell apart for me. Well written. It was probably me not the book.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
An incredibly personal and moving debut about a multigenerational Vietnamese American family. I really enjoyed this story about mothers and daughters, sisterhood and immigrant life. Told from multiple POVs and across different timelines, this book is perfect for fans of stories like Peach blossom spring by Melissa Fu or authors like Kim Thuy. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I also really enjoyed the audiobook narration for this one too.
amythornley's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
sushmitachowdhury's review
4.0
As a first-gen American daughter to immigrant parents, I related a lot to the three sisters - but especially to Trac & her struggles of being the eldest.
“It didn’t seem quite fair - that Nhi and Trieu, just because they were younger and still in college, didn’t have to deal with this. Their parents acknowledged her accomplishments the least and expected the most from her. Trac did everything before them. She had to because she was first in the line of fire. She dived right into the overgrown jungle and forced a path for the rest to follow, hacking away at cloying vines and smothering greenery. Sometimes she didn’t make it, caving into the wishes of her antagonists. But even that made it easier for Nhi and Trieu, for once their parents got what they wanted from Trac, they became more amenable to all other requests. Her sisters had no idea, really…Sure, they [her sisters] witnessed these instances of inequality (they weren’t blind after all), but seeing was different from being. And being Trac was exhausting.” (75)
“She wished she could understand what they talked about, could hear her mother in her chosen tongue. How different their relationship would be if they could communicate…if only she could find the right words in the right language to express how important it [acting] was.” (116)
“It didn’t seem quite fair - that Nhi and Trieu, just because they were younger and still in college, didn’t have to deal with this. Their parents acknowledged her accomplishments the least and expected the most from her. Trac did everything before them. She had to because she was first in the line of fire. She dived right into the overgrown jungle and forced a path for the rest to follow, hacking away at cloying vines and smothering greenery. Sometimes she didn’t make it, caving into the wishes of her antagonists. But even that made it easier for Nhi and Trieu, for once their parents got what they wanted from Trac, they became more amenable to all other requests. Her sisters had no idea, really…Sure, they [her sisters] witnessed these instances of inequality (they weren’t blind after all), but seeing was different from being. And being Trac was exhausting.” (75)
“She wished she could understand what they talked about, could hear her mother in her chosen tongue. How different their relationship would be if they could communicate…if only she could find the right words in the right language to express how important it [acting] was.” (116)