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jyeetreads's review against another edition
4.0
Update: 8/10
That was incredibly emotional and moving and just deeply (at times uncomfortably) relatable. So many topics explored in this book wow. Ng really showcases how perspectives and values and beliefs can be changed/influenced so quickly… how nothing is really black and white… how that to live is to make both good and bad decisions, to carry necessary burdens, and how important it is to be empathetic.
Also, really appreciated the little interview with Ng at the end of the book. What is particularly sticking with me is her topic on the problem with not seeing race:
“Ignoring race means ignoring longstanding problems and history, as well as ignoring important aspects of a person’s identity. I hope readers, encountering that allegedly race-blindness mindset in these pages, will reflect on the ways our views have changed — and on the ways they haven’t changed as much as they might need to.”
I have friends I care about who have this race-blindness mindset, and I’ve always been at loss of words as to how to express my disagreement in a way that kindly but earnestly encourages re-evaluation on their part. Thankful to Ng for helping me find those words.
Only thing about this book that I didn’t love, is that at times it felt like a slow burn soap opera (albeit done really well but nevertheless) something i find hard to read. But, I think all of that meticulous buildup was truly worth it in the end! Just not exactly my favorite thing.
That was incredibly emotional and moving and just deeply (at times uncomfortably) relatable. So many topics explored in this book wow. Ng really showcases how perspectives and values and beliefs can be changed/influenced so quickly… how nothing is really black and white… how that to live is to make both good and bad decisions, to carry necessary burdens, and how important it is to be empathetic.
Also, really appreciated the little interview with Ng at the end of the book. What is particularly sticking with me is her topic on the problem with not seeing race:
“Ignoring race means ignoring longstanding problems and history, as well as ignoring important aspects of a person’s identity. I hope readers, encountering that allegedly race-blindness mindset in these pages, will reflect on the ways our views have changed — and on the ways they haven’t changed as much as they might need to.”
I have friends I care about who have this race-blindness mindset, and I’ve always been at loss of words as to how to express my disagreement in a way that kindly but earnestly encourages re-evaluation on their part. Thankful to Ng for helping me find those words.
Only thing about this book that I didn’t love, is that at times it felt like a slow burn soap opera (albeit done really well but nevertheless) something i find hard to read. But, I think all of that meticulous buildup was truly worth it in the end! Just not exactly my favorite thing.
rayjayr0's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
3.75
eviebebeevie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ksilvio's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Abortion
Minor: Car accident and Death
bookishcreature's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
seraphiina's review against another edition
2.0
I really wish I liked this novel more, I really did. I enjoyed Celeste Ng's novel "Everything I Never Told You", which I found extremely touching and heartbreaking. But this one felt tedious to read and I had to push myself through it just to finish it in the first place. Most of the characters felt like your stereotypical, one-dimensional suburb characters. Even the children fit neatly into the classic high school movie stereotypes - the jock, the nerd, the popular girl, the rebel.. and nothing happened to subvert this. I had hoped the stereotypical setting and characters would lead to some sharp and deep-cutting satire, but it fell completely flat.
The narrative also feels fractured - it both wants to be a legal drama, young adult coming-of-age story and the story of this non-conformist artist trying to fight back against the oppressive structures that are the American suburbs in her own way, but it tries too much at once and does not deliver.
I had honestly expected more considering all the positive reviews, but for me, this was not it.
The narrative also feels fractured - it both wants to be a legal drama, young adult coming-of-age story and the story of this non-conformist artist trying to fight back against the oppressive structures that are the American suburbs in her own way, but it tries too much at once and does not deliver.
I had honestly expected more considering all the positive reviews, but for me, this was not it.