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ironlungal805's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
melodys_library's review
1.0
I picked this off of my own shelf at home, asking myself, I own this book for a reason...right? Around the time the main character, Henry Park, began describing his childhood, I remembered why: I thought the main character would be relatable. An Asian-American struggling with identity in America due to strict Asian upbringing...Sounds relatable to me!
Sadly, Henry Park was not just un-relatable, but altogether uninteresting. I kept waiting for the many themes - family tragedy and trauma, immigrant alienation, political scandal - to converge and make a point, but they just didn’t. The climax didn’t happen until way late, and the fallout was just as blah and unmoving as Henry himself. Some reviewers compared this book to Ellison’s novel, hailing it as the Asian Invisible Man, and all I have to say to that is: How dare they?
Sadly, Henry Park was not just un-relatable, but altogether uninteresting. I kept waiting for the many themes - family tragedy and trauma, immigrant alienation, political scandal - to converge and make a point, but they just didn’t. The climax didn’t happen until way late, and the fallout was just as blah and unmoving as Henry himself. Some reviewers compared this book to Ellison’s novel, hailing it as the Asian Invisible Man, and all I have to say to that is: How dare they?
beethebooknerd's review
I’m just bored and not really paying attention. Not in the right frame of mind for this book at this time.
avidreadr's review
5.0
Chang-Rae Lee is an excellent author, it’s no surprise I really enjoyed reading his debut novel. I thought some of the pace / plotting wasn’t as strong as his other books but that is of course to be expected with a first novel. Many elements brought to mind his novel A Year Abroad.
A pretty dark read, though there is a slight light at the end of the tunnel.
A pretty dark read, though there is a slight light at the end of the tunnel.
aclaret's review
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
hillaryreadseverything's review
dark
reflective
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
4.5
arimhan's review
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
2.0
in_and_out_of_the_stash's review
3.0
"Know that the blacks who spend money in your store and help put food on your table and send your children to college cannot open their own stores. Why? Why can't they? Why don't they even try? Because banks will not lend to them because they are black. Because these neighborhoods are troubled, high risk. Because of they did open stores no one would insure them. And if they do not have the same strong community you enjoy , the one you bough from Korea, which can pool money and efforts for its members - it is because this community has been broken and dissolved through history."
This book was published in 1995 and it is interesting how much is still relevant.
This book was published in 1995 and it is interesting how much is still relevant.