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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
Such a powerful book - it made me think a lot - about my experiences growing up as an Asian-American. Truthfully about how fortunate I was. It also made me think a lot about what makes someone leave their country to go to another, undocumented - what drives them to endure such hardships. And the lack of understanding and kindness we can all exhibit - I thought about who I would be as a child - would I have been a child that looked down upon someone for their clothes, their free lunch, etc.?
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This was intensely difficult to read, as any book is where you want, so desperately, to reach in and help a suffering child.
The writer refers to the US as Mei Guo, which was a spark of genius, one of many throughout the memoir. Referring to the US as “beautiful country” in mandarin allowed the reader to approach the country from Qian’s perspective, without the instant subjective and biased associations we may have (the variations abound - this is a million different countries), so that we could see the fresh , unbiased perspective of a child and the unique and terrible way Qian experienced this country.
The second spark of genius I want to note for myself, is the beautiful and horrific way Qian writes of how difficult circumstances can bring out the worst in people. In a society of toxic positivity, so often we allow nothing but the best in people facing difficult situations, and smudge out the actual raw humanity of the situation (I.e. you have cancer but you “fought bravely” - so what if you didn’t? Does that change the experience? Make it more or less human). Qian’s parents, and their relationship buckled under the weight of their horrible immigration experience in the US.
I will say, this is not a read for those who are sloughing through the muck of their own shit and mental health struggles - as it doesn’t have many light points, if any.
I hope Marilyn lived a long and happy life and had many pleasant naps in the sun.
The writer refers to the US as Mei Guo, which was a spark of genius, one of many throughout the memoir. Referring to the US as “beautiful country” in mandarin allowed the reader to approach the country from Qian’s perspective, without the instant subjective and biased associations we may have (the variations abound - this is a million different countries), so that we could see the fresh , unbiased perspective of a child and the unique and terrible way Qian experienced this country.
The second spark of genius I want to note for myself, is the beautiful and horrific way Qian writes of how difficult circumstances can bring out the worst in people. In a society of toxic positivity, so often we allow nothing but the best in people facing difficult situations, and smudge out the actual raw humanity of the situation (I.e. you have cancer but you “fought bravely” - so what if you didn’t? Does that change the experience? Make it more or less human). Qian’s parents, and their relationship buckled under the weight of their horrible immigration experience in the US.
I will say, this is not a read for those who are sloughing through the muck of their own shit and mental health struggles - as it doesn’t have many light points, if any.
I hope Marilyn lived a long and happy life and had many pleasant naps in the sun.
This was intensely difficult to read, as any book is where you want, so desperately, to reach in and help a suffering child.
The writer refers to the US as Mei Guo, which was a spark of genius, one of many throughout the memoir. Referring to the US as “beautiful country” in mandarin allowed the reader to approach the country from Qian’s perspective, without the instant subjective and biased associations we may have (the variations abound - this is a million different countries), so that we could see the fresh , unbiased perspective of a child and the unique and terrible way Qian experienced this country.
The second spark of genius I want to note for myself, is the beautiful and horrific way Qian writes of how difficult circumstances can bring out the worst in people. In a society of toxic positivity, so often we allow nothing but the best in people facing difficult situations, and smudge out the actual raw humanity of the situation (I.e. you have cancer but you “fought bravely” - so what if you didn’t? Does that change the experience? Make it more or less human). Qian’s parents, and their relationship buckled under the weight of their horrible immigration experience in the US.
I will say, this is not a read for those who are sloughing through the muck of their own shit and mental health struggles - as it doesn’t have many light points, if any.
I hope Marilyn lived a long and happy life and had many pleasant naps in the sun.
The writer refers to the US as Mei Guo, which was a spark of genius, one of many throughout the memoir. Referring to the US as “beautiful country” in mandarin allowed the reader to approach the country from Qian’s perspective, without the instant subjective and biased associations we may have (the variations abound - this is a million different countries), so that we could see the fresh , unbiased perspective of a child and the unique and terrible way Qian experienced this country.
The second spark of genius I want to note for myself, is the beautiful and horrific way Qian writes of how difficult circumstances can bring out the worst in people. In a society of toxic positivity, so often we allow nothing but the best in people facing difficult situations, and smudge out the actual raw humanity of the situation (I.e. you have cancer but you “fought bravely” - so what if you didn’t? Does that change the experience? Make it more or less human). Qian’s parents, and their relationship buckled under the weight of their horrible immigration experience in the US.
I will say, this is not a read for those who are sloughing through the muck of their own shit and mental health struggles - as it doesn’t have many light points, if any.
I hope Marilyn lived a long and happy life and had many pleasant naps in the sun.
I really enjoyed this memoir of a young Chinese immigrant to America and her family’s attempt to settle into life in the US. At times tragic and at times inspirational, this book follows the journey of an elementary-aged girl who taught herself to read from Clifford books and who now has written a bestseller. I wanted more of her life past her time in New York but maybe that will be in the sequel. Beautifully written, this book is an eye-opening peek into the life of a Dreamer.
Ok first of all justice for Marilyn. Second of all, had to read it for class, so, take with a grain of salt.
Anyway, here’s the actual review. The book is really truthful, which I think is good for a memoir about living undocumented. Wang shows how hard life undocumented is, and doesn’t hold back. That being said, the book was too fragmented for my taste, I think! I wish we had more of a throughline!
Anyway, here’s the actual review. The book is really truthful, which I think is good for a memoir about living undocumented. Wang shows how hard life undocumented is, and doesn’t hold back. That being said, the book was too fragmented for my taste, I think! I wish we had more of a throughline!
I listened to this as an audio book. Such an important story told with striking vulnerability. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is very helpful for understanding one version of the experience of an undocumented family in the United States. Truly beautiful and heart breaking story.
dark
sad
slow-paced
Beautiful memoir. Captures how being an undocumented immigrant as a child forms the basis for a resilient, but bittersweet, adulthood. There have been quite a few really wonderful memoirs from new authors this year--this is one of the better ones, along with Crying in H Mart.
reflective
medium-paced