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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
Both terribly relatable and completely different than my childhood immigration experience.
Hard to put a number on this one, I resisted starting it for a very long time and also was resistant to finishing. Adam Grant recently posted "Reading is for entertainment and education. If it doesn't bring you joy or insight, move on." Low on the joy but so high on the insight, I pushed on.
And then there was less joy. And a little sprinkling of joy. But the reality is, I am unable to conceive of the hardships and fears of the undocumented. This was such an important read, and even moreso as this hot button topic becomes ablaze this presidential election season. Remember the humanity and remember your own.
And then there was less joy. And a little sprinkling of joy. But the reality is, I am unable to conceive of the hardships and fears of the undocumented. This was such an important read, and even moreso as this hot button topic becomes ablaze this presidential election season. Remember the humanity and remember your own.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism
This is really something special. I almost don't have words. Amazing and heartbreaking and triumphant. Beautifully done and I recommend it highly.
I somehow for at least the third time this year by happenstance read a book where my life was heavily related to some aspect of the book I was reading at the time. This was very interesting read for me as I just was in NYC, so I felt like I could really picture so much of what Qian was describing around her. Qian’s story is both heart-breaking and inspiring, and I’m so glad I was able to sit with her story for a bit. Definitely eye-opening and worth reading, especially if you’re not an immigrant!
Great read! Qian Julie Wang did a great job of leading us through the difficult and challenging journey of her life, making it difficult for me (the reader) to put the book down. Even the acknowledgements were an important part of the story, as the entire memoir came to a close. Don't pass this by.
I want to go back in time and give that girl another $50 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble
I read the audiobook version, which was read by the author. I loved it – I only wish it hadn't ended while she was still young. I would have loved to hear about her experiences through high school graduation and perhaps throughout college and getting a job.
This book, which I listened to as an audiobook,will make you feel so many emotions. It is eye opening, truthful, emotional, and so much more. I highly, highly recommend it.
The last chapter of this book let’s you truly feel the catharsis Qian has in reclaiming her name and achieving her “American dream”
Would recommend to anyone what has lived in nyc and wants to understand an immigrant experience from the late 90s. I believe that Qian and I are about the same age, and it was so interesting to see another perspective going through the major cultural touch points that I remember from elementary school - tamagotchis, the babysitters club and sweet valley high, the merits of usher.
the audiobook is okay, but the performance was very strong for that last powerful chapter. Probably complicated by listening to it at 1.6c speed.
Would recommend to anyone what has lived in nyc and wants to understand an immigrant experience from the late 90s. I believe that Qian and I are about the same age, and it was so interesting to see another perspective going through the major cultural touch points that I remember from elementary school - tamagotchis, the babysitters club and sweet valley high, the merits of usher.
the audiobook is okay, but the performance was very strong for that last powerful chapter. Probably complicated by listening to it at 1.6c speed.