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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
This book is fabulous. A story you wish wasn’t true but is true for so many. So much gratitude for Wang’s willingness to share.
4.5 stars
This was a book that I could have sat down and read in a day or I could read a little bit every day and reflect. I chose the latter and I think that was the right decision for me. Qian Julie Wang came to America when she was 7, two years after her Baba had already left China in order to make a better life for their family where he didn't have to worry about being taken away by the police for speaking out against the government. The reality is that when she arrived, they had to hide who they were because of the fear of being deported for being undocumented. Thus, her father, who was an English Professor, was now working menial jobs for very little, and her mother, who was a Mathematics Professor worked in sweatshops, often joined by 7-year-old Qian. The extreme racism they experienced, not just by Americans, but also by Cantonese (who looked on Mandarin-speaking Chinese as beneath them) was often appalling, but not exactly surprising. The fear of being discovered kept them in a cage of extreme poverty and changed what had been a very happy marriage and family into one that was often contaminated with fear, anger, and depression. the school she attended for elementary school was not any better as she experienced bullying and taunts from the other students. She dealt with words that constantly tore her down, not just from the students, but from teachers (one in particular who just about accused her of plagiarism because he didn't believe she could write something as amazing as she did), and even from her own father. As you can imagine, she internalized many of these voices, which led to her either lying about things or hiding things, including what must have been a fractured wrist. In the midst of all this, her mother because seriously ill and it took all she could to force herself to call 911 to get help. Through all of this, words and books became her best friend and ultimately, they are probably what saved her and inspired her to reach for her dreams. Her writing is filled with the emotions of her young 7-12-year-old selves, whether it's anger, fear, anxiety, depression, laughter, confidence, etc. Although the writing is occasionally uneven, I thought that this was an amazing book for a debut author and I can tell she has a wonderful relationship with words.
I think this is a book that everyone should read as it helps us to see the perspective of the undocumented. Ultimately, they are as human as anyone else, and they are just trying to create as good a life for themselves and their children, just like those who are citizens. It was extra humbling to see how their experience with Canada was completely different from their initial experience with America. Eventually, she made it back to America to attend law school and she met a Judge who ended up inspiring her and mentoring her as she began her law career and I believe it led to her telling her story. For many years, her initial time in America was something she stomped down and hid not just from the world, but from herself as well. I hope that more people will read this book and perhaps change their minds about the undocumented.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a book that I could have sat down and read in a day or I could read a little bit every day and reflect. I chose the latter and I think that was the right decision for me. Qian Julie Wang came to America when she was 7, two years after her Baba had already left China in order to make a better life for their family where he didn't have to worry about being taken away by the police for speaking out against the government. The reality is that when she arrived, they had to hide who they were because of the fear of being deported for being undocumented. Thus, her father, who was an English Professor, was now working menial jobs for very little, and her mother, who was a Mathematics Professor worked in sweatshops, often joined by 7-year-old Qian. The extreme racism they experienced, not just by Americans, but also by Cantonese (who looked on Mandarin-speaking Chinese as beneath them) was often appalling, but not exactly surprising. The fear of being discovered kept them in a cage of extreme poverty and changed what had been a very happy marriage and family into one that was often contaminated with fear, anger, and depression. the school she attended for elementary school was not any better as she experienced bullying and taunts from the other students. She dealt with words that constantly tore her down, not just from the students, but from teachers (one in particular who just about accused her of plagiarism because he didn't believe she could write something as amazing as she did), and even from her own father. As you can imagine, she internalized many of these voices, which led to her either lying about things or hiding things, including what must have been a fractured wrist. In the midst of all this, her mother because seriously ill and it took all she could to force herself to call 911 to get help. Through all of this, words and books became her best friend and ultimately, they are probably what saved her and inspired her to reach for her dreams. Her writing is filled with the emotions of her young 7-12-year-old selves, whether it's anger, fear, anxiety, depression, laughter, confidence, etc. Although the writing is occasionally uneven, I thought that this was an amazing book for a debut author and I can tell she has a wonderful relationship with words.
I think this is a book that everyone should read as it helps us to see the perspective of the undocumented. Ultimately, they are as human as anyone else, and they are just trying to create as good a life for themselves and their children, just like those who are citizens. It was extra humbling to see how their experience with Canada was completely different from their initial experience with America. Eventually, she made it back to America to attend law school and she met a Judge who ended up inspiring her and mentoring her as she began her law career and I believe it led to her telling her story. For many years, her initial time in America was something she stomped down and hid not just from the world, but from herself as well. I hope that more people will read this book and perhaps change their minds about the undocumented.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Autobiography of a young girl who is a Chinese immigrant (ages 7-10) transitioning to live in Brookyn/NYC in the 80's struggling with poverty, legal status, school, familial health issues and overall adjustment.
Beautifully written and both compelling and heartbreaking to read.
This is a memoir of Wang's early years in China as a native and in the United States as an immigrant. The content generally ends with Wang's first year of middle school right as the family makes a big change in their living situation.
This book is so many things. It offers a firsthand experience of what it is like to be an Asian immigrant and all that entails: learning another language/culture, reconciling one's native culture with a new one, dealing with prejudice, coping with the psychological burden of being caught, managing the realities of poverty, trying to ease the load for her parents, and how all the above materializes as trauma.
Wang is a talented and authentic writer. I was continually impressed by how well she could write through the eyes of a young girl. As an adult, we can forget that perspective and she was skillful in not only bringing the reader back to that youthful point of view but to the frame of reference of a young Asian immigrant. In addition, Wang was refreshingly honest even when it did not paint her or a family member in a positive light. This candid approach added richness and wholeness to her story. Finally, Wang's writing style sometimes had a poetic or metaphoric flair that made it read more like a novel than a memoir.
There were several heartbreaking scenes in the book, but also some incredibly resilient ones. When Wang was first starting school in the United States, she did not know English. This prompted her to be quickly moved out of the regular classroom. However, she taught herself to read (or at least well enough) to get herself switched back after not too long. In this critical (perhaps even life-changing) moment, her determination and strength were inspiring. She also wrote convincingly about how books became a refuge for her.
Beautiful Country was a beautifully written memoir about some of the unspoken and dark sides of life as an immigrant. As Wang closes the book, she shares that her mindset of hiding is still hard to shake and has made her tired. Hopefully, she can feel more integrated and revived knowing that her courageous disclosure has created something powerful and necessary.
This book is so many things. It offers a firsthand experience of what it is like to be an Asian immigrant and all that entails: learning another language/culture, reconciling one's native culture with a new one, dealing with prejudice, coping with the psychological burden of being caught, managing the realities of poverty, trying to ease the load for her parents, and how all the above materializes as trauma.
Wang is a talented and authentic writer. I was continually impressed by how well she could write through the eyes of a young girl. As an adult, we can forget that perspective and she was skillful in not only bringing the reader back to that youthful point of view but to the frame of reference of a young Asian immigrant. In addition, Wang was refreshingly honest even when it did not paint her or a family member in a positive light. This candid approach added richness and wholeness to her story. Finally, Wang's writing style sometimes had a poetic or metaphoric flair that made it read more like a novel than a memoir.
There were several heartbreaking scenes in the book, but also some incredibly resilient ones. When Wang was first starting school in the United States, she did not know English. This prompted her to be quickly moved out of the regular classroom. However, she taught herself to read (or at least well enough) to get herself switched back after not too long. In this critical (perhaps even life-changing) moment, her determination and strength were inspiring. She also wrote convincingly about how books became a refuge for her.
Beautiful Country was a beautifully written memoir about some of the unspoken and dark sides of life as an immigrant. As Wang closes the book, she shares that her mindset of hiding is still hard to shake and has made her tired. Hopefully, she can feel more integrated and revived knowing that her courageous disclosure has created something powerful and necessary.
I keep trying to come up with a review for this book, continuously and repeatedly coming up short. All that feels right to say is it was a great reminder to find joy, beauty, and meaning in the smallest things, in seemingly nothing. I feel really really really grateful.
This book is heartbreaking and gorgeous and you should read it.
Amazing book! Raw stories and a journey that must be shared.
Love how the author shares so openly the experiences that many immigrants face when coming to the USA.
Love how the author shares so openly the experiences that many immigrants face when coming to the USA.
Five stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you to Doubleday for the gifted copy.
I both read and listened to this gorgeous memoir. I especially love a memoir narrated by the author. In Chinese, the word for America directly translates to “beautiful country.” Qian and her family arrive in NYC when she’s seven years old. Her parents were professors in China, and here they are undocumented and fighting to survive.
Now Qian’s parents are forced to work in sweatshops for low wages. Qian struggles in school, especially socially, because she is learning English. She is most at home in the library where she learns the language through books and reading. Just as Qian begins to “fit in” and feel at home, her mother becomes very ill, something she’s hidden for months.
Beautiful Country is the story of an often invisible family, with loving parents empowering their daughter to dream. Flawlessly written with profound messages, I lack the words other than to tell you this is an important must-read.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Thank you to Doubleday for the gifted copy.
I both read and listened to this gorgeous memoir. I especially love a memoir narrated by the author. In Chinese, the word for America directly translates to “beautiful country.” Qian and her family arrive in NYC when she’s seven years old. Her parents were professors in China, and here they are undocumented and fighting to survive.
Now Qian’s parents are forced to work in sweatshops for low wages. Qian struggles in school, especially socially, because she is learning English. She is most at home in the library where she learns the language through books and reading. Just as Qian begins to “fit in” and feel at home, her mother becomes very ill, something she’s hidden for months.
Beautiful Country is the story of an often invisible family, with loving parents empowering their daughter to dream. Flawlessly written with profound messages, I lack the words other than to tell you this is an important must-read.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader