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haleysversion's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, War, Toxic relationship, Rape, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Sexism, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Child death
serendipitysbooks's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy is a multi-generational family saga, but one with a difference. Well several differences actually. I love a good family saga but the concept can sometimes feel a little tired and overdone. Here it feels entirely fresh. Afong Moy was a real person, the first known Chinese immigrant to the United States. The parts of the novel featuring her are based on historical fact, and then plausible speculation once the historical record dries up. The other six generations of women are entirely fictional, although many of their lives intersect with or are inspired by historical fact. However, this novel isn’t solely historical fiction since it’s timeline proceeds into the future, a future where climate change is having a noticeable impact. This is the first family saga that I can recall that has combined present and past, and that has begun with a real person before moving into the purely fictitious. What was most unique about this book was the way it took concepts like generational trauma and the science of epigenetics, extended them and used that as a key thread running through the generations, uniting each woman with her ancestors as well as her descendants.
The book does jump around a little in time, but each of the seven women was drawn so distinctly and each life so different that I could easily tell whose story I was reading, even without the aid of the handy chapter titles which provided both name and date. Each woman was faced with a different sort of heartache or trauma, as well as carrying the legacy of the women who came before her. Struggling with the weight of her problems, which of course includes that which she inherited, Dorothy opts to undergo a new therapy. The most cathartic chapter of the book was when Dorothy got to go back and right or undo the wrongs done to her female ancestors. I won’t pretend to understand how all this worked but it made for very satisfying reading!
A unique family saga that left me with plenty to think about.
The book does jump around a little in time, but each of the seven women was drawn so distinctly and each life so different that I could easily tell whose story I was reading, even without the aid of the handy chapter titles which provided both name and date. Each woman was faced with a different sort of heartache or trauma, as well as carrying the legacy of the women who came before her. Struggling with the weight of her problems, which of course includes that which she inherited, Dorothy opts to undergo a new therapy. The most cathartic chapter of the book was when Dorothy got to go back and right or undo the wrongs done to her female ancestors. I won’t pretend to understand how all this worked but it made for very satisfying reading!
A unique family saga that left me with plenty to think about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Death
utopiastateofmind's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Many Daughters of Afong May examines inherited trauma. These pieces of our lives we pass on to our descendants. And the fragmented memories and experiences which are passed on to us. How the history of racism evolves in our lives. At the beginning, there was a bit of confusion to figure out the daughters of Afong May and their lives. While there are timelines and a key at the beginning, it's natural with set ups like this that it takes time for each character to establish themselves.
For me, it took a bit longer than normal, but I think it's also due to the fact that with multiple POVs there are often certain ones that resonate with you more. Some end up being ones that aren't your favorite and then others sometimes resonate more with you for some reason. Pretty early on I realized I had two or three favorite POVs and a few of them are not focused upon as much. Overall, The Many Daughters of Afong May examines the dignities - both quiet and loud - that we give up, that are stripped from us.
The Many Daughters of Afong May examines inherited trauma. These pieces of our lives we pass on to our descendants. And the fragmented memories and experiences which are passed on to us. How the history of racism evolves in our lives. At the beginning, there was a bit of confusion to figure out the daughters of Afong May and their lives. While there are timelines and a key at the beginning, it's natural with set ups like this that it takes time for each character to establish themselves.
For me, it took a bit longer than normal, but I think it's also due to the fact that with multiple POVs there are often certain ones that resonate with you more. Some end up being ones that aren't your favorite and then others sometimes resonate more with you for some reason. Pretty early on I realized I had two or three favorite POVs and a few of them are not focused upon as much. Overall, The Many Daughters of Afong May examines the dignities - both quiet and loud - that we give up, that are stripped from us.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Homophobia, Rape, and Domestic abuse
low_keybookish's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
Wowowow. I was so intrigued by this storyline that I started it when I got it in the mail!
Pub Date: 8/2/22
Do you believe trauma is inherited and intergenerational? Like THE BODY KEEPS SCORE, the premise of this book is that our bodies store experiences but perhaps across a longer time than we think (how our experiences can change our DNA, epigenetics). He also acknowledges Navajo and Indigenous practices that use this concept way before modern day medicine has looked into this idea. This story traces the generational line from the first Chinese woman in the U.S. (based on a real person, Afong Moy) to 6 generations later, with a focus on Dorothy in 2045. [Real-life Afong was used as an "exhibit" to show of exoticized Chinese culture and her bound feet.] I LOVE an intergenerational story, highlighting what are familial vs contextual characteristics.
CW a lot of violence against the characters, rape & sexual assault ; xenophobia, homophobia, racism, sexism. There's a whole theme of karma. What is passed down vs what is taken up in a new generation? What is motherhood when the odds are stacked against you?
The author starts out with "This book is for anyone with a complicated origin story. I feel you." I was instantly drawn in. While historical fiction, the author uses a lot of research on actual people and contexts, such as the plaque in 19th century San Francisco (chilling connections to our current pandemic) and nurses during WWII. Definitely recommend this mysterious read, where you're guessing until the end of how these characters come together and where healing begins.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Violence, and War
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