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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
A book filled with so much misery. Initially it seems so clear who’s fault it is but the story slowly unpeels like layers of an onion until it’s clear that there really wasn’t a single person to blame but many people, governments, and systems that all played a role.
This was interesting - the story of a son and a mother who both are both "leavers," and how they deal with that so differently. I like how you learn about why the mother left just barely ahead of the son's own discovery of this.
The Leavers is a book that at first, I wasn't sure I would like. However, it is a novel that I think is important to consider, especially when dealing with the current US immigration policy and situation at our southern border.
While this a story from Deming and Polly, his mother, it has so many orbiting characters that highlight so much of the struggle that happens in this country.
I think I also felt a lot of introspection about the white savior mentality while reading this novel, which Deming/Daniel's adopted parents definitely had. I am still processing this book; I am glad that I read it and think it gives a good perspective on the complicated nature of immigration and undocumented struggles within the United States. I hope that our country does not look like this forever and that we remember the strength of having a multicultural country soon.
While this a story from Deming and Polly, his mother, it has so many orbiting characters that highlight so much of the struggle that happens in this country.
Spoiler
Deming's mother, Polly, disappears when he is eleven. The first part of the novel is almost entirely through his perspective and the effect that has on him. The novel then brings in Polly and the choices and events that led to her leaving Deming - surprise, it was not on purpose, although for Deming he grew up and was impacted in thinking she had intentionally abandoned him. The novel also addresses cross cultural adoption and the effect on both the child and family.I think I also felt a lot of introspection about the white savior mentality while reading this novel, which Deming/Daniel's adopted parents definitely had.
The beginning of this grabbed me right away and I thought I'd be in for an awesome story. But somewhere along the way it lost me, the characters seemed to fall flat, the story telling seemed to veer all over the place. It felt like assigned reading to me and, in a way, I guess it kind of was since it was my "random pick" for my 2019 reading challenge. I think this one fell victim to overhype for me. Sigh.
Polly is an undocumented Chinese immigrant living in the Bronx with her son, Deming. They share a tiny apartment with Leon, his sister, Vivian, and her son, Michael. Their family is unconventional, but they make it work and have big dreams for their futures in America. This changes when Polly leaves for her job at a nail salon and doesn’t come home. No one has heard from her, and with Polly recently sharing dreams of moving to Florida, her little family isn’t sure if she took off on her own, leaving Deming behind. Vivian does her best to support the two young boys, but financially she can’t make ends meet and eventually gives Deming up to child services. Daniel is adopted by a wealthy white couple in Ridgeborough, and is forced to start a new life in a community full of strangers as Daniel Wilkinson. As Daniel gets older, he struggles with his identity and emotions surrounding his mother’s disappearance. When Michael re-enters his life with information about his mom, he must decide if he wants to reconnect with her and risk the possibility of rejection again, or allow his anger toward her to remove her from his life for good.
I’ll admit it was hard for me to get into this one at first, but eventually I was invested. It was hard to read at times because Deming’s story was so heartbreaking, and I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose your whole family and be forced to move. The story focuses a lot on how culture shapes who we are, and we see that as a main reason Deming struggles with his identity. Polly was also a very complex character. We find out what causes her disappearance, but she has some opportunities to reconnect with Deming earlier that she doesn’t take; she’s an example of the selfishness and selflessness of being a mother. Overall, very interesting and original. It has great topics for discussion: identity, adoption, motherhood, culture, and what defines “home.”
I’ll admit it was hard for me to get into this one at first, but eventually I was invested. It was hard to read at times because Deming’s story was so heartbreaking, and I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose your whole family and be forced to move. The story focuses a lot on how culture shapes who we are, and we see that as a main reason Deming struggles with his identity. Polly was also a very complex character. We find out what causes her disappearance, but she has some opportunities to reconnect with Deming earlier that she doesn’t take; she’s an example of the selfishness and selflessness of being a mother. Overall, very interesting and original. It has great topics for discussion: identity, adoption, motherhood, culture, and what defines “home.”
Everyone should read it. Really well developed characters and timely issues, including immigration, cultural identity, and more. Easy to read while not being easy topics to read about.
This book had a slow start for me, but once the plot got rolling along, I came to really like the characters and the stories it was telling. This has been one of several books too that I've read in 2018 with Asian characters and stories to tell. Sometimes, those stories (Celeste Ng's two books) have had mixed results. I found that The Leavers had some more satisfying plot points for me.
I don't want to get too into spoilers, but some of the stories were not ones I'd read or explored in fiction so much. So I appreciated that.
Is this a 4-star review, really? I dunno. I'm giving it 5. Maybe I'll change my mind. But I ended the book feeling very satisfied.
I don't want to get too into spoilers, but some of the stories were not ones I'd read or explored in fiction so much. So I appreciated that.
Is this a 4-star review, really? I dunno. I'm giving it 5. Maybe I'll change my mind. But I ended the book feeling very satisfied.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A beautifully written book about a complex subject. So relevant, provides understanding of all parties involved in migration and adoption. I loved it!
The book starts a bit slow but it’s written beautifully and provides empathy for characters in an unimaginable way. So well written.