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alicebme's review
3.0
First half great. Original and fast paced. Has a Virgin Suicides vibe, as it’s narrator is a young teen boy, and it gives that kid insider tone of dread. Second half was a great idea, but I found that the future super sucked for all of the characters in a way I did not enjoy reading. So many drugs, it’s dizzying. Also, the deeper dive into the historical fiction aspect of the story in the second half was not my jam.
lk222's review
3.0
Sanjena Sathian's debut novel is a fully original story that harnesses the fever of the California Gold Rush, the intoxication of the American dream, and the pressure of the modern day immigrant parent all in one story. In Atlanta, Georgia we meet Neil / Neeraj, a second-generation teen struggling to live up to his Indian-born parents’ goals. He’s surrounded by Asian-American whiz kids whose academic and extracurricular activities leave him in the dust. He simply seems to be missing the drive. He’s also besotted with his neighbor, Anita, an exceptionally successful student as well as a leading contestant for Miss Teen India Georgia. It’s like she’s in overdrive, imbued with some extra special quality that Neil can only fantasize of obtaining. But then Neil discovers Anita’s secret to success. I won’t give it all away, but Anita’s power lies in gold and alchemy. In exchange for his silence, Neil obtains access to Anita’s secret weapon and suddenly he’s able to compete with his peers, he’s able to meet his parents’ weighty expectations. But this success comes with a price, as well as a level of addiction, and one fateful event shatters everything. Ten years and a number of partially-managed addictions later, the cycle begins again. . .
I love discovering new and distinct voices in literature and Sathian’s voice is fully her own. She’s already an award-winning author of short fiction as well as a winner of the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Her first book is undoubtedly a success. Sathian starts a necessary conversation about the pressures that immigrant parents so often place on their children, centered around a protagonist that breaks the stereotype of the Asian-American overachiever. I loved her use of gold as a central player in the story and as a metaphor for both the intoxication of the American promise and the addiction of its pursuit. Sathian’s play of alchemy, culture, history, and lore in a modern drama is enchantingly delivered. I would absolutely love to hear what second-generation readers think of this story.
I love discovering new and distinct voices in literature and Sathian’s voice is fully her own. She’s already an award-winning author of short fiction as well as a winner of the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Her first book is undoubtedly a success. Sathian starts a necessary conversation about the pressures that immigrant parents so often place on their children, centered around a protagonist that breaks the stereotype of the Asian-American overachiever. I loved her use of gold as a central player in the story and as a metaphor for both the intoxication of the American promise and the addiction of its pursuit. Sathian’s play of alchemy, culture, history, and lore in a modern drama is enchantingly delivered. I would absolutely love to hear what second-generation readers think of this story.
alexismsw's review
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
alinedc's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
caitlin_fraz's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
amstandley's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
shannonm44's review
5.0
Originally rated it as 4 stars, but after reading it and thinking about it for multiple days and wishing I could find more books like this, I had to rate it 5 stars. I could not tell what was going to happen at the end and my feelings around the characters were never stable as they continuously developed. I enjoyed the book a lot.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
4.0
Neil Narayan is growing up in an Atlanta suburb, attending Okefenokee High School, struggling to keep up with his immigrant parents' high expectations. His friends are a bunch of Indian-American kids and some Asians (Indians were not "South Asians" then.) He and his childhood friend Anita may be the only ones who are not completely involved in preparing for Harvard from grade 9. But Anita is changing. Suddenly she is trying out for Miss India Georgia, she's talking about the Ivies and has a kind of glow. Neil feels left out, and the only thing that keeps him from sinking into mediocrity is his terrifying debate partner Wendi Zhao, who attempts to kick him into competence in debate--his only extracurricular activity. Wendi plans on Harvard, and since Neil is her assigned debate partner he HAS to perform. A reconnection with Anita reveals her secret--her mother's gold-based alchemical concoction that allows the drinker to imbibe the traits of the gold's owner.
"Gold Diggers" will follow this group into young adulthood, ending with a convoluted heist to boost their prospects. The result is not what anyone expects.
This is a charming book, very readable, a coming-of-age story about first generation immigrants finding their way amidst impossibly high expectations. Throw in alchemy, and you are glued to the page.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this fine title!
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
"Gold Diggers" will follow this group into young adulthood, ending with a convoluted heist to boost their prospects. The result is not what anyone expects.
This is a charming book, very readable, a coming-of-age story about first generation immigrants finding their way amidst impossibly high expectations. Throw in alchemy, and you are glued to the page.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this fine title!
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader