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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
I adored Joan. She’s neurodiverse, which makes her such a fascinating narrator. She can be deadpan. Quirky. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition to the sometimes emotional plot-line that consists of the loss of her father, navigating complex relationships with her mother and brother, and being a female Asian-American doctor at the onset of the pandemic. I wish it hadn’t ended so abruptly.
I adored Joan. She’s neurodiverse, which makes her such a fascinating narrator. She can be deadpan. Quirky. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition to the sometimes emotional plot-line that consists of the loss of her father, navigating complex relationships with her mother and brother, and being a female Asian-American doctor at the onset of the pandemic. I wish it hadn’t ended so abruptly.
i just thought it was okay. i liked the second half better and would’ve liked more ruminations on asian identity or the covid’s effect on the perception of asian americans. by the first third, i was just trying to finish the book.
Rounded up from 4.5. This was quiet and character driven, which often doesn’t work well for me, but Joan was odd and interesting enough that I didn’t get bored. At the heart, this was about the immigrant experience and what home means to different people. The pandemic was certainly there, but it didn’t bother me like I was afraid it would. I think because Joan was a doctor, her experience of the pandemic was very different from mine (and so it didn’t really trigger a lot of the awful feelings of that time for me). I’m still not a huge fan of no quotation marks.
emotional
reflective
sad
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
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked this book. I think it ended Kind of abruptly with the father and daughter in the grocery store, but in general i found it funny and easy to read. The main character is witty and funny (a bit naive). The book is interesting and i would recommend it. It’s annoying when books don’t have the dialogue in quotes and no chapters.
Part of me resonated a lot since her name was also jiu an and she’s Chinese American and a younger child
Part of me didn’t resonate because we have such different personalities so the book felt depressing to me at times but it was more of a thought provoking rather than a Sally Rooney depressing
Also surprisingly a very easy read!
Part of me didn’t resonate because we have such different personalities so the book felt depressing to me at times but it was more of a thought provoking rather than a Sally Rooney depressing
Also surprisingly a very easy read!
Very good. Quite readable and believable and good insight into the Chinese American experience. I liked reading it.