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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
ReadHarderChallenge 2020: Read a retelling of a classic of the cannon, fairy tale, or my by an author of color
I did not realize that this book ws a memoir until I was roughly halfway through it. And that says something about Kingston's writing because typically I hate memoirs. Her writing transports that reader to a place that us "ghosts" can never fully understand. Her writing is arw and deep and there were parts that my stomach got queasy or my heart raged at the injustice.
I had a difficult time connecting to any of the people in her story, but maybe that's the point. Perhaps because I'm a ghost and was born in America and am 4th or 5th generation, I can't connect.
I had a difficult time connecting to any of the people in her story, but maybe that's the point. Perhaps because I'm a ghost and was born in America and am 4th or 5th generation, I can't connect.
I deeply enjoyed Maxine Hong Kinston's writing -although the last part of the book was harder for me to read, as I found it less interesting, her imagery and way of linking events is extraordinary.
This book was a bit of a disappointment to me, I have to admit. I bought it more than 10 years ago, read the first little bit and loved it, then put it down for some reason, and didn't get back to it until now. I really wish I had kept reading it back in the day because I feel like I might have liked it very much. I just didn't feel the same today.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the writing. Even when I was less than interested in the events of the book, the writing would draw me in. Maxine Hong Kingston has a lovely way with words, and definitely enjoyed that part of the book. What got me, I think, was just the meandering nature of the narrative. There was no clear destination to any of the chapters, and I just found it hard to maintain interest. When I was reading the book, I enjoyed it, but I never really felt compelled to pick it up.
The format was also kind of confusing at first. I picked it up for a nonfiction read since it's technically a memoir, but it didn't feel at all like nonfiction. A section would start with some basic facts and events, but before I knew it, it would meander into speculation or just straight-up fantasy. It made for a bit of literary whiplash, especially before I had adapted to it. I can't say I minded it as a technique, but it lent itself to that meandering quality that made it hard for me to stay focused on reading the book.
I did think it was interesting to see some of the issues that were explored. There's a lot of focus on Maxine Hong Kingston's mother, who is simultaneously interesting and completely annoying. I enjoyed learning about her past in China, but I found it hard to reconcile that with the way that she behaves in America. I imagine that Maxine Hong Kingston does as well, given how much time she spends exploring her mother's character. I also liked the look at one experience of immigration, which is an issue I'm especially interested in at the moment. I've spent some time in Japan, so I feel like I understand a little bit of what it might be like, but this book brought it a bit clearer for me.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the writing. Even when I was less than interested in the events of the book, the writing would draw me in. Maxine Hong Kingston has a lovely way with words, and definitely enjoyed that part of the book. What got me, I think, was just the meandering nature of the narrative. There was no clear destination to any of the chapters, and I just found it hard to maintain interest. When I was reading the book, I enjoyed it, but I never really felt compelled to pick it up.
The format was also kind of confusing at first. I picked it up for a nonfiction read since it's technically a memoir, but it didn't feel at all like nonfiction. A section would start with some basic facts and events, but before I knew it, it would meander into speculation or just straight-up fantasy. It made for a bit of literary whiplash, especially before I had adapted to it. I can't say I minded it as a technique, but it lent itself to that meandering quality that made it hard for me to stay focused on reading the book.
I did think it was interesting to see some of the issues that were explored. There's a lot of focus on Maxine Hong Kingston's mother, who is simultaneously interesting and completely annoying. I enjoyed learning about her past in China, but I found it hard to reconcile that with the way that she behaves in America. I imagine that Maxine Hong Kingston does as well, given how much time she spends exploring her mother's character. I also liked the look at one experience of immigration, which is an issue I'm especially interested in at the moment. I've spent some time in Japan, so I feel like I understand a little bit of what it might be like, but this book brought it a bit clearer for me.
I didn't enjoy reading it, but I can appreciate it as a piece of literature
A novel in five short stories replete with symbolism & nuances.
In the story "White Tigers" based on the legend of Fa Mulan:
Chinese executed women who disguised themselves as soldiers or students, no matter how bravely they fought or how high they scored on the examinations.
When I became pregnant, during the last four months, I wore my armor altered so that I looked like a powerful, big man.
In the story "White Tigers" based on the legend of Fa Mulan:
Chinese executed women who disguised themselves as soldiers or students, no matter how bravely they fought or how high they scored on the examinations.
When I became pregnant, during the last four months, I wore my armor altered so that I looked like a powerful, big man.
very well written, really cool merging of reality and fiction. sort of a genreless piece with intertwined mythology and autobiography. I had some trouble with the dialogue and the repetitiveness of it, but as a whole it was very beautiful
No other book has been is or will be like this book. Held off finishing because I didn’t want it to end. These five essays, each on their own and together as one constantly refracting perfectly contained whole, are something to behold.
This book has such rich imagery. Here's one of my favorite lines: "Before we can leave our parents, they stuff our heads like the suitcases which they jam-pack with homemade underwear." It's such a great line to talk about with students, especially in my Feminist Reading class.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced