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imstephtacular's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.25
Tough read, but well executed. Beautiful and heartbreaking and nuanced and complex and compelling with great writing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Death, War, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Murder, Blood, Racism, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Rape, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Vomit
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
dancerava's review
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
*I received an ARC from YallWest. I don't regularly write reviews but I really wanted to speak to this book because it put words to feelings that I relate to.
My Father, the Panda Killer explores generational customs, trauma and attitudes specifically for parents who were Vietnamese refugees and their first generation Vietnamese-American children. This book explores how our culture and environment can shape us and our behavior, and how we respond to the pull between assimilation and honoring ones heritage when settling in another country.
The Author's Note is very important to read before getting into the story, the characters are not perfect and are shaped by their own biases. I enjoyed the authenticity of this, because no one is perfect and we all have our own things to battle and work on.
Main Character Jane walks us through her life as a first-gen Vietnamese teenager preparing for college. She also tells us the story of her father, his life as a child in war torn Vietnam and his journey to America. Through the storytelling, Jane understands more about her father, to reconcile conflicting emotions of resentment, anger and love.
This hurt to read but in the best of ways, like finally releasing frustration and resolving it, letting it go and being able to move forward. I am Chinese-American and my grandparents fled China during WWII, so I strongly related to Jane, as her and her dad's story are similar to my mom and grandfather's. Although I am not first-gen, some of that culture, behavior and attitude still trickles down to me.
The author accomplishes what she sets out to do, which is to bring to light the stories of parents and children who were raised in completely different worlds and conditions, to bridge the gap so that they can see the love underneath, even if it isn't so clearly and easily expressed. I think the author does a great job giving a nuanced voice to complex issues such as refugees, war, generational trauma, and Asian-American practices and experiences.
I would recommend this book if you're looking for something insightful, emotional and hopeful. For a book that teases out the gray area between good and bad, by looking at the personal stories and context behind each of us.
Content Warnings: child abuse, war violence (bombings), gun violence, animal cruelty/violence
My Father, the Panda Killer explores generational customs, trauma and attitudes specifically for parents who were Vietnamese refugees and their first generation Vietnamese-American children. This book explores how our culture and environment can shape us and our behavior, and how we respond to the pull between assimilation and honoring ones heritage when settling in another country.
The Author's Note is very important to read before getting into the story, the characters are not perfect and are shaped by their own biases. I enjoyed the authenticity of this, because no one is perfect and we all have our own things to battle and work on.
Main Character Jane walks us through her life as a first-gen Vietnamese teenager preparing for college. She also tells us the story of her father, his life as a child in war torn Vietnam and his journey to America. Through the storytelling, Jane understands more about her father, to reconcile conflicting emotions of resentment, anger and love.
This hurt to read but in the best of ways, like finally releasing frustration and resolving it, letting it go and being able to move forward. I am Chinese-American and my grandparents fled China during WWII, so I strongly related to Jane, as her and her dad's story are similar to my mom and grandfather's. Although I am not first-gen, some of that culture, behavior and attitude still trickles down to me.
The author accomplishes what she sets out to do, which is to bring to light the stories of parents and children who were raised in completely different worlds and conditions, to bridge the gap so that they can see the love underneath, even if it isn't so clearly and easily expressed. I think the author does a great job giving a nuanced voice to complex issues such as refugees, war, generational trauma, and Asian-American practices and experiences.
I would recommend this book if you're looking for something insightful, emotional and hopeful. For a book that teases out the gray area between good and bad, by looking at the personal stories and context behind each of us.
Content Warnings: child abuse, war violence (bombings), gun violence, animal cruelty/violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, and War
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Death, Animal death, and Violence
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