Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Beautiful Country

Qian Julie Wang’s memoir about her life growing up as an undocumented child in New York in the 1990s is humbling, eye-opening, and beautifully rendered. Experiencing the confusion, hardships, and racism through the eyes of a child is especially heart-breaking. Beautiful Country (which translates to Mei Guo, America in Chinese) perfectly captures the enduring hope and courage of an immigrant’s struggle to obtain the very basic needs every human deserves.

“Hunger was a constant, reliable friend in Mei Guo. She came second only to loneliness."

Beautiful Country is also the perfect memoir for book lovers. Qian’s love of books and the world they opened for her illustrates the importance of stories, how they can rescue and heal the loneliest child. When Qian is placed in a “special needs” classroom because she can’t speak English, she uses books like The Berenstain Bears and Clifford to teach herself to read. It’s inspiring, but also devastating.

So much of her story is devastating. The racism her and her parents endure simply because they wanted a better life, something everyone has a right to. And in a country that was built on the foundation of welcoming the persecuted. They’re forced to live in poverty, always hungry, in a country with enough wealth to share.

“You cannot know that some things are not enough until you have them.”

Her story may be heart-wrenching, but it’s also witty and sweet, hopeful and engrossing. I was lead through a range of emotions, from smiling to crying. She has recalled her tumultuous childhood—the only buffer between her warring parents, her desperation for friends—with honesty. And her love of reading shines through her lyrical words.

I feel like saying too much about this memoir will only lead to unnecessary spoilers. I’m so very happy to see this one is receiving the attention it deserves, with awards and landing on so many must-read lists. Read this one to be reminded of the power of books. To be inspired, to be more knowledgeable, and to be more empathetic.

All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy.

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the_literarylinguist's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.25

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bookdragon217's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

"I am tired. I am so very tired of running and hiding, but I have done it for so long, I don't know how to stop. I don't know how to do anything else. It is all I am: defining myself against illegality while stitching it into my veins."

Beautiful Country is a riveting account about what it costs to chase the American Dream and how it destroys the very fabric that holds family together. My heart was breaking as I read it and it gave me a new perspective of the Chinese immigrant experience. Wang's writing is beautiful and her emotions pour out from the pages. Her voice is authentic and one that will continue to haunt me and demand to be heard. This memoir is timely and necessary and will surely give you some issues to examine and contemplate further.

Wang's use of the title as a theme throughout the novel was brilliant. It draws me to ask myself what makes this country so beautiful. How can a "beautiful country":

💔 strip you of your basic humanity?
💔 push into the shadows of invisibility for survival?
💔 erase your identity in an attempt to "better" your future?
💔 diminish your accomplishments and force you to start over?
💔 bring you to a constant state of anxiety?
💔 literally starve you and your children yet ask so much of you?
💔 make empty promises and sell you false dreams?
💔 keep you isolated and make you feel unsafe at every turn?
💔 make you ache for what you left behind?
💔 embed fear into every crevice of your being?
💔 become your worst nightmare?

I still think about little Qian Qian and all that she had to suppress and overcome. Her daily life was a fight to be heard, to be seen and to survive. This "beautiful country" aimed to break her spirit but she never lost her ability to dream for better. I hope that she has found nourishment not only for her body but for her heart and soul as well.

Thanks to @doubledaybooks for the gifted copy. This one is out 9/7/2021.

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thebookwormkatie's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

Thank you to @netgalley and @doubleday books for an advanced readers copy of this memoir.

Part of me wanted to hold off on reviewing this simply because I’m still digesting it, but the other half of me decided I will probably continue to think about it for a while.

Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang pulls the reader into the life of seven-year-old Qian, an undocumented child living in New York City. I think what made this memoir powerful was reading about her life through the eyes of a child; seeing how America appeared to Qian, how her parents interacted with one another, how impactful their words and actions were on Qian, and especially Qian’s experience in school. The educator in me was heartbroken at many of the experiences Qian had in school. The human in me was heartbroken at many of Qian’s experiences in life.

I really enjoy reading memoirs because I love having a glimpse into other people’s lives and experiences. This memoir was no different. I found myself longing to read more about Qian’s life at the end of the book. It was heartbreaking, educating, and extremely vulnerable. I would recommend this memoir not only if you like memoirs, but simply to allow yourself the opportunity to learn from someone else’s perspective and experience.

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