Reviews

This book was very enjoyable at times--most of the time, even--but also a bit of a mess. The ending threw me off and I felt like it did not grapple with any of the questions of identity and individualism that had interested me initially (and that the book had been building on thematically.)

I did not expect Seth to be so important of a character. I did not expect anything with the Sherman arc and I'm really unsure how I feel about it.

I wish we could have seen more of her family dynamic, especially Callie! I was so intrigued by her--probably more so than anyone else in the novel. She and Naomi should have been lesbians. But I digress. There were a lot of important things brought up here, but unfortunately many of them get dropped as they fail to be brought up again. I appreciated the experimenting with tone, but it could be a bit much. Overall, very entertaining and intriguing coming-of-age novel--though I wish it followed through on its discussions of race, religion, and identity rather than coalescing into a sort of romance?

the8th's review against another edition

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4.0

Takes place during the civil rights movement in the United States. Story is about a Chinese-American teenager with a lovely sense of humour, that undertakes several interesting projects. I thought it was well crafted and funny, as well as thought-provoking.

mauryneiberg18's review against another edition

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5.0

This is a very funny take on what it means to be American and what it means to be an American Jew. The main characters are all about a decade older than me, but it was interesting to see just how much it resonated with me.

chicagobob's review against another edition

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4.0

Not a great book, but a really enjoyable very good book, particularly if you come to it as an American Jew.

Mona is a first generation Chinese American girl in 8th grade in Scarsdale and 1968. In high school she first gets involved with the Temple Youth Group as a sort of mascot, and then converts.

Funny, lovely portrayal of that time and place, including its difficult race relations.

andrearbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

Mona in the Promised Land by Gish Jen is a book I read in college for my Women in Literature course. I've also wanted to go back and re-read, and 16 years later, I finally am! Above all else, this book has one of my favorite quotes of all time:

"This is what she thinks later; that there are moments when the zippy narrative of your life lets up, and swampy reflection sinks in. There are moments when you begin to feel ending. Maybe it's just seasonal wear and tear. But there are moments when the inevitable shrinking of the days makes you miss people who have not left you."

For some reason, that quote just always gets me in the feels, and it's just forever with me. Beyond this quote, this is the story of Mona who is navigating identity on many levels. She is navigating what it means to be Chinese American as she wants to honor her history, but also be a part of her present. She's also exploring the Jewish faith. Additionally, she's working through romantic relationships, friendships, and family. Each layer of this story is complex as it's interwoven with the identities of the characters. I'm glad I finally got to go back to this story once more.

catssica's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a 4/5 with big potential for 5/5 depending on if this story really sticks with me moving forward. Mona (the protagonist) is well-developed, not because she’s a likable character, but because she’s written in such an unlikable way that is accurate for her age. There are, of course, big important conversations being had in this book: national vs. religious vs. ethnic identity, racism (as a nuanced, often unfair experience), and growing up feeling like the Other. Jen uses irony to get a lot of these points across and it’s often in the mother-daughter and the society-individual relationship front.

This book deserves a better rating on goodreads!

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