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A review by jyeetreads
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
4.0
Update: 8/10
That was incredibly emotional and moving and just deeply (at times uncomfortably) relatable. So many topics explored in this book wow. Ng really showcases how perspectives and values and beliefs can be changed/influenced so quickly… how nothing is really black and white… how that to live is to make both good and bad decisions, to carry necessary burdens, and how important it is to be empathetic.
Also, really appreciated the little interview with Ng at the end of the book. What is particularly sticking with me is her topic on the problem with not seeing race:
“Ignoring race means ignoring longstanding problems and history, as well as ignoring important aspects of a person’s identity. I hope readers, encountering that allegedly race-blindness mindset in these pages, will reflect on the ways our views have changed — and on the ways they haven’t changed as much as they might need to.”
I have friends I care about who have this race-blindness mindset, and I’ve always been at loss of words as to how to express my disagreement in a way that kindly but earnestly encourages re-evaluation on their part. Thankful to Ng for helping me find those words.
Only thing about this book that I didn’t love, is that at times it felt like a slow burn soap opera (albeit done really well but nevertheless) something i find hard to read. But, I think all of that meticulous buildup was truly worth it in the end! Just not exactly my favorite thing.
That was incredibly emotional and moving and just deeply (at times uncomfortably) relatable. So many topics explored in this book wow. Ng really showcases how perspectives and values and beliefs can be changed/influenced so quickly… how nothing is really black and white… how that to live is to make both good and bad decisions, to carry necessary burdens, and how important it is to be empathetic.
Also, really appreciated the little interview with Ng at the end of the book. What is particularly sticking with me is her topic on the problem with not seeing race:
“Ignoring race means ignoring longstanding problems and history, as well as ignoring important aspects of a person’s identity. I hope readers, encountering that allegedly race-blindness mindset in these pages, will reflect on the ways our views have changed — and on the ways they haven’t changed as much as they might need to.”
I have friends I care about who have this race-blindness mindset, and I’ve always been at loss of words as to how to express my disagreement in a way that kindly but earnestly encourages re-evaluation on their part. Thankful to Ng for helping me find those words.
Only thing about this book that I didn’t love, is that at times it felt like a slow burn soap opera (albeit done really well but nevertheless) something i find hard to read. But, I think all of that meticulous buildup was truly worth it in the end! Just not exactly my favorite thing.