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A review by thisdadreads
On Fragile Waves by E. Lily Yu
5.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy. This review is spoiler-free.
“Stories go where people go. In dreams, in fresh tellings, in memories”.
This dad read and reviewed “On Fragile Waves” by E. Lily Yu published by Erewhon Books, a Literary Fiction novel released on February 2, 2021. I cannot think of a book in recent memory that affected me the way this one did (there were tears folks).
The book follows a family of four immigrants – mother, father, daughter and son – fleeing their home country of Afghanistan with the aim of reaching Australia. Told mainly from the perspective of elder daughter Firuzeh, we experience firsthand the family’s toils, triumphs and everything in between as they take incremental steps towards their goals. Yu’s crafted her work in a way that shows that the differences between “us” and “them” need not be derided, rather they should be celebrated. And celebrated through stories.
Stories play a huge part of this book, acting as almost an entirely separate character. They’re what the family tells themselves for entertainment, yes, but they also offer a window into each characters psyche. Yu emphasizes how stories can shape our interior monologues and how they can both harm and hold up those we love. I believe Yu is showing a better way for society. It’s through stories – telling them and listening to them – that walls can come down and true community can thrive.
Often bleak and heartbreaking, Yu’s poetic voice shines. She literally paints with words, expressing dreams, thoughts and the actual narrative in structural ways I’ve never seen before. “On Fragile Waves” accomplishes what few others in my experience have (“Beloved” by Toni Morrison comes to mind); an artful expression of a story so personal, so resonant, so raw that you can’t help but let it embrace you like a loving parent.
Rated:
“Stories go where people go. In dreams, in fresh tellings, in memories”.
This dad read and reviewed “On Fragile Waves” by E. Lily Yu published by Erewhon Books, a Literary Fiction novel released on February 2, 2021. I cannot think of a book in recent memory that affected me the way this one did (there were tears folks).
The book follows a family of four immigrants – mother, father, daughter and son – fleeing their home country of Afghanistan with the aim of reaching Australia. Told mainly from the perspective of elder daughter Firuzeh, we experience firsthand the family’s toils, triumphs and everything in between as they take incremental steps towards their goals. Yu’s crafted her work in a way that shows that the differences between “us” and “them” need not be derided, rather they should be celebrated. And celebrated through stories.
Stories play a huge part of this book, acting as almost an entirely separate character. They’re what the family tells themselves for entertainment, yes, but they also offer a window into each characters psyche. Yu emphasizes how stories can shape our interior monologues and how they can both harm and hold up those we love. I believe Yu is showing a better way for society. It’s through stories – telling them and listening to them – that walls can come down and true community can thrive.
Often bleak and heartbreaking, Yu’s poetic voice shines. She literally paints with words, expressing dreams, thoughts and the actual narrative in structural ways I’ve never seen before. “On Fragile Waves” accomplishes what few others in my experience have (“Beloved” by Toni Morrison comes to mind); an artful expression of a story so personal, so resonant, so raw that you can’t help but let it embrace you like a loving parent.
Rated: