A review by htoo
Picture Bride by Cathy Song

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This poetry collection reminds me of “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan but in a good way. Cathy Song has a talent for capturing scenes from the mundane life and turning it into a spectacular moment of introspection. My favorite poems were the ones that touch on family relationships (especially the ones concerning motherhood). Beginning the collection with “Picture Bride” and ending it with “The Seamstress” was a great choice that mirrors the beginning and ending of her mother’s new life in the United States. Overall, the language was beautiful and accessible. There were instances where Asian people were described in correlation to Asian food which feels kind of weird reading it in 2024.