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A review by 18hnguyen
They Called Us Exceptional: And Other Lies That Raised Us by Prachi Gupta
5.0
I thought it would be about education but it’s difficult to characterize this memoir - so many aspects of her life: straddling different cultural identities and the model minority myth in the US, her family and her relationship with her brother, the effects of the patriarchy on men and women, the stigma around mental health in the Asian community, her journey with feminism. It all tied together well at the end- kind of Crying in Hmart vibes?
Her words were beautiful and so important; she’s giving a voice to certain parts of her life that make me feel very seen, especially as I realize that a lot of mental health in the US isn’t really geared towards POC. Heartbreaking but reaffirming story - the first part of the book was slower, but last two thirds were intense and had me on the verge of tears/ crying on a Saturday morning. Devoured the essay that started this book as soon as I finished the book (spoilers for this book in article)
TW: abuse, suicide attempt, grief, sexual assault (not all at once)
Her words were beautiful and so important; she’s giving a voice to certain parts of her life that make me feel very seen, especially as I realize that a lot of mental health in the US isn’t really geared towards POC. Heartbreaking but reaffirming story - the first part of the book was slower, but last two thirds were intense and had me on the verge of tears/ crying on a Saturday morning. Devoured the essay that started this book as soon as I finished the book (spoilers for this book in article)
TW: abuse, suicide attempt, grief, sexual assault (not all at once)