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A review by transparent_tea
Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity by Soo Jin Lee, Linda Yoon
informative
medium-paced
3.0
I'm calling it after ten chapters.
When I first saw this book, I thought it would help me better understand the "trauma" that is somewhat known as being an Asian-American (based on society). I've been fortunate that I grew up in Southern California, fairly close to the San Gabriel Valley, and that I haven't had to endure some of the marginalization that someone else would have if they were living in the Midwest.
Granted, even though the book would be less targetted at me, some aspects made me realize that there are some events that occurred that my parents went through and I did not fully comprehend until I grew up and started to see the world through my own eyes (rather than rosy-colored lenses of what my parents instilled). Rather than being frustrated with how my mother acts (because it's not the norm), I try to put myself in her shoes and understand why something happens, understand the logic, and try to mimic what she would actually do if she was able to speak fluent English.
I did appreciate that the book isn't all about the negative parts; the authors made an effort that we should also celebrate the wins and use this as a stepping stone to better understand one's self, especially for those people who are considered 1.5 or second-generation.
Again, this book is best suited for those who are feeling a bit lost in life that do not have the Asian community readily available, but it's still a read for those who need a nudge in the right direction.
When I first saw this book, I thought it would help me better understand the "trauma" that is somewhat known as being an Asian-American (based on society). I've been fortunate that I grew up in Southern California, fairly close to the San Gabriel Valley, and that I haven't had to endure some of the marginalization that someone else would have if they were living in the Midwest.
Granted, even though the book would be less targetted at me, some aspects made me realize that there are some events that occurred that my parents went through and I did not fully comprehend until I grew up and started to see the world through my own eyes (rather than rosy-colored lenses of what my parents instilled). Rather than being frustrated with how my mother acts (because it's not the norm), I try to put myself in her shoes and understand why something happens, understand the logic, and try to mimic what she would actually do if she was able to speak fluent English.
I did appreciate that the book isn't all about the negative parts; the authors made an effort that we should also celebrate the wins and use this as a stepping stone to better understand one's self, especially for those people who are considered 1.5 or second-generation.
Again, this book is best suited for those who are feeling a bit lost in life that do not have the Asian community readily available, but it's still a read for those who need a nudge in the right direction.