You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
curlygeek04's Reviews (368)
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a complex story that worked on a number of levels - exploring parenting, marriage, financial insecurity, the publishing and television worlds, racism and biracial identity. I don’t know if I loved it, but it certainly gave me a lot to think about. I appreciated the way racial issues are woven throughout the story, from history to academia to the television producer’s constant ramblings about multiracial people. Jane explores racial identity in Los Angeles and I appreciated Jane’s comparisons of West Coast and East Coast culture (she refers to her younger self as “Brooklyn Jane”). I liked seeing LA through Jane’s eyes, particularly her vision of “Multicultural Mayberry” which is based on South Pasadena. Her husband would rather they lived in Japan, which he thinks would allow them to escape the racism of the U.S.; Jane disagrees.
I didn’t like Jane very much, as she treats the people around her terribly and is kind of a compulsive liar. There were so many times I wanted her to stop, confide in her husband and her friend, but she trusts no one. I really wanted her to have an honest conversation with Lenny about their finances and her need for him to make some money too. And instead of having faith in her own work, she’s desperate to succeed on any terms. Yet, Senna succeeds in telling a story where I wanted Jane to be happy, to find fulfillment and love and professional success. I sympathized with the financial uncertainty that Jane and her husband have, and I could understand her desperation and her resentment towards her husband. She does try to take care of her family the best she can. I also appreciated the way the story comes together towards the end, though I won’t share any details.
