This is a fantastic and engaging book about America's Great Migration in the 1900s as Black Americans left the Jim Crow South for new lives and betterThis is a fantastic and engaging book about America's Great Migration in the 1900s as Black Americans left the Jim Crow South for new lives and better opportunities in the North. We follow three people's real stories - Ida Mae, George and Robert from three different Southern locations as they move themselves and their families and how their lives turn out in the North but they never lose their connection to the South.
I listened to this on audiobook and while it was a long listen, I throughly enjoyed it. As a non-American reader, I enjoyed learning more about this time in American history and this isn't something I had known about before though obviously we learn about the American Civil War and the US Civil Rights Movement in Irish education, this is a topic that is connected to these but its own story entirely. I found it interesting to see how the North wasn't automatically better for the migrants - while they escaped the suffocating Jim Crow of the South, they still faced and dealt with a lot of racial discrimination and divide in different ways in the North - and Northern cities such as Chicago and New York were forever changed after his migration as well in socio-economic and city division ways as well which was fascinating. It was also amazing to hear of some of the famous people who would never have been able to reach the heights they did if their parents or family members hadn't chosen to migrant to the North where they had the opportunities the did.
The care and detail put into the research for this book must have been immense and really commend the author for doing a stellar job - from the sounds of it, this book took a long time to research and write as she sat and talked to Ida Mae, George and Robert in the later years of their lives to understand their story and experiences better.
I really loved this short read about Keiko, a socially awkward woman who has worked in the same convenience store for almost 20 years and uses her daiI really loved this short read about Keiko, a socially awkward woman who has worked in the same convenience store for almost 20 years and uses her daily interactions with customers and colleagues to teach her the 'right' and 'wrong' ways to interact socially. But when people start questioning Keiko's ambition and lack of romance life, she goes down a path of trying to prove herself 'normal' while potentially losing who she is.
This was easy to read and I immediately fell into Keiko's world and the gentle soothing nature of the ever-revolving 24-hour convenience store. The way this short book looked at what is deemed 'normal' and the exasperating predictability of humans and sheep behaviour as well as mob mentality when someone does something out of the norm was brilliant. I also loved how unassuming and harmless Keiko seems (and is) but now and again she thinks something that is very alarming and you can understand why her family worry so much (when she thought about the best way to silence her nephew for example).
Really enjoyed this, and will definitely read more from the author....more
A truly beautiful, at times devastating book about a woman's realization of her own self worth, and her journey to escape an abusive history and face A truly beautiful, at times devastating book about a woman's realization of her own self worth, and her journey to escape an abusive history and face the truth of her childhood - and adulthood- of abusive relationships.
“And what is love? I human, I have feelings. I with the man. Of course I love him. Yet, the way he love me does make me hate myself.”
This book tells the story of Alethea, an almost 40-year-old woman living in Trinidad and daily having to hide the marks her common law husband gives her every night. As we get to know Alethea - her intelligence, her independence and her childhood, the reader begins to understand the reasons why Alethea 'allows' herself to be trapped inside an abusive relationship. But when a woman is shot dead by a man in a 'domestic incident' outside the shop she works in, Allie can't help but see herself in the victim, and the potential of something just as deadly happening to her.
This book is addictive as you grasp onto Allie's story and all the hardships she's dealt with in life and you just root for her to stand up for herself and somehow get away from Leo and make things better for herself. It was lovely seeing Allie reconnect with her cousin/brother Colin, and her childhood friend Jankie and I enjoyed the emphasis on female friendship and support and kindness from others.
There are some really hard moments in this book - not only the constant abuse and fear Allie feels around Leo but also as we learn from her childhood, the sexual abuse she received from her uncle from the age of 5, as well as the daily physical and emotional abuse of her mother. And from there, the stream of men Allie found herself with that treated her the same, so she really knows nothing but abusive relationships and men who will put her down - physically and emotionally.
There were some interesting topics in this book as well around race and colourism. Allie is a white woman though we soon learn her grandmother was a Black woman - and Colin is a Black man. Allie details ways in which she has noticed she has been treated differently to Colin due to their skin tones.
Really enjoyed this though as I've said it was a hard read at times. Allie's story is tough, educational yet inspiring. ...more
I received a free copy of this book from Amulet Books (Abrams&Chronicle) in exchange for an honest review.
Mari Pujols is fifteen and pregnant2.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from Amulet Books (Abrams&Chronicle) in exchange for an honest review.
Mari Pujols is fifteen and pregnant but she can’t wait to meet her child until she finds out he only has half a heart. Now Mari is facing the toughest choice she can make as a mother - continue with her pregnancy and risk losing her baby at the end of it, or have a termination.
This should have been a very emotional, impactful story and while parts of it definitely were, I think other parts let it down a bit.
Mari is a tough cookie, to sum it all up in one. She is a fighter because she’s had to be and she hasn’t had it easy in life with parents that abandoned her and an abuela who didn’t treat her as well as she should have. And now her baby is sick on top of it all. But she’s just so angry all the time, and at everyone. She lashes out at her boyfriend, her friends, her grandmother (who is a bit of a b to be honest) and it’s sometimes hard to read, or at least it becomes exhausting to read. I definitely understand some of her anger, but I really wanted to shake her a bit and make her calm down, and just listen to people.
One of the best things about this book was Mari’s friendship group. She has three best friends and the four of them really were there for each other and it was a great example of female friendship. I did find some of their conversations a bit troubling in terms of Heavenly seemingly having a much older boyfriend, and at one point Mari plays a trick on Teri’s brother and posts half-naked photos of men on his Facebook page and likes them on his behalf to make it seem like he is gay as if this is a terrible thing.
The author is a paediatric cardiologist so she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to Angelo’s condition. It was well-detailed in a way that made it easier for the reader and Mari to figure out what was happening. I didn’t like some of Mari’s opinions on a lot of the nurses (she seemed okay with the male doctors but not the female doctors or the nurses bar one that Dr Love - a male doctor - introduced her to). Some of the doctors and nurses also appeared extremely gruff and rude to Mari and Bertie which I found odd, and would hope would not happen if this was a real life situation. (view spoiler)[I also found Amelia’s death completely unnecessary (hide spoiler)]
Merged review:
2.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from Amulet Books (Abrams&Chronicle) in exchange for an honest review.
Mari Pujols is fifteen and pregnant but she can’t wait to meet her child until she finds out he only has half a heart. Now Mari is facing the toughest choice she can make as a mother - continue with her pregnancy and risk losing her baby at the end of it, or have a termination.
This should have been a very emotional, impactful story and while parts of it definitely were, I think other parts let it down a bit.
Mari is a tough cookie, to sum it all up in one. She is a fighter because she’s had to be and she hasn’t had it easy in life with parents that abandoned her and an abuela who didn’t treat her as well as she should have. And now her baby is sick on top of it all. But she’s just so angry all the time, and at everyone. She lashes out at her boyfriend, her friends, her grandmother (who is a bit of a b to be honest) and it’s sometimes hard to read, or at least it becomes exhausting to read. I definitely understand some of her anger, but I really wanted to shake her a bit and make her calm down, and just listen to people.
One of the best things about this book was Mari’s friendship group. She has three best friends and the four of them really were there for each other and it was a great example of female friendship. I did find some of their conversations a bit troubling in terms of Heavenly seemingly having a much older boyfriend, and at one point Mari plays a trick on Teri’s brother and posts half-naked photos of men on his Facebook page and likes them on his behalf to make it seem like he is gay as if this is a terrible thing.
The author is a paediatric cardiologist so she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to Angelo’s condition. It was well-detailed in a way that made it easier for the reader and Mari to figure out what was happening. I didn’t like some of Mari’s opinions on a lot of the nurses (she seemed okay with the male doctors but not the female doctors or the nurses bar one that Dr Love - a male doctor - introduced her to). Some of the doctors and nurses also appeared extremely gruff and rude to Mari and Bertie which I found odd, and would hope would not happen if this was a real life situation. (view spoiler)[I also found Amelia’s death completely unnecessary (hide spoiler)]...more
When Alex, the First Son of the United States, ends up in an argument with Prince Henry of England during a royal wedding, the news coverage isn't greWhen Alex, the First Son of the United States, ends up in an argument with Prince Henry of England during a royal wedding, the news coverage isn't great. The two end up in a rapid PR move to convince the world they are actually great friends, and despite everything, they do warm to each other and eventually feelings get involved too. But having a secret relationship is hard, especially when you are part of the most famous families in the world.
This was a really fun, and enjoyable read - and I really liked how the book was set up, and the pace of the novel throughout. This is technically an enemies to lovers style romance, though I would say the enemies part is very much only about 5 seconds. But I liked the flirty 'friendship' Alex and Henry got entangled in, and this book has all the feelings of that first rush of a crush, and the 'do they like me' worries, and the excitement at every text message. The romance relationship was sweet with a bit of spice thrown into the mix but I didn't find anything too graphic.
Alex was a character that I had to warm up throughout the book - some of his actions and opinions annoyed me a little bit at the start but as the book goes on, as a reader you can start seeing what drives him and what causes him to react to things in such a way. I did think some of his opinions about Henry at the start were a bit naive for someone also living in the public eye (obviously as a Royal, everything about Henry is tailored to perfect including his apparent likes and dislikes). Alex is a passionate person who wants to make a difference and you can't help but like that! Prince Henry was just a tall block of handsome cuteness in jodhpurs.
I was surprised by the emotion I felt near the end of this book when the relationship is eventually out in the open, and families get involved. I had tears in my eyes at some of the reactions and support from family members, and especially some character strength in others.
I didn't really care about the politics aspect of this book. I'm not American, and am only really interested in US politics when it comes to just not letting a terrible person who doesn't believe in basic human rights become President (and y'all failed on that front at least once). So some of the intense campaign talks went over my head, and I also just find the voting system in the US a bit bonkers. But in saying that, the end scenes in Texas got me - I was very invested in finding out what colour the state decided to go (though it was obvious) and those celebration scenes were great....more
Set partly in Canada in 1991, and also in China during the 1960s, Do Not Say We Have Nothing is an interesting novel spanning moments in recent ChinesSet partly in Canada in 1991, and also in China during the 1960s, Do Not Say We Have Nothing is an interesting novel spanning moments in recent Chinese history from the Chinese Cultural Revolution to the Tiananmen Square protests. We are hearing the stories of a character's parents who grew up during such tumultuous times through history and whose lives and futures were ruined because of it.
I didn't enjoy this book. The writing in it is good, and for those with a strong sense and passion for music, I would say there are lots of amazing moments in this book and ways of connecting with characters. I however, felt none of that. I did enjoy the story-telling aspects of the book, as well as the second half as we learn more about Sparrow's life as a father and his movement during the Tiananmen Square protests. But for the most part, I found this book a struggle to get through - it was very slow and laborious for me.
I did enjoy learning about these moments in Chinese history that I knew next to nothing about before this book, so I would definitely read more novels set in China during this time,...more
The second book in the Girls of Paper and Fire trilogy, this focuses on Lei and Wren as they escape from the Hidden Palace under the belief they have The second book in the Girls of Paper and Fire trilogy, this focuses on Lei and Wren as they escape from the Hidden Palace under the belief they have managed to kill the emperor, and join Wren's father and his forces as they continue plotting the rebellion to bring the kingdom back to a fair and just place. But things don't go to plan - the Emperor isn't dead, and Lei begins to see elements of the rebellion and Wren's family plans that don't align with her own beliefs and cracks begin to show in their relationship that threaten to drive them apart.
I enjoyed this book for the most part. It's definitely a bit more ploddy than the first book, though it has more world building than the first as Lei and Wren travel to different places and the reader sees the different type of noble families and other types of demons that exist in the world, and aren't exactly in tune with the Emperor themselves. I liked the little band of characters that formed in this book as well as the group travelled to bring people to their cause - and while I think some things were written in for shock factor, and came a bit too early to really cause distress (certain deaths among the group), I did like the reminders that stakes are high and no-one is safe.
Lei goes through some great character building in this book as she begins to figure out who Lei the rebel aka the Moonchosen is, away from her family and from her life as a Paper Girl in the Hidden Palace. Here she can be with her lover openly, as well as learn how to fight for those she loves. I do think Lei is still very naive and earnest about a lot of things.
There are some nice bonus chapters in this book where the reader can see rebellion and spy work ripple within the Hidden Palace, and the identities of those working against the Emperor. This was exciting, and looking forward to seeing where it all goes from here....more
As Sydney Green deals with grief and worry over her mother's illness, and panics about rising debts, she starts to notice the alarming changes in the As Sydney Green deals with grief and worry over her mother's illness, and panics about rising debts, she starts to notice the alarming changes in the historically Black Brooklyn neighborhood she's lived all her life. People she's known since childhood are disappearing, replaced by affluent white folk and the culture and colour that has made the area what it is, is being vanquished via gentrification. Soon Sydney enlists the help of new neighbor Theo to discover what it is that people are hiding behind closed doors.
This was a fantastic, horrifying thriller book that left me tense and uncomfortable the entire time I was reading it that resulted in a wonderful reading experience. I listened to this on audiobook and I think this helped with my overall reading experience and the intensity of the story as the atmosphere built up until breaking point.
The events in this book are horribly close to what is happening in many places across the world as housing situations become more fraught in many different countries and people with money to spend start looking at areas in which they can get what they want, and in many cases take it without much look into the history they are stepping upon. This book is a reminder of how easily it is for history to repeat itself in new, modern ways, and how we have to step up to be better. While many bits in this books are dramatized for effect, that doesn't take away from the reality of what inspired this book.
I really recommend this book, especially as an audiobook as it was so atmospheric though be warned you may be a tight ball of tension the whole time reading it as you wait to find out what is going on!
I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Meddy Chan is back, and so are her aunties! Following their prI received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Meddy Chan is back, and so are her aunties! Following their previous escapades accidentally killing a guy, hiding his body at a wedding they were catering, and getting away with murder while also pushing Meddy back into the arms of her college love, surely the Aunties are done with the criminal lifestyle. But things are back to crazy when Meddy is set to marry Nathan, and she finds out the people she hired to run her wedding may in fact be mafia, and have their targets set on an unknown wedding guest. So it's now down to Meddy and her aunts to stop a literal murder this time - oh, and also get Meddy up the aisle!
I just love the Aunties! This book was no different to the first in the Aunties series and by that I mean it was absolutely insane and laugh out loud funny. Meddy and her Aunties - and the hijinks they all end up getting into - are so funny to follow, and you honestly never know what they're going to do or say next. The highlight in this was the Aunties all learning English slang from someone on Fivver to impress Nathan's parents ('Toodle Pip!').
With the first book, there was a point of no return where things just went from crazy to ridiculous, and while everything in these books have to be taken with a pinch of salt and looked at as pure entertainment rather than a realistic story. I also feel this book took a turn as well to the ridiculousness, but to be honest I have so much fun spending time with the Aunties, I don't care too much!
I did feel sad and frustrated for Meddy that her wedding ended up being such a nightmare - it felt like she was someone who really deserved a nice day and while it all ended up okay in the end, I wish the character had been able to actually experience more of her day rather than running around kidnapping people - yes, really.
As always, I appreciate learning so much more about Chinese-Indo culture in this book, and this one also looking at the varying experiences with Asian diaspora as represented in Meddy's family versus Nathan's family who couldn't be more different. I would have liked things between Annie and the Aunties to have been a bit more settled and at peace near the end but I guess we kind of got it. I don't know if this was a duology or there are plans for a trilogy because I would really love a Four Aunties and a Baby!...more
12-year-old Lolly is dealing with a lot from the grief he's feeling over the recent death of his brother, the troubles he and his friend are facing fr12-year-old Lolly is dealing with a lot from the grief he's feeling over the recent death of his brother, the troubles he and his friend are facing from boys in another part of town, and his father flitting in and out of his life. Lolly finds solace through his imagination and channels this through building elaborate structures with Lego. Soon Lolly realises that his skill with Lego can help him connect lives and people in the neighborhood and bring some joy back into the place.
This was a very sweet book following a boy on the cusp of childhood and young adulthood who is so confused and angry at the world around him. Lolly's rage at being so helpless in the face of so many things was so palatable and real, and I really felt it seep through the pages at me - and we later see that same rage, fear and despair in Vega and witness how easily it could be for young people to make a split wrong decision that can change the course of their lives forever.
I really liked the scenes between Lolly and Rosa - and how they came to accept one another, and enjoy each other's company. Their little city 'dates' to see architecture were adorable, and I loved these moments of two kids who may have felt they didn't have much going for them, seeing the heights they could reach if they managed to keep their heads above water. Rosa is autistic in this book, and I liked how this was portrayed (though I can't speak from an own voices perspective), and how the readers along with Lolly began to understand the way Rosa understood the world and how she preferred to interact with it.
I do think there was a lot going on in this book, and I think the author did try and cram some stuff in a bit too much. From the death of his brother, to his mother's queer relationship plus his dad coming in and out of his life (with casual homophobia thrown in), and then just everything that entails being a young Black boy growing up in the Projects in Harlem, it was a lot. There were some parts I think didn't need to be included at all - such as Lolly's mom's girlfriend stealing the Legos from Mr Tuttle and a great opportunity being taken away from Lolly then - it felt like it was all a bit pointless and didn't deliver anything to the end of the story for me....more
I received a copy of this book from Book Break UK in exchange for an honest review.
In 1903, Dikembe is a young boy who spends most of his days with hiI received a copy of this book from Book Break UK in exchange for an honest review.
In 1903, Dikembe is a young boy who spends most of his days with his mother - watching and helping her clean and cook while dreaming of growing older and helping his father and brother out with the real man work. But things change when Dikembe is taken from his family by an English explorer, and brought to England to become a true English gentleman. Soon Dikembe resents his new life, and yearns to be home with his family.
In 1993, Lowra, a lonely, solitary young woman, finds a photo of Dikembe, renamed Celestine, when researching the house she grew up in. Determined to find out more about this boy she feels a connection to, she set outs to discover his story.
This was a book that was full of a passion to tell the forgotten history of so many in Great Britain's past - those who were taken from their homeland through force or confusion, treated like exotic displays rather than real people, and then left to fend for themselves. I really appreciated learning about Lola Jaye's inspiration for this story which was a photo of a young boy, whom when she looked at the photo she felt a deep sadness and trauma emanating from him. This boy didn't have a good end to his life, and this novel is the author's reimagining of his life but one which gives him a brighter future.
There was a lot in here to think about and ponder, and I think for that alone it's worth a read. I think the pacing is quite slow, and it did feel like a lot more time was given to Dikembe's childhood versus his adulthood as he fended for himself where I would have liked to have seen even time given to everything. By the time we got to his adult life, it started to feel rushed because the novel needed wrapping up.
I didn't feel very connected to Lowra as a character - she is very solitary and quite cold and awkward with people - stemmed form her own childhood trauma but sometimes when we arrived back to her chapters, I didn't care as I preferred reading Dikembe's story a lot more.
The overall narration and dialogue in the book is very formal in tone, and after a while this did mean my excitement waned for the story as it became a little bit plodding. I wonder if the book was just a little bit too long, and if some of the parts could have been shaved down a bit....more
I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Yinka is a 31-year-old English-Nigerian woman who despite her I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Yinka is a 31-year-old English-Nigerian woman who despite her success in her work life, has been single for over 3 years and is now feeling the pressure from her family, friends and society in general to couple up. When her friend/cousin gets engaged, Yinka decides that in six months time, she will have a plus one for the wedding, and so operation find huzband begins.
This was fun, vibrant and contained so many bits and pieces I love in a story. I felt for Yinka as someone who despite successful in her work life, is still measured up by her family as lacking because of her lack of a partner - while Yinka is feeling this pressure due to cultural norms, I think this is something that transcends into every aspect of life no matter your background. How many people have been made to feel less than because they don't have a significant other?
I enjoyed learning more about Nigerian culture in this book, and I liked how close Yinka is to her friends and family. There are some really sad but poignant moments in this book where Yinka has to confront her own lack of self-confidence which includes internal colourism. We also see her experiment with weaves instead of her preferred natural hair because she feels it's what men would prefer, and also her fears when on dating apps that white men are only messaging her because they have a fetish.
It was refreshing to have a character with strong faith like Yinka, who didn't really drink and also was saving herself for marriage. You don't see this a lot anymore and it's so unusual to meet people who feel like this. But Yinka was strong in her convictions, and I was impressed by her. I also liked her easy relationship with her former co-workers and how they learned a bit more about African culture from Yinka and her friend Nana.
Some of the parts of this book that let me down a bit included a general air of immaturity around Yinka and some of her actions and reactions to people. For a 31-year-old professional woman, there were times she felt very schoolgirl especially when she was interacting with her 'best friends' Rachel and Ola, and even sometimes Nana. And then the way she jumped the gun a lot when it came to her dating life was just that little bit cringe too- play it a little bit cool Yinka!
I did like this and it was a fun read, and I'd recommend it!
When Amari receives an invitation to join a special summer camp her beloved brother once attended, she jumps at the opportunity and discovers a whole When Amari receives an invitation to join a special summer camp her beloved brother once attended, she jumps at the opportunity and discovers a whole new world of supernatural beings. It turns out her brother was a hero in this world, and now he's MIA. Amari sets forth to find him, but realises her own supernatural affinity is something far dangerous than she could have imagined.
Okay, this book is just brilliant! It set my little kid magic loving soul on fire, and I wish I was 20 years younger reading this for the first time as, as good as it was reading as an adult, this is just the perfect book for kids looking for a magical adventure.
Amari is a brilliant character - smart, strong, and full of love for her new friends and her brother. She's not afraid to stand up to bullies (and there's lot of them, children and adult alike) and I just admired her spirit and tenacity so much. I really appreciate that amidst all of the magic and wonder in this book, the story also allowed Amari to discuss things like racial prejudice as well such as how she's treated for being a Black girl, as well as because of where she's from (the Projects).
I loved some of the magical elements in this book like all of the different departments that were just described so well, from the results of a stun gun that tickles people into submission and shoes that allowed people to walk on air. Not to mention my favourite - magical elevators all with their own personalities and quirks (gotta love Mischief!).
I loved where this book went, and while I wasn't surprised by some of the outcomes, I'm excited to read the next book when it's out.
If you are a past HP fan or like books such as Nevermoor, or Magisterium books, this is perfect!...more
Immanuelle lives in the town of Bethel where inhabitants follow the Father and the Prophet blessed with his powers and blessings, and rebel against agImmanuelle lives in the town of Bethel where inhabitants follow the Father and the Prophet blessed with his powers and blessings, and rebel against against anything to do with the Dark Mother and her witch followers who live in the Darkwoods. All her life, Immanuelle has felt a connection to the Darkwoods through her tragic mother but when plague comes to Bethel, it might only be Immanuelle who can save everyone, even if it means sacrificing herself.
CW: Violence, abuse against women, racism, implied sexual assault, misogyny
I did not expect to love this so much but something about the horror elements of The Year of the Witching just did it for me, and I was thoroughly hooked onto this story. I loved reading about Immanuelle's studies into what was happening, and how limited her position was due to her status both in the town but also as a woman. Part of me wanted her to embrace the darkness and damn everyone to hell, while another part wanted her to rise up and become a saviour.
This is the kind of book that will make you hate men for a while, as a majority of men, other than Ezra and Abram, in this book are truly awful. Women are second class citizens, and even lower if you're female and also a POC. The women are branded with marks when men 'claim' them as their wives, and they are the ones punished when anything goes wrong. The Prophet abuses his power by abusing the young women he's suppose to protect and while this is a fantasy book, so much of it rings true to normal society.
But I think Immanuelle was a fantastic character, and her foray into the Darkwoods had me on tenterhooks. I loved the plague of blood and blight, and how it was described as truly horrifying. I think there was opportunity to explore the world even further beyond the wall, and I know we might get some of that in the second book but I felt disappointed when Imanuelle ended up back in Bethel as she is so much more than the small town.
I also loved some of the scenes in the Cathedral at the end of the book from some of the destruction taking place to Immanuelle's stand off against lillith. And of course, the women and girls finally taking a stand against the Prophet which was just such a powerful, moving scene.
Set in Barbados, we follow Lala - a young woman on the verge of giving birth to her first child - as she tries to find her husband, and uncovers him iSet in Barbados, we follow Lala - a young woman on the verge of giving birth to her first child - as she tries to find her husband, and uncovers him in the middle of a terrible crime. Over the next few weeks, the crime takes a central role in Lala's life with disastrous consequences, and she begins to wonder if she will ever be able to escape her life.
CW: Violence, sexual assault, domestic abuse, infant death
This is a really engrossing story set in a place that I personally have read very little about, or other books focusing on the country and its range of issues from poverty among residents, violent crime and the effect of the rich, white tourists on the town Lala lives in.
I really liked Lala's voice, and while this book is pretty much desperately sad and bleak throughout, I felt very hooked on the story and I was completely carried along with the plot as Lala's life began to look even worse and we wondered if she would ever be able to escape. Despite her terrible home life, there was a naivety and an innocence in Lala that I just really felt for (such as the fact her baby was called Baby, and there was something so pure about this), and I loved hearing about her past, the loves in her life and the tumultuous relationship she had with her grandparents. This book looks at how women are often punished for things outside of their own control (such as a girl growing into womanhood and men starting to notice her even if she doesn't want them to) in a way that reminded me a little bit of a similar gaze in The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. The fear of a mother/grandmother for her child that ends up turning into cruelty through a desperation to protect.
An engrossing read, easy to read and quick to fly through and I'll 100% read more from Cherie Jones....more
A very sweet retelling of Little Women from the perspective of an American-Pakistani family living in Georgia in modern day - we follow Jameela as sheA very sweet retelling of Little Women from the perspective of an American-Pakistani family living in Georgia in modern day - we follow Jameela as she has to deal with some changes in ehr life including her father's long distance job, and a new kid called Ali. She also needs to deal with everything that comes with having 3 sisters - Maryam, Aleeza and Bisma, while vying to become the next editor-in-chief of her school newspaper.
This was just a lovely book that I definitely enjoyed for the short time it took to read it. The Little Women elements were done well, and I feel like some characters more than others were brilliantly crafted to be very much like their LW counterparts - Aleeza most of all, she was very Amy without being petty or mean. Just a slightly spoiled little girl who still loves her family.
I loved the family moments in this book, from the various conversations Jam had with her Baba and how close they were, to how they looked after Bisma when she got ill. I also really appreciated the look of extended family and family friends who were like aunts and uncle flocking to help the family when they needed them - it was honestly lovely.
There are some really nice, important moments in this book that would serve a younger reader really well such as Jam's experience with casual racism and her response to teach her school about micro-aggressions. I liked how Jam's school newspaper experience was portrayed as well in the book, and I think if I was a younger kid reading the book in a country where schools had their own newspapers, I would be tempted to join in....more
In Jamaica, Patsy struggles to achieve everything she feels she's destined to become while also looking after her young daughter, her elderly mother aIn Jamaica, Patsy struggles to achieve everything she feels she's destined to become while also looking after her young daughter, her elderly mother and yearning for her lost love and best friend Cecily. When a letter from New York comes from Cecily, Patsy jumps at the chance to emigrate to America and find her dreams. However, she quickly realises that life in America without appropriate documentation limits everything she wants to do, and the colour of her skin and how she looks also stops her from advancing and boxes her. As Patsy struggles to find herself, she distances herself from her daughter Tru left behind in Jamaica.
This is a fantastic novel exploring the life of an undocumented migrant of colour in the US in the 90s, and how Patsy's dreams are dashed quickly as realises the constant walls she will have to face while supposedly in the land of dreams. I really enjoyed and found myself being educated on the amount of things Patsy and others like her have to face when it comes to employment opportunities, places to live etc because of their visa status. Patsy's identity as both a queer woman of colour was also a joy to be a part of as by the end of the book, it really felt like she had flowered into her true self and found the love she deserved. I also really liked the commentary in this book on Patsy's size as well as she was always a curvier woman, and as her years in America increased and her bank balance determined where and the type of food she would eat, as well as her own emotions, she became much larger but at times this definitely felt like she was all the more beautiful.
I understand why some readers of Patsy found our main protagonist hard to like as it definitely feels like she runs away from her young daughter Tru to America, and then completely turns her back on her. And while a part of this is very true, I also understood both Patsy's fears and reservations over 'failing' Tru and also her desire to just be herself, and by herself, and not have a child to attach to her, and stick her identity as just mother as she's so much more than that.
Tru's own journey in Jamaica was equally immersive (I actually felt both sides of the story - Patsy in US, Tru in Jamaica, really good) and her own struggles with her identity as a woman, and possibly a trans masculine person in my opinion (though she uses she/her pronouns). The limitations Tru also encounters in Jamaica because of her gender, and not her talent, are often heartbreaking as it feels like we should be so much more beyond that now though we know there are so many young girls across the world being denied education because of their gender, or not allowed to join academic or sports teams despite amazing talent because of it as well. Tru's struggles with mental illness felt a little bit too neatly fixed near the end of the book, as did her relationship with her mother and it is sad, though realistic, that we didn't get to see an actual meeting between them.
Definitely recommend this book though, I thoroughly enjoyed this -flawed characters and all. ...more
I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kyuri, Miho, Wonna, Ara - four women living in Seoul, South KoI received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kyuri, Miho, Wonna, Ara - four women living in Seoul, South Korea, and all in their own way affected by the current culture's obsession with what face looks like a good, acceptable face, and how young women should act and look like. Kyuri has a face that she's spent thousands on to look perfect but she is horrid debt and under control of her madam and the room salon, Miho is a carefree artist that is naturally beautiful but she's too poor for her rich boyfriend to ever be allowed to marry her, Ara is plain and happy that way, mute due to a childhood accident and obsessed with a K-Pop star. And Wonna is older, and more damaged than the rest, and starting out a pregnancy she is terrified to reveal, revel in or lose.
I ended up really enjoying this book for a myriad of reasons. The writing itself was very pleasant to read, was clear in its intentions and the timeline/pace of the story was fast and immersive. I really felt at times that I was in the rooms with the girls and hanging out with them and listening to their conversations. There was something attractive about them all and I genuinely liked them, faults and all. I wanted to protect them yet at the same time, enjoy life with them.
I feel this book gives a really interesting glimpse at the toxic beauty standards that is so rife in South Korea and Asian culture. I had been aware of some of it before - the skin bleaching, extreme diets and exercise from K-Pop stars (or factories) - but seeing how it affects ordinary girls and how the desire to look a certain way can lead them to an almost 'acceptable' version of prostitution was almost hard to believe. The book also did a good job at really showing the class divide in South Korea too - the difference between growing up rich or being one of the chaebol, and growing up with little to no money - the lack of opportunity people got and how young women had to look at a future where they would never be able to afford their own homes.
I wish we got a bit more - I wonder if we need Wonna at all considering the rest of the book was focused on younger characters in a different stage of life. I liked the female friendship and how they came together near the end but I'm not sure if Wonna's POV gave anything particularly new or striking to the story in comparison to the others. The ending was slightly abrupt but left off with a nice image of women supporting women....more
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