I only know Kenan Thompson from SNL. While I did grow up watching some episodes of All That whenever it aired, I mainly only remembered Amanda Bynes. I only know Kenan Thompson from SNL. While I did grow up watching some episodes of All That whenever it aired, I mainly only remembered Amanda Bynes.
That said, this was a decent celebrity audiobook memoir (which I listened at x1.5 speed). It was interesting learning about Kenan's experience with being a child star, and how he managed to stay relatively normal while his child star counterparts struggled with substance abuse. He shares many behind-the-scenes from his time on All That, Kenan & Kel, SNL, and the ups and downs of being part of the industry.
The parts I enjoyed the most were the sections about parenting and when he talked about his daughters. He seems like a sweet, loving father who is extremely proud and supportive of his two daughters. ________________________________ If you like the following, then you might enjoy When I Was Your Age or vice-versa:
[image]
[image]
[image]
[image]
...more
This was such a beautiful story with some tragedy, sadness and darkness.
Sai is a sweet 25-year-old man who runs a teahouse and cares for his sick mothThis was such a beautiful story with some tragedy, sadness and darkness.
Sai is a sweet 25-year-old man who runs a teahouse and cares for his sick mother. He also runs a side business as a matchmaker to help others find their Fated One because he was born with the rare ability to see the red threads of fate. Despite his ability to help others find their Fated Ones, Sai had always been terrified of finding his own Fated One because unlike everyone else's threads, which are bright red, his is grey...
One day, Sai comes across a pair of dragon scales, which he uses to cure his mother's symptoms. He's immediately apprehended by the Emperor for the possession of these scales and tasked to hunt down the dragon and bring it back to the Emporer. And so, Sai sets out to find the dragon while also sensing that he's getting closer to his own Fated One.
Although the story was predictable and worldbuilding was told in a very simple format (and leaves a lot to the imagination), the prose was lovely, I really connected with the characters and their journeys, and I loved that Sai's sweet personality and oftentimes fun interactions were balanced with dark events (TW: self-harm, torture, gore, a lot of deaths, etc.). I found the story to be incredibly moving and reminded me of stories and historical C-dramas that I grew up on.
I have minor complaints with the pacing and worldbuilding (view spoiler)[(particularly the fact that there's an ongoing war/conflict that is only mentioned in passing, and how quickly Sai was able to find his Fated One, Jyn) (hide spoiler)] but I love Sai so much, most of the stars in my review are dedicated to him. He's so lovable and optimistic. If you like Lazlo Strange from Strange the Dreamer, you'll adore Sai.
**I received a physical ARC from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
________________________________ If you like the following, then you might enjoy The Last Dragon of the East or vice-versa:
[image]
[image]
[image]
...more
This was like the Muslim version of On the Come Up in which a Muslim-American teen expresses her anger, frustration, betrayal, humiliation, a3.5/5
This was like the Muslim version of On the Come Up in which a Muslim-American teen expresses her anger, frustration, betrayal, humiliation, and dehumanizing experience with racism and discrimination via poetry.
Nida is a poet who was illegally frisked at a political rally (in which the cops tore her hijab off). After this traumatizing event, she turned to her poetry and wrote about the experience, never imagining that someone would enter it into a national poetry competition without her permission. Her angry poetic letter to the senatorial candidate who OK'd the illegal frisking went viral and made national headlines, upturning Nida's quiet life and making her the target of a media frenzy, a lawsuit, and even more racism and hate from those who try to paint her as a terrorist.
What I liked: This messaging and emotions in this book was strong. This book was an emotional journey and reminded me of the same emotions I felt while reading The Hate U Give. There's a lot of anger and feelings of hopelessness emanating from the chapters that were heartbreaking, moving and eye-opening.
I'm not Muslim, but as a reader, I felt that this book captured the sense of fear of living in America as a Muslim post 9/11, the frustrating lack of ability to exercise religious freedom in "the land of the free", the feelings of hopelessness from being part of a two-party political system in which your only options are to vote for the lesser evil, and the horrifying way "free speech" can be twisted to paint an even bigger target on the backs of Muslim poets.
What I didn't like: Unfortunately, I typically don't enjoy magical realism and this was no exception. Although I understand why it was included and the symbolism behind it, I did not particularly enjoy that aspect of this book.
Some of the poetry was good, but I found most of it to be only OK - perhaps it would be better to experience this via audiobook format.
Finally, I wish Nida had a better support system, or a stronger relationship with another character to help her through her experience. She essentially alienates everyone around her and pushes them all away. Although the people around her still came out to support her in the end, the growth between their relationships were lacking and could have been developed further (particularly between Nida and her sister, with Jawad, Mamou, her mom, etc.).
TL;DR - This is a very important book that puts into perspective what it's like to be a hijab-wearing Muslim teenager in USA post 9/11.
3.5/5 (for the audiobook, which, unfortunately, was not narrated by Tina Turner)
As implied by the title, this memoir is about Tina Turner's love life 3.5/5 (for the audiobook, which, unfortunately, was not narrated by Tina Turner)
As implied by the title, this memoir is about Tina Turner's love life - from her abusive relationship with her first husband, Ike Turner, to her loving and happily-ever-after relationship and marriage to Erwin Bach.
Aside from growing up to Tina Turner's hit songs, I didn't really know much about her. I certainly didn't know she was in an abusive relationship with a husband who constantly beat her, and controlled her career and finances. It takes immense strength to leave an abusive relationship, which she talks about at length (and it is probably why she didn't narrate the audiobook, as it may have been too painful to revisit... or perhaps she didn't narrate the audiobook due to her declining health).
I love that Tina Turner was able to find love again with a caring partner and, as a fellow Swiss, I loved that she became a Swiss citizen!
This book made me wish I watched the Tina Turner musical (which was in Toronto just a few months ago! I missed it - nooo!) [image]
Audiobook Comments: I listened to the audiobook at x1.60 speed. I was disappointed that Tina Turner didn't narrate the audiobook (she narrated the foreword, but that's it). The narrator, Heather Alicia Simms, narrated the audiobook a bit too happily, even when narrating serious and sad moments, which bothered me. I think I would prefer reading the physical book rather than listening to the audiobook in this case, seeing as Tina Turner wasn't the narrator.
_________________________________ If you liked the following, then you might enjoy My Love Story: A Memoir or vice-versa:
[image]
[image]
[image]
...more
I've been trying to read more poetry but have to admit that it's a genre that I have a hard time appreciating and that I rarely enjoy... I was ho2.5/5
I've been trying to read more poetry but have to admit that it's a genre that I have a hard time appreciating and that I rarely enjoy... I was hoping that this collection would be the exception but alas, I must continue with my search.
"All I ask is to be let in, to lie down in your arms like blood lapping at a heart. I want to bask in the temple of your presence. I want to bear the burden of watching you cry."
This is a very short collection of 10 poems with themes of spirituality and queerness. The writing is lovely but it wasn't something I particularly connected with.
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
This was such an entertaining and clever story full of funny characters, witty banter, some drama and mystery, a delightful romance, and a complicatedThis was such an entertaining and clever story full of funny characters, witty banter, some drama and mystery, a delightful romance, and a complicated relationship between a deeply religious Muslim father and a son who identifies as Muslim but does not practice.
Our religion was the same. Our experience of it was different.
I really liked Syed M. Masood's previous book The Bad Muslim Discount which focused on the overall theme of what it means to be a 'good Muslim' from two characters who experienced the religion in very different ways.
Masood's latest book, The Last Man in Paradise maintains similar themes, but with the added layer of complex family dynamics and a romance that I 100% was rooting for.
The story is told from Azaan's POV and starts with Azaan as a teenager and aspiring actor, who was caught kissing his (white, Jewish) girlfriend, Madison, in the parking lot during his father's interfaith outreach event. Azaan had always been a rebellious teenager living under his father - Imam Saqlain Saifi's - strict and abusive upbringing. But Azaan's actions that night somehow crossed a line. He was beaten to a pulp and then kicked out of his home.
With the help and guidance from a close family friend, Tiger Uncle, they manage to convince Imam Saifi to send Azaan to Egypt to become a reformed Muslim and to pay for his education to become an imam. But the moment Azaan landed in Egypt, he hopped on another flight to England and used his tuition money to study acting.
I mean, religion is one thing, but acting... well, that is a serious business.
11 years later, Azaan has remained in distant contact with his parents who believe that he's been working as an imam in UK (when, in reality, he's a struggling actor). One day, he receives a call that his dying grandfather has requested for him to come back home to Redding. And so, Azaan flies back home and starts preparing for his biggest role yet - pretending to be an imam.
This was a brilliantly crafted novel that was both wildly entertaining and funny, but also sweet and thoughtful. There were so many hilarious moments and dialogue that made me laugh out loud but there were also moments that made me sit back, think, and reflect on what (little) I know about faith and religion.
I also absolutely loved Azaan. His sense of humour is amazing (it's honestly surprising that he's an actor that doesn't do comedies because he is whip smart and says/thinks the funniest things). He's also such a romantic and has been holding a torch for Madison for the past decade. I honestly highlighted and annotated nearly every interaction he's had with Madison because their chemistry is amazing and he always says the most poetic (and sometimes wonderfully cheesy) things to her that make my heart melt.
I also have to point out that all the other characters were also very well developed and every single one of them has a different, yet interesting and perhaps even valid, interpretation and approach to practicing their religion.
Finally, I was extremely tickled by the discussion the characters had about representation and their thoughts on the book, The Bad Muslim Discount. It was also very meta and seems to be in response to the negative reviews from that book.
tl;dr - Overall, a very entertaining and compelling read that was funny, thought-provoking, and feels like an authentic portrayal of the messy relationships, family dynamics and complexities of being Muslim American.
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**...more
I was ready to love this book because the synopsis made it seem like an adult romance version of The First Stone which is one of my favourite3.5/5
I was ready to love this book because the synopsis made it seem like an adult romance version of The First Stone which is one of my favourite books of all time.
Instead, this was a light and fluffy romance centered around a dark and traumatic past that the two characters share.
While in high school, Helen Zhang's sister died in a car accident. Helen, understandably, never quite forgave her classmate, Grant Shephard, for being the driver. Fast forward 13 years and Helen's popular YA series is being adapted for television which is great except she's forced to work with Grant, who happens to be one of the screenwriters for the show. An enemies-to-lovers workplace romance ensues.
While I did enjoy the story (it was entertaining), it ultimately failed to meet my expectations in terms of the depth and complexity of the characters and their relationships that is required for a story with a conflict like this one. This book had the potential to create layered characters and really explore their emotions, trauma, familial relationships, and healing process, but it fell short in all those areas and failed to make their emotions and reactions feel raw, genuine, and believable.
The author is a screenwriter and this book definitely reads like it was written for the big screen - overly dramatic with charming but surface level characters (on the plus side, this meant the audiobook was easy to listen to and quite enjoyable). The ending was rushed (in true movie, epilogue-like fashion) and honestly not very believable because there's a lot that needs to be resolved between Helen and Grant and Helen's parents...
I think this book would have been a lot better if it was lighter and avoided attempting to tackle darker and heavier themes (because those were the weakest parts of the book).
Disclaimer: I've never actually ever watched Drag Race so I'm unfamiliar with RuPaul's work and personality.
Although he has certainly lived an i2.5/5
Disclaimer: I've never actually ever watched Drag Race so I'm unfamiliar with RuPaul's work and personality.
Although he has certainly lived an interesting life, he somehow manages to make growing up in the 60's and 70's, his adolescent years of partying and taking drugs, his pursuit for fame, and his career in drag all seem fairly dull. He narrates his life in a very detached way and really glosses over important life events without digging deeper and sharing any emotional vulnerability. The dispassionate narration made it very difficult for me to connect with or feel inspired by his stories.
This memoir mostly consists of Whoopi reminiscing about her mother and brother who have both passed. She shares a lot of wonderful memories and t3.5/5
This memoir mostly consists of Whoopi reminiscing about her mother and brother who have both passed. She shares a lot of wonderful memories and the audiobook (which I listened to at x1.3 speed) is told in such a way that it feels like you're listening to a friend talking about their loved ones and their fondest memories.
It's a joy listening to Whoopi talk.
----------------------------------------- Other celebrity memoirs with similar vibes (light and entertaining, with very conversational narration):
[image]
[image]
[image]
[image]
...more
If I had kids, I'd want them to read this book because it more or less summarized all the media content that I've absorbed throughout my entire childhIf I had kids, I'd want them to read this book because it more or less summarized all the media content that I've absorbed throughout my entire childhood and teenage years. This book is a walk down memory lane for any Asian American/Canadian millennial.
This book is a compilation of essays, interviews (with a lot of notable Asian-Americans!!), and lists that, as the title suggests, attempts to encapsulate the history of Asian America in the media from the 90's until the the early 2020's. It covers everything from notable Asian Americans in movies, TV, YouTube, gaming, sports, music, and more. Although many of the lists that it provides are by no means an exhaustive list, they do come close!
I will note that some of the content is repetitive. I was also ready for this book to focus only on the history of Asians in the USA, but they do touch upon (albeit briefly) the larger global diaspora (Canada, Australia and UK). I would prefer if there was a bit more about Asian Canadians (since many notable "Asian Americans" named in this book are also Canadian...) but overall, this was a great summary of all the influential Asian Americans that inspired me as I was growing up.
This is a book that celebrates the achievements of Asian Americans in the entertainment industry. I don't think there was a single Asian American YouTuber, actor, singer, or athlete that was named in this book that I didn't know about beforehand, and they all deserve to be celebrated for their accomplishments in paving the way for future Asian Americans to succeed.
Audiobook Comments: Although the audiobook was well-narrated (I listened to it at x1.3 speed), I think I would prefer reading the actual book as it includes illustrations and lists of artists, songs, movies, and shows that I'll probably want to revisit.
This was such a slow, quiet, and beautifully written character-driven historical fiction with a bit of magical realism inspired by the East Asian mythThis was such a slow, quiet, and beautifully written character-driven historical fiction with a bit of magical realism inspired by the East Asian mythology of fox spirits.
Set in 1908 Manchuria and Japan, the story follows two characters in alternating POVs:
1. Snow Hu or "Ah-San" (told in first person)- a fox with the ability to appear human and exert a certain level of influence on humans. We follow Snow's journey of travelling across Manchuria and Japan to hunt down the man responsible for the death of her child. She does all this while also trying to keep her identity a secret as various regions in Asia regard foxes differently (some worship foxes while others regard foxes as bad omens).
2. Bao (told in third person) - an investigator with the useful ability to detect lies. He's been hired to find the identity of a Jane Doe. The more he investigates the matter, the more he discovers strange occurrences involving foxes, which brings up childhood memories and an interest to investigate further.
"Be careful. Not all foxes mean well." "But are they not gods, or at least spirits?" "It depends on what you want to believe. What's important is the ability to tell truth from lies... Or perhaps truth from what's merely hope."
I really enjoyed the quiet wisdom that Snow imparts, the mysteriousness and etherealness of foxes, and the delightful coincidences that bring Bao closer to his childhood friend - it's all woven together in such a seamless and beautiful way.
On a side note, as a Chinese reader, I loved that the book included the Chinese meanings of some of the names (and the Chinese characters in the Notes section at the end of the book) which really helped me ensure that I used the right tones when reading out the names (for example the author clearly indicated that one of the character's name was "Chunhua" as in "spring flower" which was incredibly helpful so that I didn't have to guess which "Chun" and which "hua" to use when I'm reading the book).
I also found the margins used for this book quite interesting. I don't think I've ever read a book with footnotes on the left/right margins. The author notes that they originally intended for there to be a lot more footnotes but ultimately cut it down (thank goodness!). However, I have to admit that I do prefer having the footnotes located along the side of the pages rather than in the footer. For readers who like to annotate their books, this book is formatted perfectly for just that.
As a Chinese-Canadian millennial, this book made me feel seen.
When you grow up the way I did - torn between Asia and Am
May 10, 2024 ARC Review:
As a Chinese-Canadian millennial, this book made me feel seen.
When you grow up the way I did - torn between Asia and America, trying to shed what you are, trying to be what you're not - the world can make you feel worthless. You're not Asian enough. You're not American enough. You're not smart enough. You're not talented enough. If you're an Asian man, you're not attractive enough. And then, louder than all the rest: You don't belong here. You hear that one all the time. Everywhere.
Jon M. Chu is a well known director, particularly amongst the Asian American and YouTube community (circa 2008). Chu's journey to becoming a filmmaker, from growing up surrounded by emerging cutting edge tech in Silicon Valley to garnering Stephen Spielberg's attention right out of college was fascinating and reminded me a lot of Spielberg's movie, The Fabelmans.
But what made me really connect with Chu were his stories about his parents, his Chinese-American upbringing, his work ethic and passion for storytelling, and finding his community amongst other Asian Americans. Although Chu and I lived in different parts of the continent with very different career paths, I found his childhood stories and insights and struggles with being Asian in America extremely relatable.
I've been a long time fan of Chu's and reading this book made me realize that I had a lot in common with him (and I'm sure many other Asian Americans/Canadians will feel the same way). Our childhoods, family dynamics, exposure to Asian American YouTubers and dance crews, and perfectionism and work ethic, all felt so familiar. I loved that he gave a shoutout to OG Asian American YouTubers Ryan Higa, Wong Fu Productions, and Kina Grannis (I would also like to mention other favourites of mine, including KevJumba and Happy Slip) and shoutout to OG ABDC Asian dance crews like Jabbawockeez and Kaba Modern (he forgot about Quest Crew!)
Without a central organizing force, one video at a time, Asian Americans began shifting the way they were perceived by American society - and by one another. Watching those videos, reading the comments, gave me something I'd never had before: proof that other people could relate to my in-between identity. YouTube soothed my still-unresolved cultural identity crisis, the feeling that I didn't fit in with other Asians - or other Americans - that had dogged me since I was a kid. I began to understand that many, many other young Asian Americans were proud of their family heritage and eager to immerse in mainstream American culture. They - we - didn't pit one side of themselves against the other but yearned to reconcile the two.
In many ways, I think this sparked Chu's path to making sure that Asian-Americans were represented in mainstream media, which led to the worldwide blockbuster movie, Crazy Rich Asians.
It was time for the Asian Avengers to assemble.
I'll be honest - Crazy Rich Asians was one of those books where I thought the movie was way better. Learning some of the behind-the-scenes of how the movie came together really made me want to rewatch the movie.
There was a lot that I loved about this book but most of all, I loved that this book was very introspective and focused a lot on Chu's personal growth and his outlook on his career and Asian-American identity. Overall, this was a fantastic memoir that I urge other Asian-Americans/Chinese millennials to read.
My only complaints with this book is: 1) Chu mentions in passing his disappointment with how poorly Jem did but doesn't really go into any details (I would prefer more details, or no mention of it at all - his mentioning of it in passing has sparked my curiosity and now I want to know more about how he feels about it and lessons learned!) I suspect Chu still hasn't fully healed from his experience with Jem and doesn't want to dwell on it. 2) the ebook formatting includes random 'blurbs' sprinkled throughout the book which throws me off whenever they appear because they disrupt the flow of the book (I also kept mistaking the blurbs as chapter headings and the mark of a new chapter...)
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
------------------------------ If you like the following, then you might enjoy Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen or vice-versa:
[image]
[image]
[image]
[image]
------------------------------
April 1, 2024 Pre-Review:
I'm so excited to have received an ARC of this book!!!
[image]
I can count on one hand the number of Hollywood movie directors I can name, and Jon M. Chu is one of them (the others are Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Tim Burton, and James Cameron). I think the fact that he's a successful Chinese director who made it big in Hollywood has kept my interest - not to mention that I love his works.
I've been following Jon M. Chu's work since ~2008 (The Adam/Chu Dance Crew vs. M&M Cru YouTube Dance battle was EPIC - also, 2008 was the peak for creative YouTube content imo and this dance battle is proof of that), I loved Step-Up 2 and 3D (I had a huge crush on Adam Sevani) and I was obsessed with The League of Extraordinary Dancers. I also thought Crazy Rich Asians was one of the rare movies that ended up being way better than the book (thanks to Chu, no doubt). Not to mention that I am beyond excited for the movie adaptation of Wicked to come out later this year!
As you can tell, I'm a fan and I can't wait to get started on this book....more
Gemma is a soprano from New York who travels to San Francisco to join the opera and visit her bes3.5/5
This story follows two POVs - Gemma and Suling.
Gemma is a soprano from New York who travels to San Francisco to join the opera and visit her best friend Nellie. When she arrived in San Francisco, Nellie appeared to have moved on and had left for greener pastures. So Gemma takes up residence in Nellie's old apartment and slowly becomes more acquainted with the people in the area including Henry Thornton - a wealthy patron of the arts who was willing to help Gemma give her the boost she needed in her singing career.
Suling is a seamstress living in San Francisco's Chinatown. She's grieving from the death of her parents and heartbroken from being ghosted by her lover Reggie. Meanwhile, her uncle has arranged for her to marry a doctor who is twice her age. Desperate to get away, she tries to save enough money to leave town. So when Henry Thornton offered Suling a job to patch up an exquisite dragon robe, Suling couldn't say no.
I thought the first half of the book was great. The characters were interesting and I was charmed by Henry Thornton. I enjoyed the historical Chinese representation and the struggles of being an American-Chinese woman during that period in time, and I loved learning more about the opera. I also liked that every chapter in the first half counted down to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which added more tension and suspense. Unfortunately, I became less invested in the story during the second half of the book. ...more
A cute but very slow-moving middle-grade fantasy comic book about a mermaid, a firebird, and a witch who want to see the world but somehow find themseA cute but very slow-moving middle-grade fantasy comic book about a mermaid, a firebird, and a witch who want to see the world but somehow find themselves wrapped up in some sort of prophecy.
The illustrations were adorable but I was disappointed to find that this wasn't a standalone comic (and is planned as a duology). I have nothing against duologies, but there wasn't enough momentum built into the plot and characters for me to be curious about the second book. I wish more time was spent on developing the characters and their relationships (perhaps by having them explore a bit more and share more fun and intimate moments). ...more
DNF 3 hours and 39 minutes of 36% into the audiobook
I'm sure Maria Ressa was a great journalist, but she's not a very good memoirist. This is less of DNF 3 hours and 39 minutes of 36% into the audiobook
I'm sure Maria Ressa was a great journalist, but she's not a very good memoirist. This is less of a memoir and more of a boring text spouting facts and opinions about the role of social media in spreading fake news.
Although Ressa does mention her childhood upbringing, career, and accomplishments, it was done so in a self-congratulatory way with no introspection or self-reflection. ...more
I kept going back and replaying the first 5 minutes of the book over and over again but it kept going in one earDNF 7 minutes or 2% into the audiobook
I kept going back and replaying the first 5 minutes of the book over and over again but it kept going in one ear and out the other. I can't read a book that fails to maintain my interest....more
So far, all I know about myself is that I was a servant, but I am that no longer. I'm just a kid telling you about the life and death of my last
3.5/5
So far, all I know about myself is that I was a servant, but I am that no longer. I'm just a kid telling you about the life and death of my last master. It's a story that will hopefully satisfy you, so that you will let me go. And then I will be something... which is to say, I will be free. But right now, I am not a warrior, not a monk, not a servant, and not yet free.
This story, set in the Silk Road during the 11th century, is told from Monkey's POV (Monkey is the boy's name - he's not actually a monkey but he is a sort-of monk), and tells the story of how Samir escaped numerous assassination attempts.
At first, Monkey sees Samir as his saviour - a man who saved a young orphan boy from being stoned to death. But the more he gets to know Samir, the more he realizes that Samir is a liar who likes to spin tales and trick others into trading/buying his wares. As a rather dishonest traveling merchant, this means Samir's lies have garnered him enemies from around the world. These enemies have hired minor assassins (because major assassins are reserved for nobility) to kill Samir, including a Viking beserker, a Roman Rogue Legion, a Persian mystic, a Bedouin clan, a Chinese ablutionist, a Mongol archer, and most terrifyingly, the Cid.
And so, Samir and his caravan embark on a journey to Samarkand while narrowly escaping many assassination attempts.
Despite all the assassination attempts, this was a pretty slow-moving story that's narrated charmingly (the prose was lovely, but I don't know if it's something that children would appreciate). Some assassins were more memorable than others, and I think the way the story ended tied everything together.
Overall, great storytelling and writing with a fantastic setting and an entertaining cast of characters. ...more
As much as I was intrigued by the setting (set during the Japanese occupation of Malaya), I was bored for the most part. I didn’t like the multiple POAs much as I was intrigued by the setting (set during the Japanese occupation of Malaya), I was bored for the most part. I didn’t like the multiple POVs (the mom’s POV from before occupation and the children’s POVs during occupation). The characters all fell flat and I didn’t care for any of them.
I enjoyed the artwork/illustrations and I appreciate (to a certain extent) the very realistic portrayal of how pre-teens react to the darkness of adulI enjoyed the artwork/illustrations and I appreciate (to a certain extent) the very realistic portrayal of how pre-teens react to the darkness of adulthood.
This was a slice-of-life story about a summer spent by Lake Huron where the main character Rose and her friend Windy observe the messy lives of the older teenagers and adults around them.
It's a slow and rather depressing story. I wish there was more of a plot and resolution.
Loading...
