Yet another book has made it onto this blog due to the joint efforts of Goodreads and Half Price Books. The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan is one of those books with a cover that makes you take a closer look, a title that draws you in, and then you read the synopsis and find yourself needing to know more.
The Situation: It is the summer after sophomore year, and Leigh has finally kissed her best friend, Axel, something she has wanted to do for years. It is of course a moment that will change everything, but it is around the same time that Leigh's mother decided to end her own life. Dory had struggled with depression longer than Leigh had known about her feelings for Axel, and after years of therapy and medication, it all finally became too much. Now Leigh and her father Brian will struggle to keep themselves together, something they were already having difficulty doing. And then Leigh decides to make things even harder by requesting to meet the Taiwanese grandparents she's never seen. She is convinced it is what Dory wants her to do. But Leigh is also convinced that her mother has transformed into a bird.
The Problem: Relations had been strained between Dory and her parents ever since she insisted on moving to the U.S. and marrying a man who is not Chinese or Taiwanese. So when Leigh and her father show up at her Waigong and Waipo's house in Taiwan, they are happy to see her, but a brief and intense argument with her father causes him to leave. Now Leigh is in Taiwan, staying with people she only just met, who speak a language she does not understand, while attempting to track down a bird she believes is her mother, as her most important friendship unravels back home. Leigh does her best to piece together the clues her mother left behind, one of which is a half-finished suicide note with most of the lines crossed out, while holding onto her own sanity. And memories come to her that often confuse more than clarify. Leigh understands there is no rushing through grief, but she hopes to find answers before it is too late.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel set in present day, but alternating between the past and future, the U.S. and Taiwan. Starting at the beginning of the summer after her sophomore year of high school, and the day her mother committed suicide, Leigh tells her story of heartache and grief, and the slow journey she had to take through it all in the hopes of finding out what her mother wanted her to know. As she spends the summer in Taiwan with the grandparents she does not know, Leigh slowly learns more and more about her mother, her parents' relationship, her Taiwanese family and their culture, and even about herself and what she really feels about what is happening with Axel. Blending reality with magic and fantasy, Leigh's journey is filled with painful memories that are not all her own; ornaments and photographs from the past that trigger them; the colors that she and Axel make up and assign to everything; and a giant red bird that clearly has a message it wants to deliver. The novel deals with depression, suicide, the difficulty of family, the difficulty of being a teenager, what it means to be biracial not only in the U.S, but also Asia, and even art and colors, and their relationship to music.
My Verdict: For the most part, this is an interesting premise with decent follow-through. With the time-hopping back and forth, things never get confusing or muddled, and thankfully, there are no glaring loose ends once everything is said and done. But for some reason, I feel like it did not need to be as long as it was. There is certainly a lot going on, with Leigh looking into her mother's past, navigating a summer with Taiwanese grandparents, and reflecting on her own history with Axel. Even so, I found myself dealing with something that often comes up when a novel has more than one plot point. There is almost always going to be one plot point that is far more interesting that the others, or one that is not as engaging as the others. I wanted all of the questions to be answered, but I was not so interested in the actual investigation. And once the answers are found, a significant amount of suspension of disbelief must be applied. I understand that is usually necessary when elements of fantasy are involved, but the author asks the readers to ignore various clues that do not at all line up with some of Leigh's conclusions. All things considered, it is still a good book that explores grief, regret, depression, family, and the importance of color.
Favorite Moment: There is a lot of talk about food and colors in this book, and it always added to the overall story and experience.
Favorite Character: Leigh's friend Caro is forthright, honest, and is not interested in dancing around things. She is basically the type of friend Leigh and Axel pretend to be to each other.
Favorite Quote: "It's okay to be afraid. But not okay if be afraid means you do nothing. You must not do nothing. That's not life worth living." - Dory on fear after Leigh denies being afraid to go for an amazing opportunity.
Recommended Reading: Both the title and the cover reminded me of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton, even though the plots are completely different; however, they do both use magical realism to paint a beautiful story.
I think I can effectively blame my growing interest in the people of China on Evan Osnos' Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China. Osnos did such an amazing job chronicling the change among the people of China that I am willing to pick up almost any new book on the subject. And this interest has led me to Patriot Number One: American Dreams in Chinatown by Lauren Hilgers, a book that was initially supposed to be a magazine article, but as time went on, it became clear that what Hilgers found was a much larger story.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that focuses mostly on the activism, immigration, and the family life of Zhuang Liehong, a Chinese man from the small village of Wukan. Hilgers began reporting on Zhuang and the political unrest in Wukan in 2012, but she begins the story in 2013, when Zhuang began to make serious plans to escape from China and into the United States. Like many immigrants, Zhuang had dreams of making a name for himself and a small fortune, hoping to eventually be able to send both money and grand stories of success to his family back home. Once the escape plan brings both Zhuang and his wife Little Yan to New York City, the real adventure begins, and what follows are years of trying to negotiate his dreams of success against the reality of an immigrant's life in the U.S. Not only that, Zhuang has a hard time hearing about the continued injustices that still plague Wukan, while he attempts to restart life in a new country. As Little Yan points out, protesting does not help pay the bills. When Zhuang still lived in China, he was able to be in the middle of the protests and action, which is what ultimately led him to seek escape. He manages to find like-minded immigrants in his new home of Flushing, New York, such as Tang, a democracy activist who was involved in the Tienanmen Square incident in 1989. But Hilgers also follows immigrants who came to the U.S. for non-political reasons, such as Karen, who was pressured to immigrate by her mother because of the new opportunities she would have. Hilgers follows their stories through mid-2017, giving a thorough view of the trials of a Chinese immigrant in New York City.
My Verdict: I wanted an interesting look at the everyday life of a Chinese immigrant as they attempt to essentially rebuild their life in a new place, and that is exactly what I got. It most likely would have sufficient to follow only Zhuang and Little Yan's story, but Hilgers decided to touch on other immigrants as well. Like Zhuang, Tang escaped China for political reasons, but many years earlier. And Karen's official reason for leaving was for a better education and opportunities. Hilgers' reporting is thorough, and no details are left out. Possibly the only issue I had was with the timeline, as Hilgers does not tell the story beginning in 2012 and continuing to the end. The chapters are conveniently labeled with the time period in which the events take place, but they are placed out of order, so the reader jumps back and forth through time, often moving from China, to the U.S, and then back again in a matter of pages. Add in the characters beyond Zhuang and Little Yan and the timeline becomes incredibly jumbled. Other than that, it is an intriguing personal account of an immigrant's story.
Favorite Moment: When Kaizhi, Zhuang and Little Yan's son, discovers a fascination with trains.
Recommended Reading: I have already mentioned Osnos' Age of Ambition, but I also recommend The Barefoot Lawyer: A Blind Man's Fight for Justice and Freedom in China by Chen Guangcheng, who is mentioned in both Age of Ambition and Patriot Number One.
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi is another Goodreads find with a premise that caught my attention. With promises of a story about a girl who develops multiple selves, "written with stylistic brilliance," I figured it was worth checking out this debut novel by a new author many people are excited about.
The Situation: Ada is born the second of three kids to Saul and Saachi in southern Nigeria. From the moment she was born, there was something not quite right about her. Even as an infant, she is hard to comfort, prone to loud and sustained outbursts, and her parents cannot figure out what to do with her. Things only get worse as Ada gets older, until a traumatic event in college changes her, allowing the completion of a transformation that had long been in process. Ada speaks freely with the multiple selves inside of her head, and the conversations are not always pleasant. But the selves are insistent on keeping Ada safe, even if it means protecting her from herself.
The Problem: To see the situation from the outside, it would not look as if the selves are protecting Ada from anyone, including herself. They have her break glasses and mirrors, only to use the shards to cut herself; they ruthlessly and efficiently hunt down men to play with sexually, only to leave them broken in the end; and they lead her in destroying friendships if only to get some small temporary pleasure for themselves. None of this leaves Ada feeling protected or safe, and any attempts to take her life back fail. If Ada does not find a way to regain control, one self will lead her to its goal of ultimate and final freedom.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel that is set in the present and in various locations. Ada's early life takes place in Nigeria, with her moving to America for college, and then traveling all over the world in her adult life. Many readers have placed this book under the label of literary fiction because of the unique narration, and the amount of story that takes place inside of Ada's head. In fact, most of the narration does not come from Ada, but from the "selves" inside of her, all of which claim to be gods or ogbanje, evil spirits that intentionally cause misfortune. There is We, a collection of selves; Asughara, a protective but also selfish and violent self; and St. Vincent, a gentle self that prefers that Ada reject her more feminine qualities. The We self makes it clear that there may be more selves in play here, but these are the ones the reader sees the most, and all of them claim to care for Ada, while also putting her through immense pain. They will insist they care for her, and then on the next page will assure the reader that they care nothing about what she wants and will do as they please. Only at rare points will Ada seek medical help for what is happening to her, while the selves protest and fight to hold onto their control. And possibly the saddest thing about this novel is the amount of abuse Ada endures from real humans, in addition to what goes on in her head.
My Verdict: This is certainly a fascinating look into a mind that has split itself into separate selves, seemingly in the interest of protection and self-preservation. It is when Ada goes through traumatic events that a new one seemed to show up, and they all have their own agenda, while being more or less united in their actions. There are plenty of heartbreaking moments in the novel, and they mostly come from the self that claims to be the most intent on saving her. Ada is the very definition of the idea of being your own worst enemy, as her worst and most abusive relationship comes from inside of her own head. With intense and impressive language, Emezi writes from her own experiences, and gives us a character who desperately needs to be saved from herself. My only warning would be for anyone with trauma triggers, specifically physical and sexual abuse, as there are plenty of them in the 200+ pages of this book.
Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* When We admits the truth that Ada is stronger than they are, and that control was easy when she did not know it.
Favorite Character: I would like to be able to pick Ada's mother, Saachi, but she is often so far removed from her daughter's life that she is rendered mostly useless in helping her. She leaves her children while Ada is still fairly young, which ends up being one of the many events that aids in her daughter's downward spiral.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton, which follows a teenage boy as he struggles with schizophrenia and a new school environment. There is also You Are Here: An Owner's Manual for Dangerous Minds by Jenny Lawson, which is more or less a coloring book for adults filled with encouragements and witty insights.
In 2015 Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale won for Best Historical Fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards. Now Hannah has returned with another historical fiction novel, this one taking place in the wild setting that was small town Alaska in the 1970s. Against this often cold, unforgiving, but also beautiful backdrop, one family will struggle to survive against the dangers both outside and inside of their own home.
The Situation: It is 1974 and Vietnam veteran Ernt Allbright has decided that the lower 48 states are headed for disaster and it is time to head north. A former friend and fellow soldier has left him with land and a small cabin in the tiny town that is Kaneq, Alaska, and this is where Ernt has decided his family will begin their new lives. Pretty much immediately upon arrival, Ernt, his wife Cora, and their 13 year-old daughter Leni, realize they are unprepared for what surviving in Alaska will require, but Ernt is undeterred, and the family gets to work. But summers in Alaska, while incredibly beautiful, can also be deceiving. The days when the sun rarely sets do nothing to prepare you for the cold ones in winter, the season when the darkness reigns. As the Allbrights work harder than they have ever worked before to prepare for their first Alaskan winter, Leni knows that being able to survive the harsh outside will only be half the battle.
The Problem: Ever since he returned from Vietnam, Ernt has been a changed man, and not for the better. In the lower 48 states, he was unable to hold down a job, which resulted in the family moving around a lot, with Alaska being their most recent destination. While the Alaskan summer seems to have energized him and made him a new man, the encroaching darkness will prove to be too much on him, causing effects on his mood that make him more dangerous than any animal out in the wilderness. Leni manages to find refuge in Matthew, the only kid in town her age, though her father hates his father, mostly out of jealousy. The only thing that embarrasses Leni more than how her father acts is the way her mother puts up with it. Alaska seems to have the ability to bring out both the best and worst of people, turning some of them into survivors, while others flee while they can or get swallowed by the wilderness.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that begins in 1974, but with that majority of the dramatic action taking place in 1978-1979. Ernt Allbright is a Vietnam veteran will severe PTSD, back when the U.S. was not too good at diagnosing and treating it. This is also a time before laws that were designed to protect victims of domestic abuse. Cora felt trapped in her situation, believing that even if she left Ernt, taking Leni with her, he would only track them down and kill them. But Leni knew that really, her mother loved her father too much to leave him or press charges. The locals of Kaneq make it very clear to the Allbrights that their first winter in Alaska will be rough and that they need to spend the majority of the summer preparing. Ernt insists they are up to the challenge, but this is before the days of 18 hours of darkness and unending snow. It is a novel about Alaska, survival, domestic abuse, PTSD, the effects of war, true community, and love.
My Verdict: Much like with The Nightingale, Hannah manages to tell a story about a time and place that is far removed from most of her readers and bring it to them in vivid detail. Few features or moments are lost as Hannah makes sure to pick up every thread and follow it through. As a person who absolutely cannot stand cold weather (I live in Texas for a reason), the details and visuals of this novel made me want to see Alaska with my own eyes. However, as much as I loved the descriptions of the setting, I had the hardest time with Leni as a character. Having Cora stay with her abusive husband was frustrating enough, but Leni's ability to *spoiler alert* make one bad decision after another, and then be crushed by the consequences was incredibly hard to take for 400+ pages. But then again, when a teenage girl is forced to live that kind of life, she does the best she can, which is exactly what Leni did. With a gorgeous setting, and a community of complex characters, fans of Hannah's other novels will love this one, as will anyone who is at all interested in or fascinated by the wilds of Alaska.
Favorite Moment: When Large Marge, the owner of the General Store, storms into the Allbright's home and proceeds to put Ernt in his place.
Favorite Character: Large Marge used to be a prosecutor in Washington, D.C. before leaving it all behind to start over in Alaska. She is loud, confident, generous, and loving. An argument could easily be made that she is the hero of the novel as she manages to come through for Leni and Cora time and time again.
Recommended Reading: Stephen King's The Shining would actually be a great follow-up considering the similarities (snowbound setting, encroaching mental darkness, tense family relationships). But I will also recommend Educated, a nonfiction book by Tara Westover about her life growing up in a survivalist family that did not believe in public education, and her journey to obtain a PhD from Cambridge.
Yet another book has made it onto this blog due to the joint efforts of Goodreads and Half Price Books. The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan is one of those books with a cover that makes you take a closer look, a title that draws you in, and then you read the synopsis and find yourself needing to know more.
