Reviews

Homebase by Shawn Wong

lattelibrarian's review against another edition

4.0

Loved it. This book gives off wonderful literary descriptions of the model minority and the perpetual foreigner and how it relates to Asian-Americans. It gives many examples of the experiences encountered.

darriananders's review against another edition

2.0

Great explanations of some trials Chinese Americans had to go through when first arriving in America, as well as following generations. It was really difficult to follow as he jumped between time periods and perspectives.

litprof's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

An important work of Asian-American lit, and the only Asian-American literary work in print when it was first published, the author claims in a defensively-written introduction. Though poetic in parts, it is painfully dated in its misogyny, silencing of female characters, and macho masculinity, that I almost couldn’t finish it. I started reading it aloud to my (Asian-American) partner, and she stopped me after ten pages because she was grossed out by the repetitive focus on the boy’s father and grandfather, and that was way before the sexist pedophilia started.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexism

usedtotheweather's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

I'm not quite sure what I expected from this novel--but I was surprised and taken in by it's lyric landscape reflections, the weaving of memory, history, and selfhood, through grief and simple insistence on one's place in the world through and despite mourning.

marcusheredia's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0