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annreadsabook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is an interesting read that deals with anti-Blackness in Asian American (specifically Korean American) communities, focusing on a conflict based heavily on the murder of Latasha Harlins in the 90s. It reads more like a crime thriller since there's an element of mystery to it, but it also explores very real racial tensions.
First, I want to say that I appreciate Cha's decision to broach an important topic that unfortunately is not discussed in literature very frequently, but which has shaped interracial (Black/Asian American) solidarity and relations for decades. I would love to see more books, and fiction specifically, explore this issue. I appreciated that Cha considers the ways in which Asian American communities, which themselves have experienced devastating racism and racial violence, can perpetuate anti-Blackness because white supremacy pits us all against each other. It's an incredibly important conversation to have, and it's not an easy one.
With that being said, I felt that this book was a bit shallow in its engagement with the issues. The writing is a tad on the nose, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, since everyone needs a starting point from which they begin thinking about these issues. But I did feel like Cha was writing for an audience with a very low-level understanding of these issues. And for me, the ending wasn't all that satisfying--Grace has gone through the bare minimum amount of personal development and exploration (going from defending someone who straight up murdered a Black child to thinking that it probably wasn't okay), but Shawn and his family are shown as defending and even forgiving her at the end, suggesting a neat resolution.
Moreover, I felt uncomfortable with Cha having her Black characters refer to themselves and others as "Negroes" even in jest...was that necessary? This felt like an end-run around using the N-word outright but still give the impression of "authenticity" despite not being a member of Black communities. I was additionally a bit irked by the fact that Shawn's Black family was so mired in "criminal" activity and incarceration--every other member of the family was either in prison/jail, previously incarcerated, or embroiled in gang activity. It's true that Black folks are more likely to be incarcerated and impacted by policing, but when the primary audience of this book is Asian American folks, I feel some discomfort in this depiction. I seriously question whether this is simply further entrenching stereotypes.
Another thing that aggravated me was Cha's choice to have Shawn's nephew be the killer. It seemed a bit lazy and random given that Shawn's nephew had little to no concrete motivation since he never personally knew his aunt and Shawn's nephew barely even figured in the story at all until it was revealed that he killed Grace's mother.
Cha is getting at some really important interracial dynamics, and sadly this topic isn't discussed nearly as much as it should be in literature, but I think much more care needs to be taken. I'm generally not a fan of dual-author books, but given how complex and thorny this issue is, I think two authors would be really helpful here to ensure that Black and Asian American voices are accurately and carefully reflected.
First, I want to say that I appreciate Cha's decision to broach an important topic that unfortunately is not discussed in literature very frequently, but which has shaped interracial (Black/Asian American) solidarity and relations for decades. I would love to see more books, and fiction specifically, explore this issue. I appreciated that Cha considers the ways in which Asian American communities, which themselves have experienced devastating racism and racial violence, can perpetuate anti-Blackness because white supremacy pits us all against each other. It's an incredibly important conversation to have, and it's not an easy one.
With that being said, I felt that this book was a bit shallow in its engagement with the issues. The writing is a tad on the nose, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, since everyone needs a starting point from which they begin thinking about these issues. But I did feel like Cha was writing for an audience with a very low-level understanding of these issues. And for me, the ending wasn't all that satisfying--Grace has gone through the bare minimum amount of personal development and exploration (going from defending someone who straight up murdered a Black child to thinking that it probably wasn't okay), but Shawn and his family are shown as defending and even forgiving her at the end, suggesting a neat resolution.
Moreover, I felt uncomfortable with Cha having her Black characters refer to themselves and others as "Negroes" even in jest...was that necessary? This felt like an end-run around using the N-word outright but still give the impression of "authenticity" despite not being a member of Black communities. I was additionally a bit irked by the fact that Shawn's Black family was so mired in "criminal" activity and incarceration--every other member of the family was either in prison/jail, previously incarcerated, or embroiled in gang activity. It's true that Black folks are more likely to be incarcerated and impacted by policing, but when the primary audience of this book is Asian American folks, I feel some discomfort in this depiction. I seriously question whether this is simply further entrenching stereotypes.
Another thing that aggravated me was
Cha is getting at some really important interracial dynamics, and sadly this topic isn't discussed nearly as much as it should be in literature, but I think much more care needs to be taken. I'm generally not a fan of dual-author books, but given how complex and thorny this issue is, I think two authors would be really helpful here to ensure that Black and Asian American voices are accurately and carefully reflected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Xenophobia, Child death, and Death of parent
v_nerdbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia and Cursing
jackelz's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This book is based on the death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins at the hands of a Korean-American store owner, Soon Ja Du, in 1991.
Du accused Latasha of shoplifting a bottle of orange juice, and their verbal altercation escalated into a physical one. Then the woman grabbed a gun and fired, killing the girl. When police arrived on the scene, they discovered that Latasha had the money for the juice in her hand — $2. Du was convicted of voluntary manslaughter but served no jail time.
I’ve read about the protests in LA following the beating of Rodney King, and I’ve read books that mention the tension between Koreans and African-Americans, but I never knew why, and I’m thankful this book opened my eyes to that.
➞ During the riots of 1992, 2,280 Korean American-owned stores had been looted, burned or damaged, amounting to about $400 million in losses.
Your House Will Pay is set in the summer of 2019, after yet another police shooting of an unarmed black teenager.
I love how the story was formatted, and that the book touches on both sides of the story. As the background story slowly unfolds, we are constantly learning more about the characters and how these events have shaped their lives. The narrative will have you questioning your familial relationships, your biases, and the Justice system.
This story will stick with me for a long time. Thank you Kristin Lee for recommending this one!
Du accused Latasha of shoplifting a bottle of orange juice, and their verbal altercation escalated into a physical one. Then the woman grabbed a gun and fired, killing the girl. When police arrived on the scene, they discovered that Latasha had the money for the juice in her hand — $2. Du was convicted of voluntary manslaughter but served no jail time.
I’ve read about the protests in LA following the beating of Rodney King, and I’ve read books that mention the tension between Koreans and African-Americans, but I never knew why, and I’m thankful this book opened my eyes to that.
➞ During the riots of 1992, 2,280 Korean American-owned stores had been looted, burned or damaged, amounting to about $400 million in losses.
Your House Will Pay is set in the summer of 2019, after yet another police shooting of an unarmed black teenager.
I love how the story was formatted, and that the book touches on both sides of the story. As the background story slowly unfolds, we are constantly learning more about the characters and how these events have shaped their lives. The narrative will have you questioning your familial relationships, your biases, and the Justice system.
This story will stick with me for a long time. Thank you Kristin Lee for recommending this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Grief, Death, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Murder, Gun violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
kutub_qahwa's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow, what a book! Such an emotional journey, parts of it were so hard to read, and parts that I sped through. The author does an amazing job capturing such different lives and perspectives. There are so many feelings this book bring out. 10/10 recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Cursing, Car accident, Xenophobia, Violence, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Medical content, Gun violence, Grief, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
internationalreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
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