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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Told in 3 parts, from Nico/Nick’s, Lily’s, and May’s history, this took some surprising/supernatural curves (bending of time). I would have given this 4 stars if May’s story felt authentic. Sadly the placement of her story (last) paled after we learned about Lily and Matthew (first), and Nico’s and Tim (strongest storyline).
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
"An American expression that had always been strange to me was ‘build a life.’ My life had not been built. It wasn't a piece-by-piece assembly, following a blueprint. Nothing fit together. It wasn't a structure but a heap.
It had been our dream, Otto's and mine: to give our children the best possible futures. But it was a mis-take, believing you could choose for someone else, no matter how well intentioned you might be. And what did we choose, really? We were told what to want:
Propaganda was universal. Especially in this country, where the propaganda was that there was none-we were free. But were we? When we were made to value certain lives more than others; when we were made, relentlessly, to want more? What if I had seen through it? What if I had understood that I already had enough?"
what a beautiful and heartbreaking generational story about a chinese american family on what it truly means to be a "real" american, what it means to "achieve the american dream" as an immigrant. i loved the difficult discussions of brokenness/flaws of immigrant families, racism, sexism weaved into multiculturalism, capitalism, & science (and ofc all the ethics involved in advancements in science). hands down, one of my favorite reads this year
It had been our dream, Otto's and mine: to give our children the best possible futures. But it was a mis-take, believing you could choose for someone else, no matter how well intentioned you might be. And what did we choose, really? We were told what to want:
Propaganda was universal. Especially in this country, where the propaganda was that there was none-we were free. But were we? When we were made to value certain lives more than others; when we were made, relentlessly, to want more? What if I had seen through it? What if I had understood that I already had enough?"
what a beautiful and heartbreaking generational story about a chinese american family on what it truly means to be a "real" american, what it means to "achieve the american dream" as an immigrant. i loved the difficult discussions of brokenness/flaws of immigrant families, racism, sexism weaved into multiculturalism, capitalism, & science (and ofc all the ethics involved in advancements in science). hands down, one of my favorite reads this year
emotional
slow-paced
Superb writing. I’ve never read about a Chinese character who is as out of touch with her culture as I am, so that was refreshing and encouraging.
The three perspectives were superb stories on their own, but the stuff about genome editing kinda lost me. I think the author was trying to make a point about classism and racism, but the theme wasn’t very well-developed and seemed out of place as the ending.
I would’ve like to have a bit more resolution on the time-standing-still thing too.
The three perspectives were superb stories on their own, but the stuff about genome editing kinda lost me. I think the author was trying to make a point about classism and racism, but the theme wasn’t very well-developed and seemed out of place as the ending.
I would’ve like to have a bit more resolution on the time-standing-still thing too.
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes