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readtotheend's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I remember as a young high school student, discovering the anthology Charlie Chan Is Dead and feeling like it was revolutionary for me as an Asian American who had never read anything in English by Asian Americans. And thus began my journey into Asian American lit and authors and Hagedorn is definitely iconic and it's taken me this long to read one of her novels. This book felt so Asian American, so Californian, so rock-n-roll and gave a glimpse of what it would've been like in the 60s and 70s for an Asian American in California. It's about family, both chosen and biological and felt very personal and authentic in its voice.
ubepandesol's review against another edition
This is the first work of Hagedorn's that I've read, and although it doesn't land a spot in my favorites shelf, it most certainly encourages me to read on and on, and that counts for something. (Needless to say I'm definitely keeping my eyes peeled for more Hagedorn works at my local library)
Some books are made of light, and some of shadows. This book is made of shadows, and lovely (albeit gritty) ones at that. Interwoven with delightful and well-crafted characters, The Gangster of Love unearths brutal images of seventies era rock-n-roll through the lens of a Filipino immigrant in the USA, as she traverses the West Coast, East Coast, and finds herself pulled back home: a there-and-back-again affair. While the narration shifts and meanders between different characters' points of view, it stays faithful to the story, which at its core is about family, culture, heritage, etc: the things that make a place, and places that make a person.
Some books are made of light, and some of shadows. This book is made of shadows, and lovely (albeit gritty) ones at that. Interwoven with delightful and well-crafted characters, The Gangster of Love unearths brutal images of seventies era rock-n-roll through the lens of a Filipino immigrant in the USA, as she traverses the West Coast, East Coast, and finds herself pulled back home: a there-and-back-again affair. While the narration shifts and meanders between different characters' points of view, it stays faithful to the story, which at its core is about family, culture, heritage, etc: the things that make a place, and places that make a person.
kaibigan23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Characters are great! Def learned a lot about how much of it struggle it can be to leave your home into a foreign land. This book is timeless as some of the content relates to today's society
kookookachoo's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
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