Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Astonishing Color of After
The Astonishing Color of After | Emily X. R. Pan
A stunning, heartbreaking debut novel about grief, love and family, perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Celeste Ng. Leigh Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: when her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird. Leigh, who is half-Asian and half-white, travels to Taiwan to stay with her maternal grandparents who she never met. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. As Leigh grieves, she uncovers family secrets, forges a new relationship with her grandparents, and tries to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and long-time secret crush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life. Alternating between contemporary and magic elements, past and present, romance and despair, The Astonishing Color of After is a novel about finding oneself through family history, art, friendship, and love. With lyrical prose in the vein of Laini Taylor, and an innovating structure reminiscent of A. S. King, Emily X.R. Pan's stunning debut novel is poised for literary appeal and commercial success.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
TheQuietQuill
post image
Pickpick

What a haunting and beautifully written novel this is. I didn‘t expect to love this book as much as I did, but it truly is a work of art all in itself. I do have to warn that there is a trigger: suicide and depression. The author writes this sensitive subject with care, and it is a story I will never forget. 🪶
This was my #doublebookspin for February ❤️

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1mo
59 likes1 comment
blurb
TheQuietQuill
post image

Sunday afternoon well spent ☺️ This is one is those novels that I‘m just drinking in and savoring. Beautifully written, but also beautifully heartbreaking.

LeeRHarry Good to hear as this one has sat on my shelf for quite some time. 1mo
TheQuietQuill It‘s very good, but very heavy. I‘m really enjoying it and so far it‘s my favorite book of the year ❤️ @LeeRHarry 1mo
53 likes2 stack adds2 comments
quote
VioletMoonBooks
post image
blurb
VioletMoonBooks
post image
blurb
peanutnine
post image

A nice #bookhaul after visiting 3 stops along the #greatercharlottebookcrawl yesterday 🤩

Booksblanketsandahotbeverage Woo Rivers of London! I‘m in the middle of False Value. 12mo
57 likes1 comment
review
ChaoticMissAdventures
post image
Pickpick

Overall really enjoyed this. I loved Leigh and Axels as characters, and their relationship. The book is an excellent exploration of grief, gorgeous to have her mother turn into a bird to guide her, magical realism used well.
I did think it was a bit too long. The middle-end needed tightening up probably a good 50-100 pages cut. But I really enjoyed this.
Double spin ✔️
#bookspin #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1y
27 likes1 comment
blurb
ChaoticMissAdventures
post image

#weeklyforecast #vote #readinggoals
Stretch goal, I am halfway into Infinite Country and the tagged, hoping to switch gears this week to the spooky and witchy Halloween vibes!
Also need to read up on all these ballot measurements we have going in Oregon!

blurb
ChaoticMissAdventures
post image
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Looks fantastic!! 1y
20 likes1 comment
review
Roary47
post image
Mehso-so

3✨ Trigger warnings for suicide, which may be obvious from a description of this book. Leigh‘s mother dies from suicide and she is sure she turned into a bird. This bird leads her to see her maternal grandparents in Taiwan that she has never met. The story is about family, memories, and a little of Taiwanese culture about spirits. I struggled with understanding the colors as feelings throughout. Read for #YABuddyRead @megnews

blurb
Roary47
post image

Here is my planned reads for the rest of this weekend. I‘m hoping to read at least these before the month ends. If I can I‘m going to try to finish two more along with these. #weekendreading @Andrew65

Andrew65 Good luck! 2y
8 likes1 comment
blurb
damselsgotballs
post image

Book 50

"My mother is a bird. This isn‘t like some William Faulkner stream-of-consciousness metaphorical crap. My mother. Is literally. A bird."
#Firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

ShyBookOwl Great pic! 2y
36 likes1 stack add1 comment
quote
VioletMoonBooks
post image

The plane angles and tilts, and I fight the gravitational force, leaning to press my face into the glass. I catch a glimpse of the clouds below, and the edge of our shadow upon them, shaped like a bird.
#TheAstonishingColorOfAfter #EmilyXRPan #lastline #closingline #book #books #bookperson #bookprople #bookpassion #bookpicture #bookpictures #bookphoto #bookphotos #bookphotograph #bookphotographer #YoungAdult #Contemporary #MagicalRealism 💝💝💝💝

review
Texreader
post image
Pickpick

Leigh is a teenager whose mother commits suicide. 95% of the book is about Leigh‘s grief, anger, & attempts to understand why. She travels to #Taiwan to meet her mother‘s parents for the first time. It‘s an emotionally draining book, told by an angry teenager with attitude, who was like that before her mother‘s death. The main character isn‘t likeable. It had a magical realism angle, which was necessary to tell the story, but there were logical ⬇️

Texreader gaps that bothered me throughout. The main character experiences these “magical” moments but almost never questions how or why. It kept jarring me out of the story because I kept wanting to ask the main character: “Don‘t you wonder why you can see back in time?” just as an example. I definitely enjoyed the descriptions of Taiwan since I was reading this book for #readingasia2021. This is also my #letterA book for #litsyatoz. And 15 points for ⬇️ 2y
KristiAhlers Wow that‘s sounds heavy but good at the same time 2y
See All 6 Comments
Librarybelle I‘ve heard very good things about this book 2y
Karisa Loved that book! So beautifully written. 💗 2y
TheBookHippie It‘s a difficult read, I agree. It‘s however quite beautiful. 2y
70 likes6 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image
Librarybelle Oh…good choice! 2y
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Skeeterisme
post image
Pickpick

👍👍👍👍👍

blurb
LaraS
post image

“Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird“. I mean how can you not want to read a book with that tagline? Beautifully written, the characters were really brought to life in this one.

Incredible artwork from here:
https://twitter.com/KiraDeSomma/status/954114077520998400/photo/1

review
squirrelbrain
post image
Pickpick

#readingasia2021

This was a soft pick for me, because I‘m not keen on YA or fantasy and there were fantastical elements in this tale, set in #taiwan, of a teen struggling after her Mum‘s suicide.

I did actually learn a lot about the customs, in particular the food, of Taiwan but overall the book felt overlong and repetitive in places.

Traci1 I love that cover. 😍 3y
Librarybelle I like this cover over the US cover! 3y
80 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Nebklvr
Pickpick

Beautifully done. Very evocative. Emotional.

blurb
Nebklvr
post image

Just starting this one. So far, it is beautiful.

review
ElleMNOpe
post image
Pickpick

A beautiful & emotional read that explores grief, mental health, and personal identity in a unique, but hard-hitting way. Despite this deep content, it is delivered in a graceful & soft way that flows calmly & naturally. Leigh is a great protagonist. There is a good balance between her abilities to compartmentalize and function and her feelings of confusion, anger, sadness, and fear. She is complex & blatantly amazing. I just loved this book.

14 likes2 stack adds
blurb
ChasingOm
post image

A day late, but I am SO EXCITED to share this book! 🥰

This is a beautiful YA book about grief and identity and relationships. It sat on my shelf for quite a while (sometimes books about losing a mother can be triggering for me), but when I was ready, it more than delivered. In fact, I'm thinking this month might be a good time for a re-read, if I can find it in all my boxes...

#IntegrateYourShelf

ncsufoxes I just finished The Mountains Sing a few weeks ago & loved it. Definitely one of the best books I‘ve read this year. My mom read it & loved it too (which is saying a lot since she‘s an avid reader & a bit of a book snob). 3y
TheBookHippie I loved it too if you can‘t find it I have an extra copy here 🙃 I can mail it to you 💌 3y
ChasingOm @ncsufoxes THE MOUNTAINS SING was on my TBR for #foodandlit but then life got crazy and I didn‘t get to it. Moving back to the TBR now! And thank you @TheBookHippie, that‘s so generous!! I found my copy. 🥰 3y
22 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
slategreyskies
post image
Pickpick

There were points in this book where the prose read like poetry. I think it was really well written. Trigger warning for suicide. BIG TW. Dealing with her mom‘s suicide is a HUGE part of the plot, so just be prepped for that if you decide to read this. All in all, the pain wasn‘t shrugged off. It was real and intense, and the characters were flawed, but I admit that I loved the ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘ll mail this out tomorrow. #LMPBC

ephemeralwaltz One of the best recent YA!! 3y
slategreyskies @Bianca I mailed it Priority today. USPS tracking says the expected delivery day is Thursday. :) 3y
dylanisreading @slategreyskies I'll be on the lookout for it! Thank you! 3y
48 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
JillsBookshelf
post image
Mehso-so

This might be one of the first magical realism book I‘ve ever read, and I wasn‘t a huge fan. I just felt like the parts where she was chasing down the bird really dragged out the plot. However, I loved the character development and the ending was so sweet.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

#ya

15 likes1 stack add
blurb
TheSpineView
post image

#SpringSentiments @Eggs
Prompt: Stupefied

Eggs Ah yes - I remember this one! 3y
58 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
slategreyskies
post image

It got here yesterday! Thanks, @PandaPanda !! I‘m looking forward to getting started on it!

#LMPBC

quote
VioletMoonBooks
post image
review
SanjanaGhosh
post image
Pickpick

I liked the Smokes and Memories part, the reality not so much. Also, it was really cool how Leigh associated all her emotions with colours ❤️

blurb
squirrelbrain
post image

Today‘s #bookmail. I had put 3 #readingasia2021 spaces on my #bookspinbingo as I didn‘t know when these would arrive, but here they are and one of the spaces has been picked as #bookspin.....now which to choose?!

The tagged book is YA and set partly in Taiwan. I‘m annoyed about Women of Sand & Myrrh as it is down as Saudi Arabia on Goodreads but the blurb says an unnamed state. The author is Lebanese so I may swap, or just leave it as Saudi.

BarbaraBB I am curious about that Maldiven book (still in need of one) but I love the cover of the Lebanese/ Saudi Arabian one. Choices 🤷🏻‍♀️😉 3y
squirrelbrain You can have the Maldives book after me @BarbaraBB if you wish, assuming it‘s not as bad as Tiger Balm! #swapme 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
Librarybelle Lots of choices, indeed! The covers are very pretty! 3y
69 likes4 comments
review
SShiney
post image
Pickpick

Absolutely loved this book! Such beautiful prose using colors to describe emotions throughout. Fabulist elements interweaved in a fascinating way. Such vivid imagery and creativity.

A teenage girl believes her mother turned into a bird after she died.

I wrote a blog post digging into the genre here:

https://susanshiney.com/what-genre-is-the-astonishing-color-of-after-by-emily-x-...

witchyreader13 I've been wanting to read this one. 3y
49 likes4 stack adds1 comment
blurb
A_planNerd
post image

Last read of the month before I start my spooky binge for October.
I‘ve had this on my TBR pile for quite some time.
#thatcovertho

blurb
Betty_Boa
post image

My next read. Excited for this one 😁

ItsAnotherJen I like this title 4y
Betty_Boa @ItsAnotherJen I'm really loving the writing style so far, and the food lol 🤤 definitely will be looking up recipes when I'm done 😁 4y
charl08 Happy litsyversary! 4y
9 likes3 comments
quote
VioletMoonBooks
post image
review
VioletMoonBooks
post image
Pickpick

This was such a sweet book to read. There were definitely parts that tugged at the heart strings. I‘m glad I got a chance to read this. It definitely was a fun read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#TheAstonishingColorOfAfter #EmilyXRPan #book #books #bookfeature #bookfeatures #bookfair #bookfan #bookfandom #bookfever #bookfanatic #bookfrenzy #bookgeek #bookgeeks #bookgeeky #bookgang #bookgasm #geek #geeks #geeky #Fantasy #Fiction #YoungAdult #Contemporary #YA 🧡🧡🧡🧡

34 likes1 stack add
blurb
VioletMoonBooks
post image
blurb
VioletMoonBooks
post image
StaceyKondla Love this book 💕 4y
34 likes1 comment
blurb
VioletMoonBooks
post image
30 likes1 stack add
blurb
juliegumdrop
post image

This cover is gorgeous. The story is really kind of sad though. Suicide. Mental illness. I‘m usually hesitant about any magical realism, but this is well done. Overall, this book isn‘t for me, but I would recommend it to any teen dealing with the mental illness of a family member. #asianreadathon

blurb
VioletMoonBooks
post image
review
ephemeralwaltz
post image
Pickpick

An astonishing YA indeed! Our protagonist visits her grandparents in Taiwan (whom she's never met before) after losing her mother in order to find out more about her heritage. Through magical realist dream-like sequences and flashbacks, readers get to discover what led up to these events and how to move forward. It tackles issues around mental health and the taboos surrounding it, heritage, sexuality, art and ambition. 10/10 would recommend 👌

ItsAnotherJen I love the title of this book! 4y
EKonrad Loved this book!!! 😍 4y
49 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
Eggs
post image
Caffeinated_Reader I loved this one 💜 a great and emotional read. 4y
Karisa Loved this strange and sweet book so much! 4y
mom2bugnbee I don't give many 5⭐ reviews. This book earned one. 4y
See All 7 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Haven‘t read it, but beautiful cover!! 🐦❤️ 4y
OriginalCyn620 Pretty cover! ❤️🐦 4y
75 likes1 stack add7 comments
blurb
Caffeinated_Reader
post image

#29 of my year and I‘m 3 pages in and can already tell this is going to be a story that will stay with me forever. It‘s already thick with beautiful meaning and descriptions. I am already in love with this book! Listening to music while I read my night away 🎧 🎶 📖

LiteraryinLawrence That‘s great to hear! This is one I took off my shelf the other day to read soon. 4y
Caffeinated_Reader @LiteraryinLititz oh it‘s so great!!! I know I‘m 3 pages in lol but you know us readers can tell these things 🤓🥰 it needs to get more exposure! 4y
12 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
LiteraryinLawrence
post image

I was so happy to use my hand sewn tote from @BennettBookworm for the first time today! I love the whimsical hedgehogs. 💗 I used it for the best possible cargo, of course. I picked up The Holdout hot off the presses (pub date=today) and also a beautiful used copy of the tagged book which has been on my TBR for 2 years. I‘m a happy camper tonight. ☺️

Geenie 😍😎 4y
BlameJennyJane Those hedgies! 🦔🦔🦔 4y
BennettBookworm Yayyyy!! 4y
114 likes4 comments
review
Gryffleclaw95
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you‘re looking for a moving read with excellent writing, “The Astonishing Color of After” is a great pick. The author gives us an emotional story with vivid imagery and exceptional storytelling. This was a heavy read and by no means a quick one, but the short chapters helped break it up. Overall, this was an emotional read that was beautifully written.

🚨TRIGGERS INCLUDE: suicide, self-harm, depression, suicide attempts

review
Samplergal
post image
Pickpick

This book was so vivid and well written. It took me a while to get into it, probably, just because of the genre, but I‘m glad I stuck with it. The view from our campsite in New Mexico. Off to cold Sante Fe Tuesday for a week and a half!

BarbaraBB Just checking in. I was Wondering about your roadtrip. I hope you are doing well in these crazy times. 💕 (edited) 4y
Writeme On my list! Glad to hear you liked it. 4y
BiblioLitten Hello! Just checking in. Hope you are doing well. 💙 4y
86 likes3 comments
review
Deborah42
post image
Pickpick

Content warning: suicide

After her mother‘s suicide, Leigh sees a bird that she‘s sure is her mother trying to send her a message. A box of old pictures sends her to Taiwan to meet her grandparents and heal a rift in the family.
There‘s a touch of magical realism, along with beautiful writing and a strong sense of place.

review
Tracey3
post image
Mehso-so

This book kept my interest despite the overall sadness of the story. A young girl searches for the story of her mother‘s life after her mother has committed suicide. There are elements of fantasy through this book as well and I‘m not sure they worked for me. I found myself more invested in the realistic parts of the story. The resolution was underwhelming and hastily done. It seemed odd since the rest of the story developed more slowly.

blurb
EmilyM
post image

1. The Astonishing Color of After
2. City of Girls--a 5 🌟 read for me!

review
lowellette
post image
Pickpick

Leigh deals with her mother‘s suicide and finally kissing her best friend at the same time. A beautiful novel about art therapy, mental health, and healing.

review
bibliobard
post image
Mehso-so

Finished my audiobook in time to be done with school commute for awhile. This was on my TBR list for awhile so I am glad I was encouraged to read it for the games. I liked the use of all the colors and how the story tied together, though it was a little weird at times and didn‘t always fit together nicely.

16 points
#WinterGames #MerryReaders #TBRRead #audiobook

Clwojick 16 pt. 4y
8 likes1 comment