Welcome to Litsy!

This was really good. I enjoyed a peak into another life. I was sometimes skeptical of the main character, but her fears were real. I expect there were a lot of details I missed by not knowing the culture, but I learned so much and found myself looking things up to learn more. I loved the way it ended!

Suggested on the Political Gabfest a million years ago and I'm just getting around to it!

A great #audiobook when you‘re recovering from a Covid vaccine or for #APIHeritageMonth, this novel follows the stories of Scarlett and Daisy, two mothers who meet in a home for pregnant Chinese women to give birth in America. They each have their reasons for wanting to escape the home and end up together and very pregnant in San Francisco. A story about motherhood, immigration, culture clashes, and the bonds of friendship & love. Link to sale ⬇️

I found this novel, which explores issues of identity and immigration, a total page turner. There‘s love, betrayal, friendship, desperation, and a fiercely protective mother who has keen entrepreneurial instincts and is determined to give her baby a better life.

An immigrant story that would have been better with stronger editing. Too long and a boring middle. 😢

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm 55% in and I just can't be bothered anymore. I'm a tiny bit morbidly curious about what happens to Scarlett and her baby; but, it just shouldn't take this long for so little to happen. Moving on. . . .

Very good, almost hope my train is delayed so I can finish this novel. A great story about overcoming obstacles and hope that you are always making the right choices. #baby #immigration

Yes, I did go buy a paperback copy though I own the hardcover. 1. to support the bookstore. 2. To support the author. 3. Feared that if I loaned the author signed hardcover out, I'd never get it back. Easier to replace the paperback

It took ages to start, and then I had trouble finding the time to finish. In all fairness, the book did have a slow start, but once it found it's groove, rapid finish. Well worth it. You'll cry, you'll laugh. It's another book in the Bay Area (also China, and SoCal, but whatevs) that will make you hungry.

I usually enjoy immigration stories because it is so important to remember that immigrants are people with families that they love and are trying to provide a better life. I liked the premise of this novel, but it was inconsistent. It started strong, nothing really happened in the middle, and the ending felt extremely rushed.

Vanessa Hua gives immigration a story in A River of Stars, which is much needed right now in the unstable political climate. Immigration is a hot topic. Sometimes, I think, we forget we're not just talking about an issue, we're talking about people's lives and the lives of their children.

https://onthebl.org/2019/04/30/a-river-of-stars/

“Daisy didn't realize that you might share the same bed, but dream different dreams.”

The story of Scarlett and Daisy, two strong and determined Chinese woman and their struggles with immigration. A very heartfelt story in these times of anti-immigration.

I didn't love this one. While I always appreciate getting inside the head of someone with different life experiences from my own, I never grew to love Scarlett or Daisy and the writing didn't wow me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have started this one which was on a lot of Best of 2018 lists and has been described as "an Asian-American pregnant Thelma & Louise" ?

It took me a little while to get into this book but when I was in I was all the way in. I think the depiction of the anxieties and fears of an undocumented immigrant was important, not least because it‘s part of a conversation of immigrant stories that are and ought to be diverse. But I think what I liked most as a reader was just that none of the characters turned out to be who I thought at first, and in the best way.

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As I meandered through this slow story I was reminded again and again of Pachinko (which I didn‘t particularly love) though what this had done that Pachinko didn‘t was present a slightly more condensed story. That being said nearly nothing happens for the middle 200 pages and the final chapter just barely redeemed the story for me. Overall it was fine. Would definitely read another novel by Hua and hope for a LITTLE more action.

I wanted this to be so much more, but it was really lacking. So many similar books that are better.

I‘m trying to get through my library books. River is awesome, but I just haven‘t had much time to read. I‘m just starting Only Human. I am thinking I‘ll wish that I had waited until they all came out and had read them together.

1. Both!
2. Neither.
3. Both!
4. Neither.
5. Tagging makes me feel like I‘m demanding someone else fill out a meme, so if you want to do this one, consider yourself tagged! 🙃

#thisorthat
@JenlovesJT47

I find myself not wanting to put this book down! The pace is surprisingly fast!

PS Did I mention it‘s 1 AM?

Came home to all the books! #botm #mylitbox and KEEP MARCHING from @SomedayAlmost ... Thank you, Patricia! I can't wait to read it. ♥️

While I enjoyed the story and peek into another culture I had some trouble staying engrossed in this one. Im not sure why? I found myself rooting for the characters and curious if they prevailed in their struggles. The storyline was fascinating.. some spots slowed.. I had to push through. Otherwise I'd say 4 stars.

I read this book hoping to see a bit of myself in the protagonists, which didn‘t happen. Their paths to the US differed so much from mine that the characters felt foreign, but once I accepted that, I could let myself be drawn into the story and ended up really enjoying it.

So good!!! I can‘t, I don‘t know what to say other than I enjoyed this so much.

When the baby falls asleep in the car, it's time to read! I'm loving this book by @VanessahuaSF

I‘m recommend this. More so than anything I really enjoyed the author‘s writing style. She kept me engaged and interested. This story is told in 3rd person and follows the lives of a woman and the child she flew to the US to have. It‘s a story about motherhood, sacrifice, family and being a Chinese immigrant in America. I enjoyed this.

#amreading this book. Really putting sometime in with this book today. I‘m loving her writinv style and finding this story really interesting so far!

Saturday book and breakfast. Have I mentioned that my amazing husband picks up chocolate croissants for me on Saturday morning from a local bakery? The perfect start to the weekend!

Did not want to put this book down to go to sleep last night! But I did. After I finish my chores today I can read more. 😍😍

It's heeeeere @VanessahuaSF