pickA great read about the impact of war, generational trauma, and the importance of human connection. Alternating perspectives of individuals in Las Vegas, centering the war in Iraq and the aftermath on soldiers and their families, as well as an immigrant family. In-depth inner dialogue and emotional lives of the featured characters who all struggle, but do their best. A great audio as well!
May 11, 2025 Happy Mother's Day to all the hardworking fearless strong compassionate mothers out there who do EVERYTHING for their kids. Today I am starting this TBR. I sort of started it but never finished it so I am re-reading it again.
pickpicked this up on indie bkstore day from Changing Hands pop up shop of banned books. The Tangs move to the US for a better life. This book is really upbeat,yet doesn‘t sugar coat how they are exploited by a hotel owner as mom,dad,& daughter Mia do everything to run a motel owned by a guy who only pays them part of the cost of a nights stay. I was joyful to watch them slowly find some success while not losing their empathy. Mia, a super character
Celebrating Indie Bookstore Day: purchased Blue Ruin for this year‘s Tournament of Favorites and they gave me the Supersonic. Posing in front of a pretty mural across the street from my next stop (which isn‘t open yet! 🤨) #ibd #indiebookstoreday
so-soPart of why everyone here annoys me, I think, is no one appears to have real responsibilities, even as COVID hits. Rob and Alice have a daughter they ignore, Jay‘s life has mostly been wading through an art scene while being high, and the art anyone does finally do feels pretentious and light. They have disappeared into their art, a major theme. People return when they connect with others, and mostly everyone here is too selfish to do that.
so-soI liked learning more about the Ethiopian immigration experience but otherwise the sprawling, disconnected narrative and bland main character put this near the bottom of my #ToB25 list.
pickThis novel covers a lot of ground: grief, family dynamics, generational trauma, illness, addiction, income inequality, immigration, racism. I appreciate the writing and the characters, but like others, I found following the story to be a challenge. The format and timeline feel true to life and therefore a little unsettling to me. I wonder if I go to fiction because a tidy narrative helps life seem more manageable. (This isn't a tidy narrative.)
