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ambershelf 's review for:
The Night Parade
by Jami Nakamura Lin
Thank you to @bibliolifestyle & Mariner Books for the gifted copy
In this unique, original, and imaginative speculative memoir, Lin blends Japanese myth, Taiwanese folklore, family history, and personal experience to shift the cultural narrative around mental illness and grief.
While it took a moment to acclimate to the writing style, I found myself captivated by Lin's narrative. By the end, I was utterly enamored with this unique exploration of life with bipolar disorder.
"Upstairs, the girls told each other why we should live. If we could not believe it for ourselves, we believed it for each other."
Lin's candidness about her battles with bipolar, particularly during her tumultuous teenage years, moved me to tears. The visceral portrayal of her yearning for the pain to cease evoked a profound empathy for young Lin. The emotional journey she shares is both raw and enlightening.
The relationships depicted in NIGHT PARADE add layers of warmth and complexity, especially her special bond with her father. The illustrations by her younger sister contribute a personal touch, reinforcing the theme of family love that permeates the book. Lin's explanation of bipolar disorder to her daughter, reminiscent of ALL THE LITTLE BIRD-HEARTS (Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow), showcases the delicate balance between honesty and compassion.
"I tell so many stories without fully understanding what lies beneath the surface. This is the limit of my present knowledge, the way I connect the dots at this single moment."
The exploration of Lin's ancestral history, from Taiwanese descendants surviving Japanese colonization to her mother's side experiencing Japanese concentration camps during World War II, adds a poignant layer to the narrative. These sobering histories resonate not only with Lin but with any Asian Americans whose families endured the unimaginable.
"There is a nagging feeling that I should only tell the stories received orally from my ancestors instead of those I find in books. I think this is a common diaspora anguish, for those of us fractured from places, narratives. "And yet without research, without looking beyond, we would be hamstrung only by what our ancestors shared. We can treasure what they gifted us, while also acknowledging that in certain cases they did not tell us enough, or that what they said was wrong, or was right for that time and place but needs to change now."
The Night Parade is a moving tribute to ancestors who defied the odds, faced unthinkable hardships, and whose stories can only be reconstructed through tales passed down through generations.
"So maybe this isn't a story about ghosts, but a story about telling a story about ghosts. About how to remember while moving forward. You are drawn to these myths because they change."
For those who appreciate experimental writing, vibe-heavy and plot-light narratives, and speculative memoirs, NIGHT PARADE is a must-read. It spoke to me on a personal level, and its impact will linger in my thoughts for a long time.
In this unique, original, and imaginative speculative memoir, Lin blends Japanese myth, Taiwanese folklore, family history, and personal experience to shift the cultural narrative around mental illness and grief.
While it took a moment to acclimate to the writing style, I found myself captivated by Lin's narrative. By the end, I was utterly enamored with this unique exploration of life with bipolar disorder.
"Upstairs, the girls told each other why we should live. If we could not believe it for ourselves, we believed it for each other."
Lin's candidness about her battles with bipolar, particularly during her tumultuous teenage years, moved me to tears. The visceral portrayal of her yearning for the pain to cease evoked a profound empathy for young Lin. The emotional journey she shares is both raw and enlightening.
The relationships depicted in NIGHT PARADE add layers of warmth and complexity, especially her special bond with her father. The illustrations by her younger sister contribute a personal touch, reinforcing the theme of family love that permeates the book. Lin's explanation of bipolar disorder to her daughter, reminiscent of ALL THE LITTLE BIRD-HEARTS (Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow), showcases the delicate balance between honesty and compassion.
"I tell so many stories without fully understanding what lies beneath the surface. This is the limit of my present knowledge, the way I connect the dots at this single moment."
The exploration of Lin's ancestral history, from Taiwanese descendants surviving Japanese colonization to her mother's side experiencing Japanese concentration camps during World War II, adds a poignant layer to the narrative. These sobering histories resonate not only with Lin but with any Asian Americans whose families endured the unimaginable.
"There is a nagging feeling that I should only tell the stories received orally from my ancestors instead of those I find in books. I think this is a common diaspora anguish, for those of us fractured from places, narratives. "And yet without research, without looking beyond, we would be hamstrung only by what our ancestors shared. We can treasure what they gifted us, while also acknowledging that in certain cases they did not tell us enough, or that what they said was wrong, or was right for that time and place but needs to change now."
The Night Parade is a moving tribute to ancestors who defied the odds, faced unthinkable hardships, and whose stories can only be reconstructed through tales passed down through generations.
"So maybe this isn't a story about ghosts, but a story about telling a story about ghosts. About how to remember while moving forward. You are drawn to these myths because they change."
For those who appreciate experimental writing, vibe-heavy and plot-light narratives, and speculative memoirs, NIGHT PARADE is a must-read. It spoke to me on a personal level, and its impact will linger in my thoughts for a long time.