Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
Thank you to HarperVia for the gifted copy.
As the second oldest daughter of five, Elizabeth Chen's days are filled with taking care of her party-going younger sisters and looking for jobs to appease her mother. When her realtor mother sells the beloved Chinatown community center to Brendan Lee and Darcy Wong, two UK-educated financiers with Hong Kong money, Elizabeth fights to ensure the center will still benefit the New York Chinatown community.
Set in contemporary Chinatown, GOOD FORTUNE reimagines the cult classic PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. While there are still familiar tropes about struggling Chinese immigrants, disappointed mothers, and nosy aunties, I particularly enjoyed the exploration of class divides between the Chens and the Lee/Wong families, and the ethics of gentrifying Chinatown by other wealthy Asians from overseas.
I also really enjoyed the banter between Elizabeth and Darcy, and the chaotic energy of the younger Chen siblings. While it took me a while to get used to the writing style, I find the wit and sarcasm entertaining. Since I've never read P&P (shocker, but I'm so bad at reading classics
As the second oldest daughter of five, Elizabeth Chen's days are filled with taking care of her party-going younger sisters and looking for jobs to appease her mother. When her realtor mother sells the beloved Chinatown community center to Brendan Lee and Darcy Wong, two UK-educated financiers with Hong Kong money, Elizabeth fights to ensure the center will still benefit the New York Chinatown community.
Set in contemporary Chinatown, GOOD FORTUNE reimagines the cult classic PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. While there are still familiar tropes about struggling Chinese immigrants, disappointed mothers, and nosy aunties, I particularly enjoyed the exploration of class divides between the Chens and the Lee/Wong families, and the ethics of gentrifying Chinatown by other wealthy Asians from overseas.
I also really enjoyed the banter between Elizabeth and Darcy, and the chaotic energy of the younger Chen siblings. While it took me a while to get used to the writing style, I find the wit and sarcasm entertaining. Since I've never read P&P (shocker, but I'm so bad at reading classics
Thank you to bibliolifestyle & amistadbooks for the gifted copy.
Born during the Great Depression, Benjamin Lee is tormented by his ancestors' stolen future while manning tobacco fields. His son Junior tries to escape the curse where the post-Korean War GI Bill promises prosperity. Then comes Lottie Rebecca Lee, Junior's daughter and the reincarnation of Mother Spirit, who didn't survive enslavement's post-traumatic stress violence, and who must stitch back the fractured love in the Lee family.
Following three generations of a Black family in the South, TRINITY examines the dynamic between "holy" father (Benjamin), son (Junior), and spirit (Lottie), and the importance of preserving our ancestor's stories. The first half of the book is told from the men's perspectives, while the last half focuses more on Lottie's POV, which drew me in more.
The exploration of generational trauma and the detrimental effects of unresolved grief on especially women and children is the focal point of TRINITY, and this analysis reminds me of THE LOVE SONGS of W. E. B. DuBois (Honorée Fanonne Jeffers). However, I feel the book lacks accountability for the men who propagate violence. And the women in the book often bear the wrath of the men while assuming caretaking roles—this angle reminds me of MEMPHIS (Tara M. Stringfellow).
At its core, TRINITY is a daring novel honoring all that Black girls and women carry and a celebration of their power to love, heal & forgive.
Born during the Great Depression, Benjamin Lee is tormented by his ancestors' stolen future while manning tobacco fields. His son Junior tries to escape the curse where the post-Korean War GI Bill promises prosperity. Then comes Lottie Rebecca Lee, Junior's daughter and the reincarnation of Mother Spirit, who didn't survive enslavement's post-traumatic stress violence, and who must stitch back the fractured love in the Lee family.
Following three generations of a Black family in the South, TRINITY examines the dynamic between "holy" father (Benjamin), son (Junior), and spirit (Lottie), and the importance of preserving our ancestor's stories. The first half of the book is told from the men's perspectives, while the last half focuses more on Lottie's POV, which drew me in more.
The exploration of generational trauma and the detrimental effects of unresolved grief on especially women and children is the focal point of TRINITY, and this analysis reminds me of THE LOVE SONGS of W. E. B. DuBois (Honorée Fanonne Jeffers). However, I feel the book lacks accountability for the men who propagate violence. And the women in the book often bear the wrath of the men while assuming caretaking roles—this angle reminds me of MEMPHIS (Tara M. Stringfellow).
At its core, TRINITY is a daring novel honoring all that Black girls and women carry and a celebration of their power to love, heal & forgive.
Thank you to Pantheon Books for the gifted ARC.
As the Chief of External Affairs, Mac is tasked with investigating any suspicious activities pertaining to LK, the Korean tech giant that integrates AI, space travel, and personal data storage. But when a low-level employee Choi Gangwu unwittingly becomes the center of a brewing conspiracy, Mac must race up LK's space elevator to reach Counterweight, the mass of space junk, where the key to saving humanity lies.
COUNTERWEIGHT is a short and fast-paced sci-fi that explores the consequences when tech companies become so influential that it holds political power to self-govern and the technology so powerful the poorly understood AI gets out of hand to threaten humanity. (Sounds familiar?
As the Chief of External Affairs, Mac is tasked with investigating any suspicious activities pertaining to LK, the Korean tech giant that integrates AI, space travel, and personal data storage. But when a low-level employee Choi Gangwu unwittingly becomes the center of a brewing conspiracy, Mac must race up LK's space elevator to reach Counterweight, the mass of space junk, where the key to saving humanity lies.
COUNTERWEIGHT is a short and fast-paced sci-fi that explores the consequences when tech companies become so influential that it holds political power to self-govern and the technology so powerful the poorly understood AI gets out of hand to threaten humanity. (Sounds familiar?
Thank you to Grove Press for the gifted copy.
Spanning 1900 to 1977 and set on South India's Coast, COVENANT OF WATER follows three generations of family with a "condition": at least one person dies by drowning in every generation. As India witnesses political and technological changes at the turn of the 20th century, the family matriarch, Big Ammachi, must make difficult decisions to protect her family surrounded by water over the span of her life.
COVENANT OF WATER is a masterful work of historical fiction that captivates me from page one until the end with its expansive writing and propulsive narrative. This beautifully crafted novel takes the readers on a journey across generations and continents to weave together a tapestry of love, loss, and the untold secrets of a family bound by an unbreakable bond.
It's hard to describe all that goes on in a 700+ page novel, but I particularly appreciated how wholesome this story is. While the book still has loss and heartache, the flawed characters hold no malice. And I find myself rooting for all of them on their journeys to do their best given the hands they're dealt. Verghhese masterfully portrays the love of parents, siblings, friends, and colleagues, showcasing the power of community and its capacity to transcend physical limitations.
"And what is time but cumulative loss?" COVENANT OF WATER examines this profound concept, inviting readers to reflect on the fleeting nature of existence and all that we say and don't say to our loved ones.
Verghese's exploration of India's modernization, particularly within the medical community, adds an additional layer to the story. This medical-heavy aspect of the novel will resonate particularly well with fans of GREY's ANATOMY, who enjoy delving into the intricacies of biology & genetics.
COVENANT OF WATER is a story that resonates with me long after the final page. It's a tale of family secrets, untold curses, unspoken words, and a love so profound that it transcends the boundaries of time. Upon finishing the 32-hour audiobook, I yearned to start again from the beginning. This is a story I want to revisit countless times; if I could only read one book for the rest of my life, I'd gladly pick COVENANT OF WATER (bold statement, I know
Spanning 1900 to 1977 and set on South India's Coast, COVENANT OF WATER follows three generations of family with a "condition": at least one person dies by drowning in every generation. As India witnesses political and technological changes at the turn of the 20th century, the family matriarch, Big Ammachi, must make difficult decisions to protect her family surrounded by water over the span of her life.
COVENANT OF WATER is a masterful work of historical fiction that captivates me from page one until the end with its expansive writing and propulsive narrative. This beautifully crafted novel takes the readers on a journey across generations and continents to weave together a tapestry of love, loss, and the untold secrets of a family bound by an unbreakable bond.
It's hard to describe all that goes on in a 700+ page novel, but I particularly appreciated how wholesome this story is. While the book still has loss and heartache, the flawed characters hold no malice. And I find myself rooting for all of them on their journeys to do their best given the hands they're dealt. Verghhese masterfully portrays the love of parents, siblings, friends, and colleagues, showcasing the power of community and its capacity to transcend physical limitations.
"And what is time but cumulative loss?" COVENANT OF WATER examines this profound concept, inviting readers to reflect on the fleeting nature of existence and all that we say and don't say to our loved ones.
Verghese's exploration of India's modernization, particularly within the medical community, adds an additional layer to the story. This medical-heavy aspect of the novel will resonate particularly well with fans of GREY's ANATOMY, who enjoy delving into the intricacies of biology & genetics.
COVENANT OF WATER is a story that resonates with me long after the final page. It's a tale of family secrets, untold curses, unspoken words, and a love so profound that it transcends the boundaries of time. Upon finishing the 32-hour audiobook, I yearned to start again from the beginning. This is a story I want to revisit countless times; if I could only read one book for the rest of my life, I'd gladly pick COVENANT OF WATER (bold statement, I know
Thank you to Forever for the gifted copy & Libro.fm for the ALC.
It seems contradictory, but Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner and doesn't believe marriage is for her. With a mom married (and divorced) more than a dozen times, who can blame her? So when Ama lands a high-profile client for her newly established wedding planning business and has to work with Elliot—a grumpy and quiet florist and Ama's old fling from two years ago—she must do everything she can to not repeat the old mistakes. Even though the heart wants what it wants.
FORGET ME NOT is a grumpy x sunshine second-chance romance that alternates between past Ama when she first met Elliot and present-day Ama trying to avoid her ex. I love the narrators, especially Elliot's voice actor Teddy Hamilton, who did a fantastic job channeling a grumpy (& hot) man
It seems contradictory, but Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner and doesn't believe marriage is for her. With a mom married (and divorced) more than a dozen times, who can blame her? So when Ama lands a high-profile client for her newly established wedding planning business and has to work with Elliot—a grumpy and quiet florist and Ama's old fling from two years ago—she must do everything she can to not repeat the old mistakes. Even though the heart wants what it wants.
FORGET ME NOT is a grumpy x sunshine second-chance romance that alternates between past Ama when she first met Elliot and present-day Ama trying to avoid her ex. I love the narrators, especially Elliot's voice actor Teddy Hamilton, who did a fantastic job channeling a grumpy (& hot) man
Thank you to bibliolifestyle and HaperVia for the gifted copy
MY HUSBAND Maud Ventura (tr. Emma Ramadan) #reviewsbyamber
At 40 years old and married for over a decade, the unnamed narrator is still madly in love with her husband, perhaps a little too much. Determined to keep their relationship perfect, she spends her days analyzing her husband's moods, manufacturing chance encounters, and even testing his love for her. Until one day, she realizes she may have gone too far.
MY HUSBAND is an absorbing read that takes on a thriller pace with a lit fic concept. I love the unreliable narrator angle and how the readers experience the wife's commitment to a perfect marriage. The story occurs over one week, following each day when the narrator encounters "difficulties" in her relationship and peers into the inner psyche of her methods of course correction.
Entertaining and unputdownable, I devoured MY HUSBAND in one setting, and I applaud Ramadan for doing a fantastic job translating a novel that reads like it's written in English. It could help understand the book more if the readers know French, as there are some references to how French and English describe love differently and act upon it in various ways. However, as someone who doesn't know French, it wasn't a big deal to not fully understand everything.
MY HUSBAND is a brilliant book that delves into the core of romantic love, and asks the question, can love be all-consuming?
MY HUSBAND Maud Ventura (tr. Emma Ramadan) #reviewsbyamber
At 40 years old and married for over a decade, the unnamed narrator is still madly in love with her husband, perhaps a little too much. Determined to keep their relationship perfect, she spends her days analyzing her husband's moods, manufacturing chance encounters, and even testing his love for her. Until one day, she realizes she may have gone too far.
MY HUSBAND is an absorbing read that takes on a thriller pace with a lit fic concept. I love the unreliable narrator angle and how the readers experience the wife's commitment to a perfect marriage. The story occurs over one week, following each day when the narrator encounters "difficulties" in her relationship and peers into the inner psyche of her methods of course correction.
Entertaining and unputdownable, I devoured MY HUSBAND in one setting, and I applaud Ramadan for doing a fantastic job translating a novel that reads like it's written in English. It could help understand the book more if the readers know French, as there are some references to how French and English describe love differently and act upon it in various ways. However, as someone who doesn't know French, it wasn't a big deal to not fully understand everything.
MY HUSBAND is a brilliant book that delves into the core of romantic love, and asks the question, can love be all-consuming?