Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
I liked:
1-neurodivergent rep
2-not focused on trauma
3-i love the family dynamics esp with dad
I didn’t like:
1-I really don’t want to read anymore stories involving mediocre white men
1-neurodivergent rep
2-not focused on trauma
3-i love the family dynamics esp with dad
I didn’t like:
1-I really don’t want to read anymore stories involving mediocre white men
2007. Shanghai. High school student Alva feels trapped in her public school—she's considered a foreigner because of her white mom & unknown Asian dad and desperately wants to move to the US to embrace her "Americanness." 1985. Qingdao. Lu Fang feels stuck in his clerk job until he meets a free-spirited American woman, forcing him to confront his past, present, and future.
I thoroughly enjoyed RERW. Lescure's portrayal of the sociocultural nuances around "foreigners," especially white people in a majority-Asian country, strikes a cord that I resonated deeply with as someone who had observed similar sentiments in Taiwan.
The parallels and juxtapositions between Alva and Lu Fang—starry-eyed with their admiration toward everything American—are unique angles I haven't read much in Asian literature. Coupled with the depiction of all the foreigners in RERW, some wealthy & some not, but all share a common trait—they are all middle-class in the US but hide their mediocrity behind their whiteness in China. Reading about the sh*t these expats get away with fills me with anger and reminds me of news & stories I've heard growing up in Taiwan, where I, too, have fallen under the spells of one's whiteness & western background.
Lescure pulls no punches in criticizing both China and the West. China for its blind acceptance of white expats' wrongdoings and its rigid political structure for Chinese citizens. And the West for using their whiteness to continue to take advantage of Chinese/Asian people.
RERW isn't without its flaws. I find myself more interested in Lu Fang's POV, while Alva's narrative sometimes veers whiney and bratty. Of course, this could just be me being an older & grumpy reader
I thoroughly enjoyed RERW. Lescure's portrayal of the sociocultural nuances around "foreigners," especially white people in a majority-Asian country, strikes a cord that I resonated deeply with as someone who had observed similar sentiments in Taiwan.
The parallels and juxtapositions between Alva and Lu Fang—starry-eyed with their admiration toward everything American—are unique angles I haven't read much in Asian literature. Coupled with the depiction of all the foreigners in RERW, some wealthy & some not, but all share a common trait—they are all middle-class in the US but hide their mediocrity behind their whiteness in China. Reading about the sh*t these expats get away with fills me with anger and reminds me of news & stories I've heard growing up in Taiwan, where I, too, have fallen under the spells of one's whiteness & western background.
Lescure pulls no punches in criticizing both China and the West. China for its blind acceptance of white expats' wrongdoings and its rigid political structure for Chinese citizens. And the West for using their whiteness to continue to take advantage of Chinese/Asian people.
RERW isn't without its flaws. I find myself more interested in Lu Fang's POV, while Alva's narrative sometimes veers whiney and bratty. Of course, this could just be me being an older & grumpy reader
Gifted by the publisher
1910s. Reindeer herder Ristin and her family are separated due to the newly formed borders between Sweden and Norway. A terrible accident ruptures the family, and this inextricable loss reverberates through generations.
ÆDNAN is the first epic I've read in English, and it definitely won't be my last. I had some reservations going in. As an ESL reader, I wasn't sure how much I'd actually understand with the sparse writing. I also didn't have the best experience with another book about reindeer herders—THE END OF DRUM-TIME (Hanna Pylväinen), despite it being short-listed for the NBA
1910s. Reindeer herder Ristin and her family are separated due to the newly formed borders between Sweden and Norway. A terrible accident ruptures the family, and this inextricable loss reverberates through generations.
ÆDNAN is the first epic I've read in English, and it definitely won't be my last. I had some reservations going in. As an ESL reader, I wasn't sure how much I'd actually understand with the sparse writing. I also didn't have the best experience with another book about reindeer herders—THE END OF DRUM-TIME (Hanna Pylväinen), despite it being short-listed for the NBA
1895. Dorado, Mexico. Antonio Sonoro is the latest in a long line of ruthless men as the once-wealthy Sonoro empire crumbles. Antonio plans a heist with his younger brother, hoping to get lucky. But the heist goes awry, and he launches into a warpath of revenge.
1964. Mexico. Renowned actor/singer Jaime Sonoro discovers a book that tells the entire history of the Sonoro family. But what will Jaime do when a mysterious figure shows up, threatening to upend his comfortable life?
BULLET SWALLOWER is unlike everything I've read before. It combines a family saga with dramatic western cowboy-style scenes, action-packed gun fights, and a pinch of magical realism, perfect for readers averse to the fantasy genre but looking for a bit of oomph.
Consisting of shifting narratives that differ significantly in style—Antonio's POV reads like a thriller/adventure, while Jaime's POV takes on a more muted lit fic/suspense vibe. There's also a third POV that gave me a lot of pause in the beginning because I wasn't sure where the story was going. But it wasn't until the 50% mark that each piece in BULLET SWALLOWER clicked in place for me.
This is the type of story where you'll have to trust the process and just enjoy the ride. I ended up loving the message about our generational "curse," and I appreciate James' examination of one's complicity when our family history isn't always a clear black and white. The author's notes also add another layer of nuance and uniqueness to BULLET SWALLOWER, and I loved reading about James' creative process in writing such a fascinating character.
I'll leave you with this quote that encompasses the spirit of BULLET SWALLOWER, "The past is not so far away as you might think. Nor the future, for that matter. No man lives free from history." Wow.
For fans of antihero stories, Wild West cowboy vibes, or unique perspectives on generational debts, give BULLET SWALLOWER a try!
1964. Mexico. Renowned actor/singer Jaime Sonoro discovers a book that tells the entire history of the Sonoro family. But what will Jaime do when a mysterious figure shows up, threatening to upend his comfortable life?
BULLET SWALLOWER is unlike everything I've read before. It combines a family saga with dramatic western cowboy-style scenes, action-packed gun fights, and a pinch of magical realism, perfect for readers averse to the fantasy genre but looking for a bit of oomph.
Consisting of shifting narratives that differ significantly in style—Antonio's POV reads like a thriller/adventure, while Jaime's POV takes on a more muted lit fic/suspense vibe. There's also a third POV that gave me a lot of pause in the beginning because I wasn't sure where the story was going. But it wasn't until the 50% mark that each piece in BULLET SWALLOWER clicked in place for me.
This is the type of story where you'll have to trust the process and just enjoy the ride. I ended up loving the message about our generational "curse," and I appreciate James' examination of one's complicity when our family history isn't always a clear black and white. The author's notes also add another layer of nuance and uniqueness to BULLET SWALLOWER, and I loved reading about James' creative process in writing such a fascinating character.
I'll leave you with this quote that encompasses the spirit of BULLET SWALLOWER, "The past is not so far away as you might think. Nor the future, for that matter. No man lives free from history." Wow.
For fans of antihero stories, Wild West cowboy vibes, or unique perspectives on generational debts, give BULLET SWALLOWER a try!
gifted by the publisher
After solving her first murder case on a sentient spaceship, Mallory Viridian hopes to live a peaceful life. Except the law enforcement agent who hounded her on Earth has arrived. Of course, a murder ensues. And this time, Mallory isn't sure if she has what it takes to solve the case anymore.
Lafferty's mind works in brilliant ways & I loved how original the alien biology is portrayed in this series. You'd have to have read the first book to understand what's going on, but both books are so full of surprises. CT is the perfect read for those looking for a cozy mystery and some alien chaos.
After solving her first murder case on a sentient spaceship, Mallory Viridian hopes to live a peaceful life. Except the law enforcement agent who hounded her on Earth has arrived. Of course, a murder ensues. And this time, Mallory isn't sure if she has what it takes to solve the case anymore.
Lafferty's mind works in brilliant ways & I loved how original the alien biology is portrayed in this series. You'd have to have read the first book to understand what's going on, but both books are so full of surprises. CT is the perfect read for those looking for a cozy mystery and some alien chaos.