Reviews and Comments

Hard to believe this book is six years old; the author works a lot of very relatable and still timely concerns into her characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the themes of interconnectedness and corporatism, and the characters' searches for meanings and identities all converging was reminiscent of The Wizard Of Oz. I enjoyed the senses of urgency and purpose, and appreciated how the author described intimacy (always difficult to convey in a pleasing way). This work could make an excellent film, and I hope the author continues to create many similar worlds for us to enjoy.

Stories involving those who care for the dying tend to go way overboard on the touchy-feelies and intentional tear-jerkers. Ugghh. Had I seen this on the bookstore shelf I would have looked right past it... which is why I am extremely grateful to have had this book recommended to me. It’s something of a short autobiography of a hospice volunteer, and how living with the dying shifted her perspective and helped solidify her values. This is not specifically a religious book; many religions are briefly mentioned, and the focus here is more on how we live our lives today than on what may or may not happen afterwards. The author, Barbara Becker, writes with great vulnerability and caring, and her words brought a lump to my throat many times. This book was a powerful antidote to the superficiality our society embraces, and I would recommend it to all.

The theme of this wonderful story was epigenetics - how trauma responses are passed from generation to generation (imagine how a grandparent bit by a snake could lead to a fear of snakes in their children and grandchildren). By necessity then the story involves multiple generations, in this case all descended from a woman named Afong Moy. Each generation faces different struggles in different times and places, and all are so well described that each could be expanded into their own book. I've recommended this book to many and bought copies for others. Once you pick it up you'll find it difficult to put down.

This book highlights the emotions, frustrations, challenges, and hard-won successes of immigrants to the US. I felt befriended with the characters, empathetic to their unnecessarily difficult journeys, and furious on their behalf. Recommended.

This is a story of how first- and second-generation immigrants struggle to adapt to racist American society, and how racist American society struggles to open its minds and arms. This sounds like a harsh story, and it is, but it is told in engaging and often humorous ways. The story will leave you with a deeper understanding and a thirst for more. Recommended.

The story's characters are immediately recognizable in friends and family, and their shared struggles drive the narrative. Anyone who knows first- or second-generation immigrants will both relate to the characters and thoroughly enjoy them.

This book nicely blends modern life with ancient folklore. Its story involves a family and their struggles to live a meaningful life while the world around them devolves. The ending felt abrupt, but left me wanting to know more. Recommended.

A respected author living in Wuhan, China wrote lengthy social media posts about daily life in her town as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. These social media posts were widely distributed, but later banned by the Chinese government for being subversive. This book is all of the author's posts, collected in one place as a diary. It is compelling reading, and makes it clear how much Chinese society and government mirror our own. Absolutely recommended.

This book was entertaining but forgettable, feeling something like a protracted car chase from an action film. Its entire premise is a dangerous trip across town, one in which the characters try to get from Point A to Point B without being attacked by Villains C or shot by Weapons D. I enjoyed some of the characters, but they were not explored in any depth. Light summer read.

Thoroughly enjoyable exploration of intrigue in a virtual world. It reminded me a bit of The Matrix films, both in themes and pacing. I'd love to read more about these characters and the places they inhabit.

Portrait of a Thief is an entertaining look at recovering stolen cultural treasures. The characters are strongly defined, and though capers are a collective focus it is the characters' relationships that end up defining the book. This left me wanting both a prequel focused on China and a sequel based on further character development. Recommended.

This author does a fine job of describing how ancient lessons can be applied to the lives we lead today. Two passages, one describing temple politics and another about finding a gun, seem a bit self-indulgent at first, but in the end are recognized as tools to make the reader ponder and question the lessons. There are certainly other books that do deeper dives into Buddhism's precepts, but this book is an excellent starting place for those curious how to embody the Middle Way.

I've just fifty or so pages into this book and am absolutely loving it. The author's love and excitement for the oceans is palpable, and she explains complex scientific themes in simple terms that even the likes of me can understand and appreciate. Very much looking forward to completing this volume.