RaveLibrary JournalUtilizing art as a theme, Thanki successfully builds an engrossing and often-heartbreaking tale that is further bound together by the magical properties of an heirloom tapestry that the women in Amla’s family inherit. Her richly drawn-out work also touches upon themes including gender equality, caste, family, friendship, and love.
Juli Min
PositiveLibrary JournalMin’s debut will be appreciated by readers who relish the joy of discovery and piecing information together to shape the characters and events in their own minds. It is an intriguing portrait of a fragmented family where nothing is ever quite what it seems.
Celeste Ng
RaveLibrary JournalKnown for focusing on families, race, and relationships, Ng raises the bar another notch in a story intensified by reference to such police violence, political protest, book banning, and discrimination against people of color ... Beautiful yet chilling ... As with her previous novels, her storytelling will not disappoint.
Cecily Wong
RaveLibrary JournalTrue to its title, Wong’s overarching account of one family’s business is told with beautiful imagery but reveals individual pieces that show how things are not what they appear to be. This story of people, culture, and lifestyles will be appreciated by readers who enjoy novels involving families and their secrets.
Julie Otsuka
RaveLibrary Journal... introspective ... Otsuka’s spare, dreamlike writing offers readers a deeply touching exploration of the impact on Alice’s Japanese American family (particularly her daughter) of caring for a loved one with dementia ... Otsuka is noteworthy for her skilled storytelling and her ability to immerse readers in her characters’ emotional journeys. Essential reading for those already familiar with Otsuka’s work; those who haven’t read her are likely to be duly impressed.
Elaine Hsieh Chou
MixedLibrary JournalAddressing issues of racial identity, interracial relationships, the value of the arts in relation to the artist’s identity, and a host of other topics relevant to our times, Chou’s novel attempts to cover a lot of ground. The result reads like a TV script starring a predominantly Asian cast ... Chou’s debut opens with promise and an intriguing premise, but as it moves along, multiple story lines are left open, and many characters...are left underdeveloped. Nevertheless, readers who enjoyed Vanessa Hua’s River of Stars will appreciate this similarly humorous if sometimes unbelievable romp.
Sang Young Park tr. Anton Hur
PositiveLibrary Journal... a lightly comical and insightful tale of a man, now in his 30s, who cares for his highly religious, strong-willed, but frail mother as she battles cancer; Young meanwhile seeks to better understand himself and to trust others enough to find happiness in life ... Centering on relationships (or the lack thereof), this work offers readers honest characterizations of flawed individuals from different walks of life who are all looking to find contentment regardless of their circumstances. Park’s writing is introspective and relatable, and the broad-ranging themes make this a good candidate for book group discussions.
Jung Yun
RaveLibrary Journal... poignant ... Yun’s writing is filled with strong characterizations, drawing on her own upbringing in North Dakota, and she proves herself a laudable storyteller. Presenting Elinor as a woman on a journey of self-discovery and reinvention, the novel addresses key contemporary concerns, from race and gender to power and authority ... While the conclusion could have been fleshed out more, this multilayered and suspenseful tale is filled with unexpected and satisfying twists. A definite page-turner offering much to contemplate.
Tahmima Anam
PositiveLibrary JournalAsha\'s voice carries the novel; readers will follow eagerly as she grapples with her and Jules\'s decision to have Cyrus serve as the face of the company while she works nonstop behind the scenes to create and sell it ... Drawing on aspects of the author\'s life, this tech-oriented novel offers readers a glimpse of the challenges of creating and running a startup. Anam brings the issue of gender equality in work and relationships to the forefront of the narrative. With a mention of the current pandemic woven into the story, Anam\'s modern tale has plenty of talking points that will make it a good selection for book groups.
Yan Lianke tr. Carlos Rojas
PositiveLibrary JournalFilled with snippets of political propaganda, Yan’s book displays the degree of risk one may be willing to undertake, and the hardships one may endure, when striving to overcome oppression with hopes of personal gain. It’s a story of lust and greed, with a degree of tediousness in the repetition and number of passages about Aijun and Hongmei’s desire for each other, as well as all the political references. The plot is far-fetched at times; at others, it’s horrifyingly realistic with violence ... Though not for general readers, this is a must-read for those familiar with Yan’s writing. His liberal use of double entendre may also appeal to readers interested in historical fiction about this period of China’s history.
Linda Rui Feng
PositiveLibrary Journal... an emotional work focused on relationships and filled with love, hope, and determination, but also heartbreak ... Hard to put down, this beautifully written novel is filled with optimism; its characters each seek to do their best under the circumstances and make decisions leading to a better future. Feng makes her mark in this promising debut, and she successfully weaves in several unexpected plot twists as the narrative unfolds, leaving readers to long for a sequel.
Sanjena Sathian
PositiveLibrary JournalExploring the many meanings of the clever title, this multilayered work looks at the history of Indians in America since the gold rush, the matrimonial prospects of gold diggers, and the ethical ramifications of stealing gold for use in alchemy, even to help a loved one ... A fast-paced, well-crafted story about what it means to be both Indian and American
Te-Ping Chen
PositiveLibrary JournalTold in a straightforward journalist’s style, Chen’s stories are filled with individuals facing hardships of varying degrees, with no happy endings to be found. Not light reading, but this collection may be of interest to those looking for book group titles addressing the challenges of finding success, happiness, love, and contentment.
Susie Yang
RaveLibrary JournalWhat begins as a story of a young woman\'s struggles to assimilate quickly becomes a much darker tale of love, lies, and obsession, in which there are no boundaries to finding the fulfillment of one\'s own dreams. Yang\'s skill in creating surprising, even shocking plot twists will leave readers breathless.
Xiaolu Guo
PositiveLibrary JournalThis beautifully told and gently introspective story of a young couple touches upon a host of relatable topics, from cultural and generational differences to socioeconomical perceptions and relationship issues between genders. Readers will have much to ponder, and book groups especially will appreciate.
Quế Mai Phan Nguyễn
RaveLibrary JournalAn engrossing story of family, adversity, war, loss, and triumph ... Recalling Min Jin Lee and Lisa See, Nguyen displays a lush and captivating storyteller’s gift as she effortlessly transports readers to another world, leaving them wishing for more. This may be Nguyen’s first novel published here, but one can only hope it will not be the last.
Tishani Doshi
PositiveLibrary JournalDoshi follows up her first novel, Pleasure Seekers, with a beautiful tale of family, love, and acceptance ... In dreamlike writing that overflows with emotion, Doshi investigates culture, caste, politics, and ethics, as Grace struggles to bring some semblance of meaning to her life. Sure to be popular with book clubs and readers who appreciate getting caught up in a work that transports them beyond borders.
Sayed Kashua
RaveLibrary Journal... deftly translated ... Well-developed plotlines help readers easily unravel the complex puzzle of why Saeed and Palestine left home and why he has been prohibited from returning until now ... Though gently told, this story has great depth and is broadly appealing, allowing readers to consider how the smallest actions, linked to the power of the written word, can adversely affect the future.
Monique Truong
PositiveLibrary JournalContaining minimal dialog, this work is rich in descriptive detail that some readers will enjoy, though others who prefer more character-driven interaction may be daunted. Nevertheless, those who follow the work through to the end will discover three fascinating women whose stories clarify the life of a man just as remarkable in his time.
Ji-min Lee, Trans. by Chi-Young Kim
PositiveLibrary Journal... a lush tale of historical fiction ... Using the interaction between two women from vastly different walks of life, [Lee] forms connections between them and weaves a story that contains elements of despair, whimsy, and surprise ... Unique in its setting, mid-1950s Korea newly split by communism after two devastating wars, this brief novel will be appreciated by readers who enjoy historical context and/or strong female protagonists.
Amitav Ghosh
PositiveLibrary JournalReality and illusion collide in this mythic, fluidly written work, which will appeal to readers who will appreciate being carried along by Ghosh’s imaginative prose and occasionally disconnected story lines.
Catherine Chung
MixedLibrary JournalChung\'s development of key characters is strong, her light prose flows easily throughout, and she successfully represents a young woman attempting to find her identity and stand out in a field dominated by men. Yet while the narrative is engaging, the plotlines run in varied directions as the mysteries behind Katherine\'s heritage start to unfold, and Katherine\'s voice could have been stronger and more inspirational ... Though perhaps too tidy and underdeveloped, this work has merit and will appeal to individuals looking for a breezy summer read over more realistic fiction.
Jean Kwok
PositiveLibrary Journal... intriguing and gripping ... Kwok’s tightly woven novel is an emotional and thrilling page-turner that also provides insight into her Asian culture. A major change of pace for Kwok; readers who enjoyed the work of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones and Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl should appreciate.
Eugenia Kim
PositiveLibrary Journal...heartfelt ... Though the ending seems a bit rushed, as the sisters go off to college and enter their twenties, Kim is a true storyteller, and her latest work is engaging throughout. Readers who enjoy family sagas by Lisa See and Jamie Ford will appreciate this one.
Vanessa Hua
MixedLibrary Journal...an intriguing plot filled with twists and turns showing how the two women fare on the run with their limited visas, abetted by luck and ingenuity. Hua\'s characterization is strong and engaging and her writing highly descriptive, likely the result of her journalistic background. Yet while the story opens with a lot of promise, it becomes progressively less realistic as plotlines and characters wander off in various directions with results more akin to a comical screenplay ... Overall, an entertaining read best for those who don\'t mind overly tidy and farfetched fairy tale-like endings.
Hanya Yanagihara
RaveLibrary JournalAs in her previous novel, Yanagihara fearlessly broaches difficult topics while simultaneously creating an environment that her audience will find caring and sensitive. Not all readers will embrace this work, given its intense subject. However, for those strong of stomach or bold enough to follow the characters\' road of friendship, this heartbreaking story certainly won\'t be easily forgotten.
