Another batch of book reviews from Goodreads:
Book Review from Wade Hayes:
A well-written memoir that was fascinating if only because the author is exactly my age, born the year I was born, and lived a life so different from my own. As she described each stage of her upbringing, I found myself thinking about what I had been doing at that same age and marveling that the two of us could possibly have occupied the same world at the same time. I envy her when I should probably not — her life was not easy, but it had been rich with experiences. The other reason I enjoyed this book was the sometimes startlingly candid and dispassionate voice of the narration.
There’s a lot of beauty in this prose, even the most terrible parts of her story she details beautifully. Her style shows a restraint that I fully appreciate (others may find it disquieting). She unflinchingly describes her life and does not apologize for it nor cheapen it by gaudily harping on lessons she has learned. She gives the reader credit for figuring it out. Sometimes quite funny. In the end, uplifting and powerful.
Must-read. You will learn something!
From Anthony Johnson:
“The sun was bright, the air was warm, and the afternoon was peaceful and lazy with the sound of cicadas. Having just finished their lunch, the adults retreated to the guest house to resume their game of mahjong. The main house and the big, walled-in yard were empty once more. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves. Under the trees, the dense shade was cool and inviting. After putting some candy and crackers in a small basket, the little girl went exploring in the yard again.”
Another in my fifty-two- books Around the World Challenge, Memoir of Half a Banana is the kind of book I have been hoping to read. Ms. Fay Chou grew up in Taiwan, the opening lines in the book taking place in Taiwan, an island province of China. There is such a sense of place in this memoir; you can see it, smell it, taste it. And be horrified by it. And be in awe of it.
And yet, it is not only about Taiwan. It is about a young girl living, coming of age, and finding out where she belongs. I love taking notes when I read books, especially nonfiction works, and I took SO many notes as I was reading this book. I’ve never read anything that dives so deep on the Asian American experience, and I’m glad a book like this has FINALLY been published.
Filled with Chinese family traditions and American Chinese cultures, this book is compelling and beautifully written. As a reader, one cannot help but be in awe of Fay Chou’s honesty, strength, and ability to inspire, to teach, to shake us up, bring us together, and maybe even change the way we see each other.
I recommend this book without exception.
From Brian Williams:
I read an article by a book reviewer a little while ago in which they talked about how sick they were of “growing up in fill-in-the-blank” books and wished people would be more original. I think that’s incredibly misguided. Growing up isn’t a cliché; it’s something that happens that’s important. So, people are going to write about it, and it’s good for them.
They don’t usually write about it this well, though. This is one of those books that tops out on many different levels. The language is beautiful, the dialogue is great, and the people come alive for you, it’s educational, it’s sad, and it deals with the subject of entrenched racism incredibly well by telling the truth about what people did without forcing a political point.
A well-written memoir. The author did an excellent job of plucking out the most memorable moments to produce a flowing narrative.
Recommended.
From Charles Jones:
I enjoyed this book. Fay Chou’s life and growing up experiences were so different than my own; it was fascinating for me to read about her.
I feel that Fay Chou has exposed her soul to us, sharing thoughts and experiences that many of us would find unlikely to confess even to ourselves. How can we, as simple readers who haven’t experienced 10% of what she has been through, write a text saying, ”this is good” or ”this is bad”? I was touched by her story, and I was convinced of the inadequacy of our progressive era. Once again, I understood how difficult it is for us to be different.
This is not an overly intellectual book, but it’s a smart one and requires focus. I love writing that demands this. Here is a book that feels no need to dumb it down for anyone; it asks for your attention and gets it, and I became addicted to that feeling of thinking about only what Fay Chou was saying, and not the million other things that tend to crowd my mind.
There is much to be learned from her story, which she has written with stunning clarity and purpose. I originally bought this book for my sister, and now I have come to love it as my own.
Truly glad to have read this book.
From Christopher Brown:
Well-written, fascinating, and emotional. At first, the structure is somewhat confusing, especially the first few chapters; I kept losing track of what year it was and how old the author was at that point. But after a while, I settled right in. I was sad when the book ended; it’s been a long time since I enjoyed a book that much.
Memoir of Half a Banana is also a wonderful history book. There’s much background about the Chinese people going back centuries and recent history. It made me sympathize with the difficulties of the immigrant experience, especially for those who settle in a place so different from their homeland.
I learned so much about the Chinese traditions; I knew little before reading this book, and what I knew contained some inaccuracies or at least a lack of context. As I was reading, I was struck by how cultural differences can hinder communications if they’re not acknowledged and attempts made to bridge the gap. This is a great book to read if you want to understand people who are different from you.
Highly recommended. Memoir-lovers: check this one out!
