Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month – Equal Opportunity Reader

[REVIEW] Frangipani, by Celestine Vaite

A Black woman's hand holding an ereader displaying the colorful cover of Frangipani in front of a grassy plant and a wooden table painted blue.

(Buy it at Bookshop.) Materena is a lot of things–a professional cleaner, a proud Tahitian, a devoted customer at the local Chinese store, the relative that is nice to everyone in the family, and Pito’s wife. She’s also the mother of three children–tough guy Tamatoa, sensitive mama’s boy Moana, and strong-willed daughter Leilani. It’s LeilaniContinue reading “[REVIEW] Frangipani, by Celestine Vaite”

[REVIEW]No One Can Pronounce My Name, Rakesh Satyal

(Buy it HERE.) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5⠀ This book is easily my second favorite read of the year so far after Girl, Woman, Other. It’s funny, touching, warm-hearted, and surprisingly deep. It’s also ferociously well-written. (One chapter made me close the book, say WOW, & sit for a while with the words.) I can’t believe I’ve never heardContinue reading “[REVIEW]No One Can Pronounce My Name, Rakesh Satyal”

[REVIEW] On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong

(Buy it HERE.) “Who will be lost in the story we tell ourselves? Who will be lost in ourselves?” This is a messy book. There’s a lot going on between its covers–PTSD, emerging sexuality, poverty, war, immigration, mental illness, class, race, abuse, art, gender performance. There’s a lot going on, but it all seems toContinue reading “[REVIEW] On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong”

[REVIEW] The Poppy War, Rebecca F Kuang

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5⠀⠀ First of all, yes, I know that’s not a poppy in the picture. There aren’t any growing in my neighborhood this year, unfortunately.⠀ Secondly, this review is a little spoiler-y. I won’t give away any major character-based plot points, but I will allude to a major event in the plot without giving any details.Continue reading “[REVIEW] The Poppy War, Rebecca F Kuang”

[REVIEW] Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982, by Cho Nam-Joo (translated by Jamie Chang)

(Buy it on Bookshop HERE.) /5⠀ I feel so many ways about this book. Let me start by saying that this is not an enjoyable read at all, but it is important. It isn’t dramatic, but it is realistic. And it isn’t entertaining, but it is necessary, I think. ⠀ Kim Ji-Young was the mostContinue reading “[REVIEW] Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982, by Cho Nam-Joo (translated by Jamie Chang)”