Book Review: Girl In Translation

I wanted to take a break from all of my party prepping to tell you about a really good book I read last week.  Girl In Translation by Jean Kwok. 

 



 

Ever since I became a Mom, I have the hardest time hearing about children who lose a parent, a parent losing a child or any hardship that a child has to face.  Not saying I was insensitive before Reed...I wasn't.  Heck I used to cry at cotton commercials (remember those really sappy ones with the dad and daughter dancing on her wedding day???)  Anyway...but this book combined with the news of the killings in Syria and the graphic images depicting them on the news had me in a full on sobbing mess.

 

The story is about a young girl, Kimberly, and her mother trying to make it in America after relocating from Hong Kong.  They are given just enough to get by from a stingy Aunt who should have gone to prison for the things she did such as employing children, pay well beyond minimum wage and horrible working conditions right in America.  They were forced to live in the projects in a dilapidated and probably condemned building because they didn't know any better. 

 

There was no heat and they had to keep the stove on night and day, the windows were broken so they had to put plastic over them to keep the cold air out.  Did I mention this was NYC?  There were roaches and rats that lived with them all year long...and on and on and on.  It was horrible but they made it.

 

This mother, who was from a prominent family in China and an accomplished music teacher in Hong Kong, fell in love, married and had a beautiful baby girl.  Her husband died young and she comes to America with the help of her sister.  Only to find that jealousy has overcome her sister's heart and she is forced to work in a factory, live on pennies and scrape by literally to keep her and her daughter alive.  All the while taking the time when she wasn't too worn out to play music for her daughter.

 

That is love, wonderful love and it is stronger than any challenge we can face.  In reading this story, I really felt for them.  How hard it was and unfair.  In the story, this mother and daughter make it.  In the end there is happiness...not a fairytale ending by any stretch of the imagination but happiness nonetheless.  Somehow I connected what I was reading to what happened in Syria.  It was so fresh on my mind having just seen it that evening on the news.  Sadly for those parents love wasn't enough.  I pray for them and I pray that some semblance of peace comes to that country. 

 

I know I sound very naive when I say how these things bother me...living in the projects, mass murders.  I know that this is reality for many people and I feel fortunate to say it is not my reality.  I realize that this review is a bit scattered but I would definitely recommend this book.  It is written well and involves a story line filled with situations that you do not come across everyday.  Plus it makes you think.  Makes you question and makes you want the best for people.  And I don't think that is a bad thing.

Book Review - Room by Emma Donoghue

This is long over due...so long over due that I have read it in both of my book clubs.  The first time about a year ago and then again just last week.  I liked it so much I read it both times. 

This book offers the reader so many conflicting emotions when reading it.  The basic gist is that a young woman is living in a one room building with her son, Jack.  The thing is that she is being held captive and the father of her son is her abductor.  "Room" is the little Jack's whole entire world.  His mother doesn't tell him that there is a world outside or that they are locked up.  She protects him, loves him, guides him, teaches him and so many things that any mother would do.  It is really beautiful but at the same time so sad. 

This book evokes book fear on so many levels...could this happen to me?  Will they escape?  Will they make it in the real world if they do? 

I don't want to give too much away but this is a very good book and one that you should pick up.  It is also a good book for book clubs because it makes for good conversation.

Have you read something good lately?  Share it!

The Help

I give this book two thumbs up - make that 10 thumbs up.  This was a wonderful book.  It was written very well and brought out some emotions and thoughts I didn't know were there.  Also, we talked for two hours about this book at book club.  It is always nice when a book brings out such good conversation.

The premise is a recent college grad of Ole Miss, Skeeter, moves home to Jackson, Mississippi and finds herself immersed in white southern society in the 60's.  The trouble is she is the odd girl out - she wants a career, she is not married and finds the way the help are treated unfair.  She wants to tell their story and befriends several maids to help her.  As you can imagine, stirring the pot during this tumultous time in our history can be dangerous.

I would definitely recommend it!

The Kitchen House

I give this book two thumbs WAY down.  This was only one step up from a cheesy Harlequin romance. 

I will say though that the other girls in my club liked it.  So I may be the odd one here.

The basic gist of it is that a young girl is adopted by a plantation owning family in Virginia.  She finds her home with the slaves and lives in the kitchen house.  Back then, kitchens were not part of the main home because of fires.  She forms an incredible bond with them and then think of her as their own.

The language was very descriptive and let me "see" what life was like back then.  But that is the only positive thing I can about the book.  Anything that could go wrong with this family, does.  There is child abuse, there is drug addictions, and alcohol and physical abuse.  Not to mention all the atrocities that are happening to the slaves.  It was a regular soap opera set on a plantation.

If you are looking for drama - pick it up.  If you are looking for elevated reading move on.