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You Bring the Distant Near
You Bring the Distant Near | Mitali Perkins
43 posts | 36 read | 82 to read
This elegant young adult novel captures the immigrant experience for one Indian-American family with humor and heart. Told in alternating teen voices across three generations, You Bring the Distant Near explores sisterhood, first loves, friendship, and the inheritance of culture--for better or worse. From a grandmother worried that her children are losing their Indian identity to a daughter wrapped up in a forbidden biracial love affair to a granddaughter social-activist fighting to preserve Bengali tigers, Perkins weaves together the threads of a family growing into an American identity. Here is a sweeping story of five women at once intimately relatable and yet entirely new.
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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

If you‘re trying to find a book with three generations for #Booked2023, this one would be a good choice. The narrators were wonderful.

A young Bengali family moves to NYC and we get to know sisters Sonia (who I immediately fell in love with) and Tara as they start American high school. The story evolves as they grow and start their own families. The characters are so vibrant, I didn‘t want the book to end.

tokorowilliamwallace I purchased this for a Thriftbooks sale! Glad to see someone talk about it. 1y
Cinfhen Thanks for sharing!!! Glad to hear audio is good! Stacking for #FutureReference 1y
squirrelbrain Sounds great - stacked! 1y
Soubhiville @tokorowilliamwallace I‘m not sure how I first heard of this, but I like reading about Bengali/ Indian/ other similar cultures, and I Adore 🥰 the food from those areas. So this book was a very good fit for me. 1y
75 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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Mariah2
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You guys I don‘t know if you‘ve heard about this subscription box or not, but I was really looking for something to surprise me and get me out of my normal genre. Well let me tell you I‘ve found it! This box comes as a complete surprise other then you being able to pick a primary genre I.E. YA, adult fiction, non fiction, etc. never would have picked the books they sent but am so excited 🤗🤗 #andthestorybegins

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DebbieGrillo
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Pickpick

I finished this book on my #audiowalk today. It's a multigenerational story that examines what it means to be American. Themes of racial discrimination, cultural heritage, and the importance of family relationships (especially amongst women) make this an important and compelling read. I will have no trouble recommending this one.

80 likes1 stack add
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ninergrl6
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I‘m SO EXCITED to use an excerpt from this book with my #AmericanLit classes this week. Anna‘s chapter “Off the Deep End” fits perfectly with our discussion about what it means to be American, and the timing with the anniversary of 9/11 couldn‘t be better. I just wish my colleagues would venture into this century & join me in diversifying our curriculum 🙄 #weneeddiversebooks #ya #teachersoflitsy #representationmatters

6 likes1 stack add
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Lovesbooks87
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My book haul from indie bookstore day! Also the cute button they were giving away! It says "I'm a Curious Reader!" ??????

66 likes1 stack add
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BookInMyHands
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Pickpick

This epic story of five Indian and Indian-American women spanning three generations was a great audiobook. Each woman‘s story is a complex and compelling tale of love, culture, and belonging.

#youngadult

86 of 100 #crossculturalstories read

53 likes1 stack add
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orange.books
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Pickpick

I've learned how much I enjoy generational stories and this one was no exception! As well, this one was all about moving to America and how to connect your traditions and culture to your new situation.

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aeeklund
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Got to the library and promptly locked my keys in my car. 🤦‍♀️ Ah well. At least I have my library card number memorized and was able to check out something to keep me company while I wait for @RavenRenegade to bring me the spare set of keys. This book is stunning so far.

LiteraryinLawrence Way to make the best out of a frustrating situation. ⭐️ 6y
aeeklund @LiteraryinLititz Thank you!! I tried to see it as forced meditation. 🙄 In the end it was very relaxing and the book was amazing. It helped that the spare keys weren‘t too far away. 6y
31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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VanChocStrawberry
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Pickpick

I loved this book. A great generational story of an Indian-American family that deals with changes, and biases, and defining who you are by country and faith and work and family. Lovely.

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Wordsareweapons
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Pickpick

I can‘t say enough good things about this book! It‘s such a beautiful look at relationships and identity through generations. You connect with the characters quickly even though it reads like short stories. Highly recommend checking this out!

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Spanish_Broom
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I loved this multi-generational immigrants-in-America story. So smart, and beautifully written, too.

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JacintaMCarter
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#2018Book23
Novels that cover multiple generations within a family are my jam, so I loved most of this book. The first stories focus on two sisters as their family moves from India to London to New York. As they grow up and begin their own lives, the focus moves to their daughters. The book ends by circling back around to give voice to the mother of the original narrators. I found the two sisters at the beginning to be the most interesting.

Linear The cover is so pretty!!! 6y
71 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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JacintaMCarter
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I so identify with Sonia's grief in these chapters. It feels like everyone else just moves on with life, but you're still stuck in your pain, no matter how much time has passed.

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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

I liked this quick book about a family that moves to the us. Over a few generations and a few moves they change and grow and mature.

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bibliocurl
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Pickpick

Mitali Perkins is sassy as hell! She schooled one of my friends on social media. Waiting to read more of her work.

bookloo Sassy as hell?! Sold. ♥️ 6y
17 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Chelsibeau
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This cover though 😍.
I had a much needed relaxing four days off. Ending it in bed snuggled up with this story.

TricksyTails Wow! That cover is so pretty! 😍 6y
62 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Audrey
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Pickpick

A multi generational, character driven novel about a Bengali-American family in New York City. Spanning from the 1960s to present day, this book depicts relationships between mothers, daughters and grandmothers. It also explores issues of race and skin tone within the family dynamic. More importantly, it shows that being Bengali isn‘t just one way, just like being American is diverse. #ownvoices.

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Zbayardo
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Pickpick

‪We need diverse books! And this is a perfect one! A beautifully written book @MitaliPerkins ! #WeNeedDiverseBooks

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Lindy
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Pickpick

Character-based young adult fiction follows three generations of one family of Bengali women in Ghana, England, India and the USA; #audiobook with multiple voice narration. 👍#southasian #ownvoices

51 likes4 stack adds
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Lindy
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Book synchronicity: the collection of personal essays that I‘ve been making my slow way through is by a Bengali immigrant to Canada, then the USA, whose parents are from Kolkata. The YA audiobook that I started yesterday is about Bengali immigrants from Kolkata who end up in the USA. #ownvoices #southasian

52 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Jas16
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Pickpick

“She‘s a Bengali feminist Catholic wife of a Louisiana black man. ‘Now that‘s American,‘ she always says.”
Three generations of women from an immigrant Bengali family and their journeys to create and understand their identities as daughters, mothers, Americans, multi-racial granddaughters, students, and all of the varied roles that they assume in their lives while balancing cultures.I loved so much about this book that any flaws seem irrelevant.

Cinfhen Nice review 😍 6y
Reggie Have you ever read any Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni? She writes about the Indian woman immigrant experience and I love her. 6y
Jas16 @Reggie I have read Sister of My Heart and always intended to read more. Do you have a favorite? 6y
58 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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NicoleValentine
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Pickpick

I could not put this one down. At this point, any praise I give would be like adding a thumbs up to a worldwide standing ovation. Everyone has heard about how good it is, yes? I‘d just say it feels like you have new family members after reading it, you care that much.

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Kelly
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Sunday reading.

41 likes1 stack add
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ninergrl6
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Pickpick

I wasn't planning on finishing this book today, but I just couldn't stop (I'm also procrastinating from grading 😏). Lovely multigenerational, multicultural, female-centric story. The penultimate chapter was my fave. Already thinking about incorporating it into my American lit curriculum. #ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

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ninergrl6
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Such an interesting way of describing a pregnancy🤰🏾#ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

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amrsprout
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Pickpick

Great characters who went through a lot of interesting life changes.

5 likes1 stack add
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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

There is much to love in this multigenerational immigrant story from a father trying to provide a better life & a mother navigating a new world that doesn‘t quite make sense, at least initially, to the daughters who throw themselves into their new lives with enthusiasm. Beautifully written & heartfelt this is a wonderful story of not only finding out who you are but also finding your way in a new country. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Cinfhen Great review 6y
4 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
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“...I pull the incinerator door open and toss my notebook inside. It tumbles and bangs down the sides of the chute, as if my words are shouting their truth one last time.”

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TracyReadsBooks
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Love this cover.

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ninergrl6
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Page 17, in which Sonia is me & I'm in love with this book ❤️📚🎩 #YA #MrDarcy #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

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BrainyHeroine
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I'm so excited!! The next month can't go by fast enough!

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Gnora
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This cover is amazing! It caught my eye immediately. A story of three generations of the Das family as they immigrate from India to the United States. #TBRtemptations #YA

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skrishna
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My Sunday reading -- what are you reading today?

PandaPanda I just got this one in the mail! So excited 7y
Citymouse I loved this one so much! So glad it's on the NBA longlist. 7y
40 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Nafiza
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Pickpick

This was a gorgeous read spanning different generations and continents, traveling through decades worth of sisterhood and mother/daughter relationships. With a quick pace, the book tells a tale that manages to be compact despite being solidly packed with themes of migration, equaloty, and race.

#ya #bengali #diverse

10 likes1 stack add
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Nafiza
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The way the afternoon sunlight fell on the books and lit them up was beautiful.

#bibliophile

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Citymouse
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Pickpick

A sweeping multi-generational story following the loves and lives of an Indian-American family. Compelling characters, a wonderful balance of humor and tragedy and a lovely ending. Excellent read!

Cinfhen This sounds wonderful! #stacked 7y
4 likes1 comment
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LibrarianRyan
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To me this cover says heart breaking epic. To you? #coverlove #YAedition

Linear I love that , i would frame it and put it on my wall 7y
29 likes1 comment
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ChrisSmithIndy
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One of the best novels I've read so far this year...
Re-reading to prep for an interview with the author.

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Eviebookish
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I'm really excited to dive into this one! Has anyone read it yet?

#books #yalit #diversereads #booknerd

[DELETED] 1043695725 Love the cover! 7y
beesbookworld Looks nice💖 7y
infinitbr I haven't read it but the cover is gorgeous so I might!! 7y
Famished4Fiction I actually haven't heard of it before 🙈I'll have to check it out! 7y
ChrisSmithIndy Read it in a single day at the beach... Loved it, such realistic characters! 7y
84 likes6 stack adds5 comments
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theroyalpolarbearreads
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“Novels change hearts, though. And minds.”

15 likes1 stack add3 comments