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A soft pick. This memoir tracks the early years in the author's life as an undocumented immigrant from China. It ends somewhat abruptly when she is 12 years old, and her mother takes her to Canada, with a brief flash forward of her returning to the U.S. This was my August #Doublespin and another in my effort to #readmyshelves @TheAromaofBooks

With each immigrant memoir I read, I learn something new. Every story is unique with their own set of challenges and experiences and show perseverance. Wang‘s memoir was no exception and I am in awe of them all.

#botm

Sunday morning means books, coffee, and donuts in bed. 😍

This book chronicles an all too common immigration experience. Ms Wang and her family fled oppression during a time when legal immigration was even harder than it is now for the Chinese. She chronicles a life of racism, inadequate healthcare, fear, and neglectful parenting.

January 28, 2023 A 100% tear jerker. If you want to read about a girl who has struggled so much in her life with her mom and dad, from elementary school to middle school to her second year in clerkship (law clerk), then this book will provide a roller coaster of emotions for you. Overall, the book is sad but has a happh ending. She is able to let go of the 'little girl' inside her and move on with her life in America.

This is a touching memoir of a Chinese American woman raised in America under the critical expectations of her Chinese mother. The story is vivid and explicitly describes her struggles trying to adapt to American culture. Unfortunately, her children are raised suffering the consequences of her vanity.
It‘s a bittersweet story of family, resilience, honor and courage.

January 14, 2023 I started to read another nonficition book about an undocumented child. I like how she divides the chapters with unique titles based on her travels to America. America is very different than China. She grew up in China with her mom and dad and then they go to America. Note: China = 中國 America = 美國 Qian adapts to ther new life in Brooklyn, New York.

January 14, 2023 I started another nonficition book. This time its a memoir about an undocumented child. The book is divided by chapters with unique titles based on the process of the child's travels from China, ( 中國 ) to America ( 美國 ). America is not what she envisions but adapts to her home in Brooklyn, New York. The lifestyle is very different from her home in China.

A powerful & compelling look at one women‘s journey to America as a young child & the challenges, worries, & fears she & her parents faced as undocumented immigrants. What unfolds after they arrive in NYC is a story of privation, struggle, & looking over your shoulder, but also family, unexpected support, resilience, & the comfort of books (& the public library) & how you can fall in love with a place that may not love you back. A good read.

Going with a memoir to end the weekend…

As 2022 comes to an end, I wanted to take a look at some of my favorite reads of the year. I managed to read 29 nonfiction books this year, and these were my favorites (in no particular order):

We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu
Savor by Fatima Ali
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
Winter Pasture by Li Juan
Made in China by Anna Qu
Diagnosis by Lisa Sanders
You Can‘t Be Serious by Kal Penn
The Book of Eels by Patrik Svensson
Dopesick by Beth Macy

The story of growing up in New York City, undocumented, and exceedingly impoverished. It‘s a remarkable and courageous memoir of what it means to be an immigrant, what it means to struggle with no safety network, and how difficult and complicated it is to navigate hopes, dreams, and ambitions.

My #bookspin for Nov.A beautiful memoir of a young Chinese girl as her parents make the decision to migrate illegally to the U.S. specifically to New York. The trials & setbacks are numerous, you wonder how they can ever make any progress.It always make me angry how immigrants are used as political tools for self righteous politicians that demonize them.To see the challenges &hardships through the eyes of a child,Qian is only 7 when she arrives.

I've only read this for a short while and already itnis so relatable. Which is kind of odd considering I've never emigrated or been an illegal resident. When she tells of the soul deep betrayal of the zoo story, I get it. I wouldn't trust again either.

Another wild Friday night!

There is a reason I made almost every other pick on my November #bookspin & #doublespin a #BOTM
I‘m way behind! The Wang is my #bookspin also qualifies for #NonfictionNovember Hopefully, I will get to Both!

Much like Trevor Noah, the author‘s journey from childhood to where they are now is astonishing and the sacrifice of a mother to envision a better life is heartbreaking. It‘s an important story, one that informs everyone of the ‘promise‘ of America for those who come here versus the reality once they are here. The writing was so-so but overall it‘s a pick.

I struggled to review this poignant memoir. Not because it‘s not excellent—it is a wonderful story and well-told. But it‘s hard to capture the heartbreak, bigotry, and deep struggles that Wang experienced. All the feels. (Side note: I just found this cover and it‘s adorable, isn‘t it?)

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022

Another memoir but it was my #bookspin square 14 so I'm glad to have read it. Can someone please remind me that I don't care for memoirs 95% of the time? I keep doing this to myself. This reminded me a lot of House of Sticks. While I think it's important to read about experiences that I will never have in order to be culturally aware, I just don't love memoirs. I usually find myself thinking, "This should have just been a personal journal." ⭐⭐⭐?

Another successful IRL #bookclub meeting! My friend Sarah hosted and made the most delicious snacks. She and I started this book club back in February as a way to connect moms in our county. I‘ve loved every minute! So many lovely, intelligent, insightful new friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In this thoughtful, often distressing memoir, Wang documents her family‘s undocumented years in America. So many immigrants face poverty and horrible work conditions; endure xenophobia and racism. Such a brave and scary choice her parents made even though they suffered greatly for it. As a child, Wang taught herself English by reading picture books. Throughout this account, her love of books is very evident. They‘re magic. #bookclub

Yesterday, making chocolate chip cookies and listening to this audiobook.

Qian Julie Wang recounts her parents‘ decision to move to Mei Guo (America, literally translated to “Beautiful Country”), and the trauma of growing up “illegal.”
Penetrating ✨ Human ✨ Truthful Quick note: I‘ll be changing my approach to reviews going forward. The ultimate goal is to offer insight, without affecting personal opinion or revealing too much of the story.

A very good listen - eye opening and real. A totally different New York City childhood than the one I had in the same era. It made me sad that I had no appreciation for lives lived like this when I was a kid.

“I drifted off to sleep that night with thoughts of my luck. The day after tomorrow, which was our day off, our lucky day, I would have school. I would not have to return to the plant until a full week later. My skin would have time to chase away the goose bumps, to regain its pink smoothness. Ma Ma‘s would never look the same.”

“Then it was just me and a sleepy Ma Ma again, waiting in front of the big door to a second floating hallway and a second flying machine, which the Chinese-but-not-Chinese da ren had told me about. I sat next to Ma Ma, on the lookout for any predators that might come. It was my mission to get us to the safety of Ba Ba‘s arms.”

I found myself so into this book I lost track of time. It was a beautifully written memoir of a Chinese family‘s immigration to American. It was sad and inspiring but just shows how poorly we treat immigrants.

Today the author is a civil rights lawyer, but this memoir is about her time coming to New York from China, as a child with her parents. It is not a pleasant read. Through the eyes of a child, we see the struggles that an undocumented family must face. She grew up in a world of hunger, fear and squalid living conditions. I loved that through the books available at her Library, she learned English and so much more.

Really enjoyed this read, I was pleasantly surprised

Current IRL Book Club read.

Do you ever look at the weather forecast and ask yourself “what the what?” It‘s currently 46 and raining but around 8pm tonight that rain is going to become snow and we are expecting anywhere between 6-11 inches with a high of 31 tomorrow.

Today‘s book mail got here just in time—you can never have too many books to keep you company when snow is on the way! The tagged book is for a book club and the other two are just because…. ☔️🌨🫖📖

#LittleChristmasSwap
Yay! For this wonderful gift today! Thank you, Jessica! You selected the very book that I was hoping for and am so happy to receive. It‘s also fitting for the direction that I want to go regarding reading this year, more non-fiction, memoir and biography.

And the sweet surprise of so many hazelnut chocolates to try…oh, the joy!🤗

Many thanks to you, Amy, for hosting such a lovely swap. The timing of opening day is perfect❣️

December 2021

Five stars. Might even be the best book I read this year. I highly recommend this, especially if you are also a fan of memoirs.

I have so much to do, my kid is dying to play with me but I need to finish this.

My latest read. Only 35 pages in and I‘m already fully immersed and invested.

I have a family member whose primary language is Mandarin and I learned more about her culture and family expectations through reading Qian's work. I recognized words from my time with this family member and had I been able to make that connection prior to meeting Qian I would have loved to have shared that impact with her when meeting her at a conference a few months back.

Book 138

I listened to Beautiful Country, which was narrated by the author. A very well-done memoir about immigration to The United States and growing up in poverty. Highly recommend, and I hope the author will write more. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5/5

This is a heart wrenching memoir. There‘s a disconnect between the author and her story. It‘s at once off putting but then it makes sense. It‘s told not from the successful adult that Qian has become but from the undocumented child of which she evolved. A child who was taught to be as invisible as possible in order that she and her family might stay in this country.

I think for anybody who is feeling sorry for their situation, you should read the life of Qian Wang. A 7 year old girl born in China, who makes a difficult journey with her mother and father. Settling in New York, life is not easy for 7 year old Qian as she and her family have to start over, giving up successful lives in China for a beggars lifestyle. The resilience of little Qian is nothing short of inspiring.

I feel bad not giving this a pick, but I just didn't connect with this one. #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks #NonfictionNovember

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This memoir was excellent - one of the best I‘ve read this year. It was gut wrenching and opened my eyes to a lot of experiences so different from my suburban midwestern upbringing. It‘s incredibly well written with such honesty. I highly recommend. I‘m sure it‘s also worth a re-read. The audiobook is fantastic.

I‘ll read everything by Qian Wang. That was a well written, loving, hear breaking memoir of her childhood as a Chinese immigrant in NYC and the fear of having an undocumented status. Highly, highly recommend. I loved every minute of it. And, I loved the repeated adoration of reading and public libraries❤️

@ARSLpage @RuralLibAssoc #ARSL2021 #MaggiesAuthorMeetGreets

This was a heart wrenching memoir about Qian, who moves from China to NYC with her parents when she is 7. Instead of a better life they are met with discrimination, racism, poverty, near starvation and the threat of deportation.

Wow x1000. This was a gut wrenching memoir of a young girl illegally immigrating to the US from China with her parents. She narrates years spent in Brooklyn, from sweatshops, starvation, and navigating friendships in school. Her determination and self will is extraordinary. She tells all her stories and covers very dark territory. Wang now works as a civil rights litigator and I just can‘t get over how good this book is or how inspiring she is!

Such a good book but it did make me weep. For fans of Uneducated, The Glass Castle.

This memoir is the story of a family who moves to America from China and the struggles that ensue.

America is indeed a beautiful country, but not for everyone.

Wang did a great job describing her family's experience through the eyes of her childhood.

#botm