Book Post 1

 

I assumed (and partially still do) that memoirs are boring novels that lack the necessary entertainment to compel me to keep reading. I need action, adventure, comedy, and romance—everything I thought memoirs didn’t have. Also, there wasn’t a lot of time for me to get this novel because I needed to have it in two days, so I searched for one that Amazon could ship in that time frame. I could’ve picked this up at a normal bookstore and get it in an hour, I actually went to four stores looking for it, but nobody could beat the $18 price! However, my main objective for choosing this novel was for it to be exciting to read. Qian Julie Wang seemed to have the most intriguing and action-packed life out of all of the listed authors, which is why the book I have chosen is Beautiful Country. 

After reading 180 pages, I know that I chose the right memoir! Qian’s life is so interesting to learn about because it’s completely different from my upbringing and sheds a light on the difficulties undocumented people confront. It’s gut-wrenching to hear about the constant state of hunger she dealt with, watching her mother work different jobs, and the difficulties of being a non-native English speaker in school. Qian explains all of these things as if she is still a child—saying that dumpster diving is a shopping experience where you look for hidden treasure. The ignorance of young Qian is matched with the tone and diction of her 34 year-old self. However, it can be confusing reading because a lot of phrases are in Mandarin and I feel like I am missing out on jokes. But, I understand that it is extremely important to have representation in literature and Qian is staying true to the language of the conversations and her Chinese roots. I am excited to keep reading and see the journey Qian has, though I hope her life is easier from here on out.