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" So far, really enjoying this. It is rare -- and wonderful, in this case -- to find a 68-year-old female protagonist. "
- Pamela, 2/12/2014
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" saving it for book group "
- Karen, 2/1/2014
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" I dragged myself through a hundred pages, and the ebook expired (from the library). I'm not going to put it back on hold... "
- Jaclyn, 1/17/2014
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" This was an okay book, parts of it I really did enjoy, but parts seemed to drag on a bit for me. I liked the story telling with the different points of view, but some seemed very long (Sophy) and some were never mentioned that I would have liked to hear, (Sarun or Chunng). "
- Tonya, 1/12/2014
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" Great characters, but I had a hard time getting into the relationship of Carter and Hattie. "
- Lola425, 12/18/2013
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" There are so many themes in the book: destiny vs will, science vs superstition, how the smallest towns are complicated like the biggest cities. That you can believe in a thing (like God and religion) and not believe in it at them same time. That you can be a scientist and be superstitious. The themes are brought forward by the characters in their daily lives and how complex the human condition is. "
- Paul, 12/7/2013
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" I loved this book. I listened to the audio version, and the narrator was perfect. I loved Hattie, her story. "
- Ellen, 12/5/2013
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" Hard to describe, but I really liked this book. "
- Amy, 11/25/2013
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" too long and rambling for me "
- Pat, 8/23/2013
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" The focus of this story was all over, too much in some places and not enough in others. The potential exists for this to be better, but the structure is so flawed. I also feel that first person limited would have brought us into the story better. "
- Sarah, 5/18/2013
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" This wonderful book was a big hit with our book club ! I had not read anything by Gish Jen before and I loved her writing. Look forward to reading others books by her. "
- Gaye, 2/1/2013
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" I enjoyed this novel but don't consider it among Gish Jen's best. I missed the humor that characterized "Typical American" and "Mona in the Promised Land." "
- Janice, 8/29/2012
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" Excellent beginning, but bogs down in the middle. Jen is so vividly observant about older adults, babies..and animals. "
- Sterndiane, 3/20/2012
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" Skimmed through this after reading about the first 1/4. There was both too much and not enough going on in the story, and the characters were not compelling. I was very surprised because I liked a couple of Jen's earlier books. "
- Theresa, 2/6/2012
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" Oh man, I enjoyed this book so much. Dear Gish Jen: please don't go so long between books. Love, me. "
- Laura, 1/8/2012
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" ugh. i wanted to like this book - i really did. but it went off in so many random tangents and the characters were so flat and predictable that it was almost painful to read. blah. "
- Michelle, 10/11/2011
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" Enjoyable but fairly forgettable. Touches on some heavy, interesting themes (immigration, religion, love, family) without being pretentious. Different chapters were written in different characters' voices, which was mostly successful, though some of the characters were a bit fuller than others. "
- Katie, 9/23/2011
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" a drainage ditch a foot or two deep would be filled with water very quickly, on a property as wet as she described it. Therefore, 6 months after the ditch was started, as in the book, her character chhang would not be able to sleep in it. "
- Deb, 8/4/2011
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" too sappy but could have been good. could have been the reader who ruined it for me. "
- Cathy, 6/14/2011
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" I have read several books by Gish Jen, whom I admire very much. I am impressed how tremendously varied is her narrator's voice from one book to the next. This book is populated by people who seem often on the edge of credibility yet they are nonetheless familiar. I recommend it.
"
- Vtalland, 5/6/2011
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" It was no Mona In The Promised Land, that's for sure.
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- Lulu, 3/23/2011
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" Oh man, I enjoyed this book so much. Dear Gish Jen: please don't go so long between books. Love, me.
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- Laura, 1/23/2011
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" "In what you are proud of", Lee used to say, "you can see in what way you are nuts." - awesome line.
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- Natalie, 1/11/2011
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" Can't remember where I got the recommendation from but did not finish this book. Dumb. Perhaps even trite.
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- ingrid, 12/28/2010
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" I enjoyed this novel but don't consider it among Gish Jen's best. I missed the humor that characterized "Typical American" and "Mona in the Promised Land."
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- Janice, 12/21/2010
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" The focus of this story was all over, too much in some places and not enough in others. The potential exists for this to be better, but the structure is so flawed. I also feel that first person limited would have brought us into the story better.
"
- Sarah, 12/21/2010
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