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Liked It “I enjoyed reading this book, although thought it strange that half way through the author changed from using adult first names of the Donaldson family to calling the adult as Jin-Ho's mother, grandfather, etc. Showed insight to how displaced some people feel as immigrants, even with new...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “I expected a more typical Tyler novel, this one was slow moving and I only finished it because my book group voted for it as our September book. It improved for me in the last half of the story line and then I felt a bit more involved with the characters, annoying though they were!” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“I enjoyed reading this book, although thought it strange that half way through the author changed from using adult first names of the Donaldson family to calling the adult as Jin-Ho's mother, grandfather, etc. Showed insight to how displaced some people feel as immigrants, even with new citizenship, and after long periods in their "new" environment. Very satisfying read”
Judy O wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A story of two families in the US, one Caucasian and one Iranian who both adopt Korean baby girls and the family bonds formed between the families during the girls childhoods. Insight into both our and Iranian cultures.
Linda V wrote this review Friday, November 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
”“Interesting read about two very different families adopting from Korea. I want to reread this soon.”
Cindy P wrote this review Friday, November 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interesting book about adoption and culture clashes in melting-pot America. Although I didn't love all the characters, even the annoying ones got a sympathetic treatment from Tyler.”
Paula C wrote this review Tuesday, November 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Recommended by Danotra B”
CPL Librarian wrote this review Wednesday, October 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“An enjoyable read. I really cared about the people in this novel. Anne Tyler does a great job storytelling.”
Keely W wrote this review Sunday, October 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Two couples wait at the same airport gate for the agents bringing them their newly adopted daughters from Korea. One family is American and one is Iranian, two very different cultures with a single goal: to adopt a baby. They decide to exchange information so they can meet again and the girls can know each other growing up. And, in fact, the two couples become good friends.
Betsy Ellis wrote this review Sunday, September 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The following five years in the girls’ lives unfold before you and it turns out the book is not so much their stories but more so the stories of the people who have adopted them. Bitsy and Brad are forty-ish, down-to-earth folksy people. Bitsy weaves her own fabric and won’t think of putting Jin-Ho in daycare for even a minute. Ziba and Sami are young professionals who were lucky enough to find each other and fall in love before an arranged marriage could be suggested. They are Americanized but still very much engaged with Ziba’s large extended family, many of whom do not speak English, and Sami’s mother, Maryam, who has been in the U.S. since she was sent to join her new husband at the age of eighteen.
It is Maryam who ends up being a focal point in this story, as she explores her never-ending feelings of being the “foreigner” at the table, tries to stay out of Ziba and Sami’s parenting decisions, and observes the strange American (read “intrusive”) habits of their best friends, Bitsy and Brad, who invite her to every celebration involving the girls, even ones they invent themselves.
If this book were a painting I would call it a masterpiece. You never really know where the story is leading you, but the characters are so artfully drawn that I really felt that I knew these people. I could smell the Iranian food (having lived for two years below an Iranian family), and I could distinctly see the discomfort and forced politeness when the two extended families came together (perhaps due to the many times my family and my Peruvian sister-in-law’s family, many of whom do not speak English, have been in these identical situations).
It is rare to have a book at home that has me is its grip so strongly that I can’t wait to finish all my daily obligations so I can finally steal away and read. This also kept my up late. Enjoy.
”“I expected a more typical Tyler novel, this one was slow moving and I only finished it because my book group voted for it as our September book. It improved for me in the last half of the story line and then I felt a bit more involved with the characters, annoying though they were!”
G P wrote this review Saturday, September 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“If you're expecting something to happen,,,”
Melanie wrote this review Sunday, May 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
