OVERVIEW
Every single book of Jean Kwok's book is good, but this is a GREAT book!!
The best part is that I learn more and more about Chinese culture. I married into a Chinese family about 25 years ago and still don't know everything about the culture and never will.
I truly thought that I knew what the ending was going to be. Um, I was totally wrong, wrong, wrong!
After going through the review, this is ANOTHER 5-star book for 2023!! YES!!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Jean has a beautiful, poetic way of writing that still is easy to read. What a gift that she has to tell stories in such a gorgeous way.
Jean also tells the stories that need telling like THIS book. There is so much about unethical adoption, human trafficking, and undocumented "social" clubs that needs exposure to stop it once and for all!
The amazing thing is that English is not Jean's first language plus she also speaks Chinese and Dutch fluently. Impressive writing from an immigrant - they really do contribute to our society!!!
Character development: 5.0 stars
This book had three main characters: Jasmine, Lucy, and Rebecca. These three women learn and grow so much during the course of the book. Their back stories are interestingly developed from the two poor immigrants from China to the one wealthy American. The three characters intersect in a huge crescendo that is a huge bombshell!
The secondary characters are Fiona, Wen, and Brandon. A child and two men who have shared pasts and differing views of the future. Another huge bombshell!
The tertiary characters are the co-workers, relatives, friends, and assorted others.
Storyline: 4.5 stars
It was a very good storyline, but it took me a little bit to get into the book. The very beginning was exposition and it was quite a bit to set up. But, once I got past that, I tried to "ration" this book and just couldn't do it. I stayed up late last night reading the end of the book. Typical of me.
The main locations were New York City and China.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
One of the horrible realizations was the intrinsic bias in society toward parents who adopt children from a different race. I have encountered comments about my bi-racial daughter but it was very rare compared to what these adopted parents and children must endure. So, so wrong!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Gorgeous.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfection.
HIGHEST recommendation
BOOK INFORMATION
LAPL (Los Angeles Public Library) book
The Leftover Women by Jean Kwok
268 pages
William Morris
Release date of 10/10/2023
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
