BookDragon Archives - Page 120 of 230

The Red Chamber by Pauline A. Chen + Author Profile [in Bloom]

18 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Author Interview/Profile, Chinese, Chinese American, Fiction, Repost, Taiwanese American

When the teenaged Pauline Chen arrived in Harvard Yard, her intention was to become a writer. The American-born daughter of Taiwanese parents, she grew up amidst Long Island’s endless strip malls and was determined – she wrote in July 2012 at Tribute Books – to shed her “provincial” upbringing....

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian

17 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Armenian American, Audio, Fiction

I think at least a decade has passed since I read a Chris Bohjalian title (Midwives remains my favorite). Two shocks came with this, his latest: 1. He's got 15 books out already; and 2. He's of Armenian descent (yes, I should have connected that '-ian'...

Carry the One by Carol Anshaw

16 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Audio, Fiction, Nonethnic-specific

A couple of months ago, one of my trusty literary friends with whom I often share must-read titles told me about seeing 'everyone' carrying this novel around last fall. So she decided to see for herself what the hubbub was about. Once she started, she...

Message to Adolf (Part 2) by Osamu Tezuka, translated by Kumar Sivasubramanian

15 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Fiction, Graphic Title/Manga/Manwha, Japanese, Translation

Official word of warning: this is NOT your kiddies' manga. Both in subject matter and graphics, Message is definitely for mature audiences. So if you have younger ones in the house, be careful not to leave the book lying around. The "godfather of manga" has...

Global Baby Girls by The Global Fund for Children

14 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Children/Picture Books, Nonethnic-specific, Nonfiction

"Cherish baby girls around the world," the back cover rightfully demands. And who could possibly resist the red-cheeked cuddlebug from Russia, the laughing wonder from Peru, the bejeweled bundle from India, the kitty-hugger (never mind the beast himself) from New Zealand, the intrepid explorer (with...

Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder

13 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Fiction, Japanese, Short Stories, Translation

What are the chances ...

A Kid’s Guide to Arab American History: More Than 50 Activities by Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Maha Addasi

12 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Arab American, Children/Picture Books, Middle Grade Readers, Nonfiction

Here's a common occurrence at our house: I can't go to bed without a book, which usually means I'm a constant barrage of 'Did you know that ...

Hikikomori and the Rental Sister by Jeff Backhaus

11 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Absolute Favorites, Adult Readers, Fiction, Japanese, Nonethnic-specific

I'm facing a bit of a conundrum with this book: just how little can I tell you and still entice you to check out this astonishing debut novel by emerging-fully-formed-like-Athena, new author Jeff Backhaus? Hmm ...

The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork

10 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Audio, Fiction, Latina/o/x, Young Adult Readers

When Pancho Sanchez arrives at St. Anthony's Home, his 17-year-old self has already survived too much death, and yet he's planning on more. The last of his family – his mentally challenged 20-year-old sister – was found dead in a motel room. While the police insist what...

Janie Face to Face by Caroline B. Cooney

09 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Fiction, Nonethnic-specific, Young Adult Readers

What began with the scare-every-parent-to-death middle grade/young adult novel, The Face on the Milk Carton, concludes (for now) after 23 years, four sequels books, and one e-story (What Janie Saw, which I confess is the only part of the series I haven't read, mainly because I can't bear to...

The Bird King: an artist’s notebook by Shaun Tan

08 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Australian, Australian Asian, Children/Picture Books, Fiction, Graphic Title/Manga/Manwha, Middle Grade Readers, Young Adult Readers

Whenever I open a Shaun Tan book, my face just gets a goofy grin. It's a Pavlovian reaction, guaranteed. Although his latest doesn't come with a straightforward narrative, it does manage to cleverly include tidbits and reminiscences from his entire oeuvre to create a whimsical portrait...

Bend, Not Break: A Life in Two Worlds by Ping Fu with MeiMei Fox [in Bookslut]

05 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Chinese, Chinese American, Memoir, Nonfiction, Repost

This is not a spoiler: If you take a good look at the cover of the recent memoir Bend, Not Break: A Life in Two Worlds, you know the pages will deliver a happy ending ...

The City of Devi by Manil Suri + Author Interview [in Bookslut]

04 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Fiction, Indian, Indian American, Repost, South Asian, South Asian American

Let's go back about seven years. So a writer walks into a bar. It's dark, but thankfully not smoky. The majority of the people there are more bookish (including Booker-ish!) than biker brutish. The writer finds a drink, and is standing slightly off the side with...

Oxygen by Carol Cassella

03 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Audio, Fiction, Nonethnic-specific

A busy Seattle hospital. Hip, young doctors. Desperate patients. Administrative hierarchies. Sound familiar? I heard the latest Carol Cassella title (Healing) even has a character named Addison! I started (because of an alma mater connection), then stopped watching Grey's Anatomy after the first season (although I've had to revisit...

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

02 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Audio, British, Fiction

At 65, Harold Fry is a quiet, solitary old man, retired from the brewery where he worked much of his adult life. Although he married Maureen – his one and only love – decades later, their days, weeks, years together are rather lonely and withdrawn....

Wandering Son (vol. 3) by Shimura Takako, translated by Matt Thorn

01 Feb, by SIBookDragon in Fiction, Graphic Title/Manga/Manwha, Japanese, Middle Grade Readers, Translation, Young Adult Readers

Shimura Takako, a well-established manga artist recognized for her LGBT focus, continues her gender-bender series with sensitive honesty. That said, don't let the sweet, fuzzy cover fool you: Shimura knows well that protecting her two wide-eyed protagonists from their less-than-understanding peers will become less and...

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis [in Christian Science Monitor]

30 Jan, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Biography, Black/African American, Nonfiction, Repost, Young Adult Readers

Already designated “definitive political biography” on its back cover, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Brooklyn College political science professor Jeanne Theoharis will reside in my personal reading history as the most difficult book I’ve ever reviewed. Never before – and hopefully never...

Jefferson’s Sons: A Founding Father’s Secret Children by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

29 Jan, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Audio, Black/African American, Fiction, Middle Grade Readers, Young Adult Readers

Let me start with what has been deemed as historical record. According to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation – which not only owns and operates Jefferson's legendary home, Monticello, but maintains the most comprehensive website focused on "Monticello, Jefferson, his family, and his times" – this is the official...

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

27 Jan, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Audio, Fiction, Nonethnic-specific

So, here's the last of the Lisa Genova oeuvre. If I had to rank her three titles thus far, the #1 slot – shelves ahead of her others – remains her stupendous debut, Still Alice, then continues with this, Left Neglected, trailed by her most recent, Love Anthony. Armed with their Harvard MBAs...

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova

26 Jan, by SIBookDragon in Adult Readers, Audio, Fiction, Nonethnic-specific

So enthralling was Lisa Genova’s Still Alice, I immediately went and got myself her other titles and hit 'play' one after the other. I don't remember the last time I read three books by the same author in such immediate succession. That I got through...

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