Reviews

Fairest: A Memoir, by Meredith Talusan

leftleaning's review

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5.0

For March, in celebrating Women’s Month and to highlight more Asian voices in the face of #StopAsianHate I read Fairest. Meredith gives voice to the many hurdles she's had to cross: from rural to city, from the islands to the belly of the beast, from man to woman, from working class to the halls of Harvard. I am thankful for her story, and her continued testament to our Filipino people. She was in the
documentary on Jennifer Laude, the trans Pinay who was murdered by a US serviceman (Call her Ganda). Ugh, Fuck US I mperialism.

chiannehere's review against another edition

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5.0

If I needed a representation of what it’s like to be a first generation Filipino immigrant going into a field that’s not medicine/computer-related, this is it.

jill_r_317's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

3.75

priley's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

3.75

silodear's review

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4.0

I think more of 3 stars per my preference, but 4 stars for its existence in the world.

malig12's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative relaxing sad medium-paced

4.25

gabieowleyess's review

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3.0

Meredith has lived quite a life. I feel grateful that she chose to share it with the world.

krissyronan's review

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4.0

Fascinating look into one women’s experiences at the intersection of so many identities. Recommend for adults.

angelainsf's review

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emotional reflective medium-paced

3.0

jessicagordon1029's review

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2.0

I really expected to love this, but...I find Meredith to be a person I wouldn't want in my life for a multitude of reasons, and I didnt like her as a "charecter" in her own book. The self-congratulatory attitude, the strict emphasis on her whiteness and her thinness, the betrayal of her friends, the using people to boost her self esteem and the scene where she bought a sex worker called "boy" just turned me off on her completely. I also noted the rampant fatphobia in this book, which was another thing that made this a less than enjoyable read.

She undoubtedly has lived an interesting life, but this book was a struggle to get through because its like she couldnt get over herself enough to allow us into that life in a meaningful way. I was really disappointed.