cordiallykathy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Suicidal thoughts
aboppy's review
5.0
This book touched me in ways I am still trying to understand. Ly's story is one that on some level will make you feel in a very deep way no matter your background
kaloughl's review
4.0
This was a tough memoir to read. It was good, don't get me wrong, but just emotionally troubling. Though it does talk a lot of Ly Tran's cultural identity and the struggle between her immigrant parents/status and her new American lifestyle, I think the strongest part of this memoir was about mental health. Ly Tran came to America with her parents and three older brothers when she was a toddler. After settling in Queens, the family began to take in sewing work to make ends meet and had to arrange and sew thousands of ties and cummerbunds for pennies. Ly and her brothers did well in school but when Ly's eye sight began to decline, her father refused to let her get glasses convinced it was a government plot. His paranoia stemmed from his incarceration in a Vietnamese POW camp and lead to a prickly existence, especially with his wife and children. Ly's declining eye sight lead to difficulty at school and a longterm battle with depression. The second half of her memoir focuses on her struggle to stay motivated in school, having to fight back from the brink many times.
As someone who was legally blind for the majority of my life and had to rely heavily on glasses and contact lenses, I resonated a lot with Ly's journey with her eyesight. One major difference though was that I was privileged enough to never go a day without insurance and family support and never had to struggle with my eyesight in school. I was floored with Ly's experience and wondered why it took so long before someone was able to help her. And then once they did, why was the only way to bring in child services? It just makes you question our healthcare system, which was exacerbated when Ly ended up in psychiatric care later. Reading about Ly's descent into deep depression was so tough but she told her story so well. I think this was one of the best memoirs about depression that I read because it focuses a lot on the despondency and how un-special it is. By that I mean that it was just Ly's everyday existence and her writing made you realize, wow this could happen to me too. I also liked her honesty with how she struggled to come back from it, trying therapy, medication, etc and eventually finding a good balance but acknowledging that it is there for life. I also got Lasik surgery to correct my vision and I had a visceral reaction to Ly's description of the surgery at the end. It was 1000% worth it but boy, I never want to go through it again!!
Overall, Ly's writing was terrific. It was so visceral and honest that I often had a hard time reading but am so glad I did.
As someone who was legally blind for the majority of my life and had to rely heavily on glasses and contact lenses, I resonated a lot with Ly's journey with her eyesight. One major difference though was that I was privileged enough to never go a day without insurance and family support and never had to struggle with my eyesight in school. I was floored with Ly's experience and wondered why it took so long before someone was able to help her. And then once they did, why was the only way to bring in child services? It just makes you question our healthcare system, which was exacerbated when Ly ended up in psychiatric care later. Reading about Ly's descent into deep depression was so tough but she told her story so well. I think this was one of the best memoirs about depression that I read because it focuses a lot on the despondency and how un-special it is. By that I mean that it was just Ly's everyday existence and her writing made you realize, wow this could happen to me too. I also liked her honesty with how she struggled to come back from it, trying therapy, medication, etc and eventually finding a good balance but acknowledging that it is there for life. I also got Lasik surgery to correct my vision and I had a visceral reaction to Ly's description of the surgery at the end. It was 1000% worth it but boy, I never want to go through it again!!
Overall, Ly's writing was terrific. It was so visceral and honest that I often had a hard time reading but am so glad I did.
stephaniejalowiec's review
5.0
Ly Tran came from Vietnam with her parents and brothers when she was a toddler. She works as a child making cummerbunds in the family’s living room and then paints nails at her mother’s salon. Who is Ly Tran outside of her family’s expectations? How will she find her place in America and honor her heritage? Ly Tran is a courageous woman and a beautiful writer.
sde's review
4.0
An engaging memoir. While lots of bad stuff happens to Ly throughout the book, it is still a quick read, and you can sense the love her family has for each other despite all their foibles. This is also a story of all the people who helped Ly along the way. Although she is a very strong person, she never would have gotten half as far if not for all the people who stepped into her life and provided help when she needed it most. It is a good reminder that little things that you do here and there may make a big difference in someone's life.
As someone who also has very bad eyesight, I wanted to shake the parents when they refused to get her glasses. I understand the reasons why. but I can't imagine how she was able to be as successful as she was without glasses. I would think she would have had debilitating headaches. I also found it weird that her dad was so opposed to glasses but would shell out the big bucks for Are glasses that bad of a reflection on a family?
Toward the end of the book there is a very sweet
As someone who also has very bad eyesight, I wanted to shake the parents when they refused to get her glasses. I understand the reasons why. but I can't imagine how she was able to be as successful as she was without glasses. I would think she would have had debilitating headaches. I also found it weird that her dad was so opposed to glasses but would shell out the big bucks for
Spoiler
lasik surgery. I never had a desire to get that surgery, and I definitely don't after reading this book!Toward the end of the book there is a very sweet
Spoiler
love story. It may make you less reluctant to talk to strangers on the subway!gabivitale's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
amgee017's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0