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whatchareadingheather's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This is by far a memoir that I have related to the most as someone who is also of mixed race, and highly recommend to anyone who struggles with their identity and lives with the constant feeling of never being 'enough' of one thing. Machado does a fantastic job at blending her personal life story with educational topics including:
- the positive and negative traits that AAPI culture tends to embody
-the rich history of Hawaii that gets brushed over in school including Blood Quantum history
-the 'murica mindset that sprung its nasty head against locals of darker skin tones despite Hawaii being a melting pot of cultures
- how very real culture shock can be and the many forms that homesickness can take
It's got a little bit of everything for everyone and hits the emotions in surprising ways.
- the positive and negative traits that AAPI culture tends to embody
-the rich history of Hawaii that gets brushed over in school including Blood Quantum history
-the 'murica mindset that sprung its nasty head against locals of darker skin tones despite Hawaii being a melting pot of cultures
- how very real culture shock can be and the many forms that homesickness can take
It's got a little bit of everything for everyone and hits the emotions in surprising ways.
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
allthebooks36's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Cancer, Rape, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
maethereader's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I really loved this! I thought the memoir was beautiful. And tying in Hawaain history and indigenous kanaka culture made it so fascinating and reflective. I learned a lot about present day Hawaii and Hawaii’s history and indigenous culture & spirituality.
I appreciated the perspective of an okay but not perfect childhood and the honest portraits of messy but loveable family members. I found it very refreshing. The depiction of the author’s grief and difficulty in handling challenging emotions & situations as a young adult were very honest and I really appreciated those as well. Despite differing circumstances, I found those young adult years very relatable.
Overall I left the book with the impression that it’s all okay. We’re all messy and human and doing our best and making mistakes and having regrets, but we’re here and it’s all okay.
I appreciated the perspective of an okay but not perfect childhood and the honest portraits of messy but loveable family members. I found it very refreshing. The depiction of the author’s grief and difficulty in handling challenging emotions & situations as a young adult were very honest and I really appreciated those as well. Despite differing circumstances, I found those young adult years very relatable.
Overall I left the book with the impression that it’s all okay. We’re all messy and human and doing our best and making mistakes and having regrets, but we’re here and it’s all okay.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Racism, Terminal illness, and Colonisation
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Dementia, and Toxic friendship
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