#BookReview: The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez

Arturo and Alma Rivera have lived their whole lives in Mexico. One day, their beautiful fifteen-year-old daughter, Maribel, sustains a terrible injury, one that casts doubt on whether she'll ever be the same. And so, leaving all they have behind, the Riveras come to America with a single dream: that in this country of great opportunity and resources, Maribel can get better.

When Mayor Toro, whose family is from Panama, sees Maribel in a Dollar Tree store, it is love at first sight. It's also the beginning of a friendship between the Rivera and Toro families, whose web of guilt and love and responsibility is at this novel's core.

Woven into their stories are the testimonials of men and women who have come to Delaware, by way of other states or countries. Their journeys and their voices will inspire you, surprise you, and break your heart.  I loved each and every character and their background stories.  From Nelia, who came from Puerto Rico in hopes of being the next Rita Moreno, to the nosy Quisqueya who sees all and reports all to the other neighbors, the characters are just fascinating.

I became so invested in the lives of the characters, especially Mayor.  I found myself feeling his pain when he recognizes that, once again, he's a disappointment to his father.  He's not the cool, Americanized, soccer playing college student that his brother, Enriquez, is.  He's a bit of a nerd and an introvert and is picked on often at school.  But he's a good person and that shines through again and again.

Alma, Maribel's mother, is another great character.  She feels the guilt of what happened to Maribel more than her husband, Arturo.  For that reason, she's created her own little prison that she keeps herself and Maribel trapped in.  Her quiet strength becomes her most valuable asset.

Although this is Maribel and Mayor's story, the story belongs to all of the characters.  I love that Henriquez fleshes out every single character.  We know why each person has ended up in this apartment complex in Delaware and we're thirsty for more of their story.  Though I rarely re-read books, this is definitely one I plan to re-visit again.  It's just that good.

304pp
Published: June 2014
Disclaimer: Copy of book received from publisher, opinions are my own.

#BookReview: China Dolls by Lisa See

Offering an interesting perspective on the lives of Asian Americans in pre-World War II San Francisco, Lisa See hits it out of the park with China Dolls. It seems so rare that American fiction allows depictions of Asians outside of the narrow confines that it has created for them. Often, their stories are set in their native countries of China, Japan, etc. By creating characters that live in Anytown, USA, Lisa See humanizes stories that are often overlooked in mainstream lit.

American-born Chinese Grace is from a small town in Ohio where her family was the only Asian family in town. As a result, Grace has missed out on Chinese culture and, in fact, has never met any other Asians outside of her mother and father. Arriving in San Francisco with hopes of a career as a dancer, she’s initially overwhelmed by Chinatown and sticks out like a sore thumb, until she’s rescued by the haughty princess of Chinatown, Helen.

As a daughter of one of the most respected families in Chinatown, Helen can do absolutely nothing without it being reported back to her father. She dreads her days working at the telephone exchange, but it’s what her family has determined is proper for a woman of her age and station. She can’t sing or dance, but that doesn’t stop her from coming to Helen’s assistance and offering to show her where she can make a living.

Ruby is Japanese, but passing for Chinese. Almost everyone in Chinatown knows this and accepts it until the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and the U.S. government begins setting up internment camps for Japanese citizens, whether they’re U.S.-born or not.

The three become fast friends working as dancers at one of Chinatown’s finer clubs, but mistrust seems to always be lurking in the background. Petty differences and jealousy are a central theme and each woman has her place in the spotlight as the betrayer of others. For that reason, it was difficult to like one character more than another or sympathize with any of them. At times, they’re downright cruel to each other, yet still dependent on each other for survival, so the friendships seem to be maintained more out of necessity than loyalty.

If I absolutely have to pick a favorite of the three ladies, I would go with Grace; least favorite is harder to determine. Ruby is a snake from the beginning and continues to show her true colors, so it’s hard to blame anyone that doesn’t keep their guard up around her. Helen, on the other hand, seems so honest and forthright, but she’s probably the one to fear the most, since you’ll never know when she might strike. Regardless, I loved the story lines of all the women.

400pp
Published: June 2014
Disclaimer: Copy of book received from publisher, opinions are my own.