Lydia is the favored child of the Lee family. Her mom desperately wants her to become a doctor, to pick up her medical career where her mom failed--due to gender constraints and impending motherhood. Her father wants her to be popular, to fit in, as he never could as a Chinese American. But Lydia doesn't want any of this, all of which no longer matters because Lydia dies before the book even begins. No one knows what happens, but it takes the youngest to begin to piece Lydia's final days together.
Told through the eyes of the Lee family and sometimes Lydia, this book really explored the dynamics of parental pressure and the mother-daughter relationship.
It is overall a sad book and not terribly mysterious, but I loved it. It really reached down to a point where I felt a connection with all the characters and truly felt their struggles.
Ender's Game (The Ender Quintet)
Orson Scott Card has made some political and social statements that I don't agree with or find potentially hateful, but I figured if I checked out this book from the library, I wouldn't be putting any money toward him. EXCEPT I lost the book somehow, so I ended up having to buy it to replace the library copy. Thwarted by the universe, right? Anyway, I always try to separate the author from the book in cases like this, and I did enjoy the book.
In Ender's world, child geniuses are monitored and plucked from their homes to be trained by the government to fight the endless war of humanity vs. the buggers. The book is split between Ender's time in space, training to be a great solider, and his siblings on earth--who are changing the world in their own way. Although parts of the plot bogged a little bit, it was still, overall, a good read and great message.
10 comments:
Yeah I've stayed away from books by Card. I'm reading Unlucky 13 by James Patterson.
Currently reading The Drowning Guard, but just added one to my list yesterday that looks interesting so will read that one next - Loyalty by Adrianna Scovill.
Currently reading Wonder. Just finished up Reconstructing Amelia. But you already know this since we talk books every single day.
I'm in a bum week of reading right now. I read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and loved it but after that and also The Good Luck of Right Now, nothing is seeming to feel right! I tried reading Fangirl and didn't like it enough to keep reading (LOVED Eleanor & Park) and just started up Will Grayson, Will Grayson and am not sure I'll keep on with that one either.
Finished UnWholly and am thisclose to finishing Unsouled. The slippery slope in those novels is very intriguing.
I have three books waiting for me on my nightstand. Am very excited to be able to choose one later tonight.
As usual, I'm not reading anything. I did read The Fault in our Stars before I went to see the movie though. That has to count for something.
I also read Enders Game (which you know because you were the person who reminded me I wanted to read it). I agree with your review. And I might have even found the introduction even more interesting with the commentary on gifted children and adults not really understanding their world.
Currently reading Dan Brown's inferno. Because I have a thing for Robert Langdon, and despite the historical inaccuracies, I feel smarter about art and mysterious things when I finish these books.
I read a lot this past week due to vacation. I finished Mrs. Mike, which I guess is known as a young adult classic? I also finished Still Life by Louise Penny (a mystery) and The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. I really enjoyed all 3 books. Thanks everyone for the great book ideas. I really appreciate these posts and responses.
Wasn't Enders Game a movie? The plot sounds so familiar, but I know I haven't read that book.
I'm still looking for some good books. The few that you mentioned sound interesting.
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