Sunday Salon: Three New Books Reviewed

 

Reviews

Kinda Korean: Stories from an American Life by Joan Sung

Genre: memoir

This novel is about a Korean-American girl's immigrant Tiger Mom, but it's about much more too that's just as, if not more, important. It's about growing up Asian in a society that "fetishizes" and "hypersexualizes" Asian woman. The writer discusses being assaulted so many times and "brainwashed" to believe that you should live in shame for who you are.

I found the memoir enlightening about the author's experiences and challenges faced by triple threats - having immigrant parents, being Asian, and being an Asian woman. To be made to feel that "being different" is always a bad thing. It was interesting that even a positive for Asians, being considered studious and hardworking, could be turned into a stereotype that implied that Asians could not experience racial discrimination.

The honest and forthright stories are compelling, amazing, and disturbing. It's a good thing that so many Asian women are finally speaking up, writing books, memoirs, histories that tell their stories and show their points of view and experiences.

I would encourage all readers to read this book, to understand in more depth the immigrant experience in the U.S., which may be similar to those in other countries as well.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic
Genre: magical realism, mystery, suspense

Anna Koray is a cop, but she grew up with a father skilled in outdoor living and the natural world - a hunter, who taught her about the forest and the creatures that live there. When Anna was still a teen, her father was executed for the murders of young women,. But now young women are being found again in the forests or woods, prepared in a way reminiscent of her father's methods. And Anna is on the case, no one knowing her real name as a child or who her father is.

The suspense was in finding out slowly about Anna's childhood relationship with her hunter father through frequent flashbacks in the narration. The element of magic in her father's belief in a demanding nature god adds to the strange atmosphere of the story. Anna's conflict between law and order and her love for her father add a lot to the understanding of a complex father-daughter relationship to the natural world.

A haunting, magical story mixed in with crime solving, family drama, suspense, and mystery.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker

Genre: romantic mystery

I like the setting on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, and the plot that involves two women who could be identical twins. Drama follows when Max is asked to impersonate her double, Sofia, a prime minister of a small European country who is on a trip to Italy.

The romantic interest makes the story more interesting, as Max's CIA handler on the trip, Flynn, is a former lover. There is suspense when the two have to flee and hide from would be assassins who want to take out the prime minister Sofia. The book lost me, though, when Max morphs into another personality, suddenly becoming a daredevil involved in drama on the scene. I wish she had remained in her original character, someone who needs Flynn's help to dodge killers while she impersonates Sofia.

I did enjoy the first part of the book, however.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book

Currently reading

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke

 Mystery writers meet publishers at an up scale wedding on an island in the Pacific Northwest. This romantic mystery becomes a locked room trope as weather traps them all there with a murderer. I'm enjoying it so far.....

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book

What are you reading or watching this week?

Memes:  The Sunday Post, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, Sunday Salon, and Stacking the Shelves 

Book Reviews: Julie Chan Is Dead; All the Words We Know

 Two reviews

I'm finally reviewing ARCs promptly and not holding off, possibly forgetting about them. I wonder how many books I've read but never reviewed? Hmmm.... 

Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
April 29, 2025; thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley

Social Media Influencers:

I am still trying to figure out the reason for this book. It's an odd story about influencers, identical twins, the power of wealth and influence, and becoming famous on social media. I'm not sure there is a straight forward message. If so, it's enmeshed in a tale that begins with a twin that takes over her dead sister's successful social media identity. 

This story morphs into the secrets of an influencer group that bands together in a bizarre cult having a strange god and unholy sacrifices required of the members.The pull of money to be made by social influencers online, the lengths people will go for this fame - this seems to be the basic theme. The story goes over and beyond the normal in order for this message to be heard. 

It kept my interest but almost lost it on that private island with crazily drugged women, high on the need for fame and influence.

All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash

July 1, 2025; thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley

Senior Sleuth with Dementia:

I enjoyed the word play by 80-year-old Rose, a nursing home resident with dementia, whose love of nature, plants, and trees comes through when she remembers the botanical names of each flower and plant she cherishes in her memory. Though in her 80s and a widow, she still has enough determination to ferret out the center's secrets and the crimes she thinks she sees being done to employees, her friends in the home, and other residents.

Rose lives half of her time in a remembered garden with her second husband, now deceased. It spurs her on to also take note of the present and her circumstances. And in a very roundabout way, she achieves her goals, with the help of a silent mop boy who cleans the floors and sees and knows all the secrets.

The story was clever, cute, and suspenseful, with an ending that brings relief and a sense of completion. Her frequent use of malapropisms, a misuse of words that sound alike, was also entertaining.

Next reads

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke

Jan. 21, 2025; thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley

Destination wedding: 

Mystery writer Kate attends the wedding of her ex-fiancee on a private island off the coast of Seattle, but when the bride is poisoned at the wedding and Kate also finds a dead body, things definitely take an unexpected turn. This rom com mystery sounds exciting and I am eager to start reading it. 

Mona Acts Out by Mischa Berlinski, Jan. 21, 20025; thanks to Liveright and NetGalley

Stage actress has had enough:

Mona runs off with her dog, dreading the guests packed into her apartment; her husband; and the upcoming rehearsals for a new play as Cleopatra. An overnight escape adventure into the city gives her a better perspective of her life.

In my mailbox

 

Big Bad Wool by Leonie Swann, translated from the German. May 6, 2025; thanks to Soho Press

Flock of sheep as amateur sleuths:

Who would ever think of sheep as sleuths in mystery books? Author Leonie Swann has. This is her second book with a group of sheep from Glennkill and their shepherdess, Rebecca. This time the sheep head for France. When other sheep and deer are being killed by an unknown predator. it seems Rebecca's flock are to solve the mystery. 

I wonder how? 

Note: My Follow button on the right  works now. But  do leave comments, too.   

What are you reading or watching this week? 

Memes:  The Sunday Post, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, Sunday Salon, and Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday