Reading a Book a Week

Reviewing on Sunday — Can This Be Done?

I have been in a reading craze for the last month and a half. I set an enormous goal for myself, to read 52 books this year, after hardly reading anything last year, nor the year before. I’ve always been a speedy reader, once I learned how back in first grade.

You see, I was not an early reader, although I loved books. I would carry around my grandparents’ Readers Digest when I was four or five, as it was “kid-sized” and had pictures.

Most of the books I read as a child were mysteries, historic stories, and children as heros. I did read under covers and whenever I had the chance. I even gave up reading one Lent as I never was paying attention to my parents or doing my chores. My Easter basket was not filled with chocolate that year, but with books or gift cards to pick out books.

I am writing my memoir, and I hope to have it finished by the end of this year. Which means, I am reading memoirs of other people, to see how similar or not they are to me. So far, it has been a fascinating six weeks. Six books in the first six weeks of 2022. Last night I finished a mystery but today I write about a memoir.

Review of Struggle Between Two Lives by Lena Ma

I decided to read a memoir about a culture different from my own. I thought, with the Chinese New Year and the Chinese Winter Olympics occurring at similar times, it would be great to read a coming-of-age memoir. While this book goes beyond the coming-of-age time period in her life, it shows the anxiety and mental anguish of growing up different.

I found the story interesting and different from others that I have read this year. Her story was very similar to a best seller about a Korean daughter and mother relationship.

Her wants of being a musician, rock star, and trying to pursue it without the families’ knowledge, I can only offer my sympathies. To not have the backing of my parents as I pursued many different careers and opportunities would be horrible.

The meanness of girls can never be overlooked. It creates such sadness for so many women growing up, no matter where they live. I applaud her for talking about it, re-remembering how she felt…