jiujensu's reviews
446 reviews

This was a pretty short read; very entertaining. Even though the family was a bit dysfunctional and quirky and I didn't agree with things they did, I still liked the characters, the story and the journey. Amid the dysfunctional moments you could tell there was love. Learning about the culture and refugee situations of Egyptians, Christians, Muslims, Palestinians, Greeks, etc all in one family made for a very interesting story. The ending was so sweet and proved that the balance tipped in the direction of love despite all the fighting and craziness.

Ms. Chua is very proud of her Chinese heritage and upbringing and this comes through in the book. She does learn to blend the Chinese and American parenting styles and learn that all kids are different, but... I did feel bad for her kids when she said very hurtful things that I considered mean and not discipline. The incident where her kids made birthday cards and she berated them for the quality and told them to redo them I thought was pretty extreme and hurtful. Demanding excellence is one thing, but teaching them to be gracious when they receive things could also be a lesson...

Overall, I could identify with the universal parenting questions, worries and struggles. I'm glad things turned out so well for her thus far and wish her and her family the best.

I started out reading Three Cups of Tea and thought that Mortenson's co-author was a bit too enamored of him and may have exaggerated the amount of struggles overcome and whatnot. Then I found this book and was intrigued and tried ot look stuff up on this conflict to see if it was just a guy wanting to smear Mortenson or if there was something to the issues of mismanagement and falsehoods raised in Three Cups of Deceit. There were lawsuits and a 60 Minutes (April 2011) that put Mortenson on shaky ground. I think the cause and intent are still noble, but Mortenson may have got caught up in making a name for himself eventually. Before the books, though, it seems he didn't have a handle on running things to see that schools built got supplies and teachers as promised, a problem that may have started with not holding himself accountable with time sheets, expense reports, etc. It may be a case of mismanagement, but that still leaves many lies that were uncovered. I am disappointed with this effort I had long wanted to read about. I'm glad someone came forward with the truth, though.

I enjoyed learning more about Turkey and the Armenian genocide as well as th food through this amazingly twisted story that explores the past - both historical record, personal baggage and perceptions of both.

Each chapter is a food, which was cool. There was quite a bit of talk of food. Since this is important in culture, I"m glad it wasn't overlooked. There were some elements in common with the food of the Levant, but I learned about some new dishes as well.

The story was amazing. The families are tied together in a few different ways that were surprising and sad. There are a few different plots or layers in different points in the histories/lineages of the families and then you find the characters are more intertwined than you thought.

Explains the conflict as well as the BDS movement. I would say all the questions one could have about the movement are answered and a compelling case is made for BDS. Apartheid and genocide as well as the asymmetry issue are discussed as well as objections to the terms and why they actually do apply.

I frequently see people calling on both sides and calling for both sides to make concessions and negotiate. I myself have always felt something was wrong with that, but haven't always been able to explain clearly why. This book (certain chapters) does exactly that.

Another issue that was helpful for me was the discussion on "dialogue." I have always felt that any time the two are talking and participating in events together, that it was always a positive. He brings up the point that unless the sides acknowledge the injustice and oppose occupation and agree that full equality and repatriation/return/compensation of Palestinians is the goal (as these for Israeli Jews are a given), the event whitewashes the crimes.

Chapter 3 explains a lot about the conflict and 3 main groups Israel is committing crimes against - refugees, Israeli citizens, occupied Palestinians. It contains specific examples, which could be eye opening for some.

Chapter 12 is an interview and it contains answers to very commonly asked questions and criticisms leveled of/at the movement. It also discussed apartheid and injustices of Israeli Palestinians (Jewish nationality excludes some citizens, etc).

Definitely a book to add to your "Understanding the Middle East Conflict" shelf, list, etc.

Just found at my used bookstore!

This is a memoir, but would probably have been much better had I majored in English literature or have been a voracious reader of the classics. There are a lot of references and significant portions relate her experiences to her favorite novels (classics) she teaches, which is good, but I enjoyed the insight into Iranian culture and traditions and the confusing (for me) politics much more.

She has renewed my interest in the classics and perhaps I will try and read some Nabokov or reread some like Gatsby that are at the far reaches of my memory.