Received free to read and review- it was the “daughter trying to establish her own identity” genre- trying to separate herself from her mother and ultimately coming to terms with it - some of the writing to describe the insights were very well done but, to me, lackluster and no unique take. Learned bit about early herbal remedies used by doctors and Creole culture in Haiti.

By the woman who wrote the Broadway hit “In the Heights.” And a Pulitzer Prize winner. From West Philly, she shares her growing up there and the stark contrast of her neighborhood and family’s lives and history and culture vs her dad’s white world (“polite hell”) and the people and institutions she encountered at Yale. Her writing is genius. Found myself underlining passages to revisit her world and evoke the feelings again.

Qui Qui - to you, your mom, your Abuela, and all the Perez women: I see you and hear you. You said: “Say anything.” You said it all.

Beautiful, painful book. I knew nothing of the history of the Kurds. I heard you Ava Homa. You have made one more human aware, which was your objective - I will share this book with others to spread the knowledge. My words sound so inconsequential but that’s how it happens.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Handled the subject really well without being patronizing - even the romance was done well without making the woman “weak” and “lose” herself.

The writing is excellent - I can "feel" the cold of the Arctic and sense these people's way of life - the pull of more modern society - the clutching to old ways. I'm buying a copy for friends and family for Christmas this year.