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Beyond the Wrapper: Confessions of a Perfect Dumpling
"Life isn't about keeping up with the Jones'. It's about being better than the Nguyens." Being a first generation Asian American comes with a certain level of responsibilities and expectations. Parents gave up so much for their children to come to America only to live in a world where American culture is completely different from what was raised inside the family.
Sidney shares her own story in her perspective of being a first generation Asian American. Her emotions full of guilt, self-loathing, and trying to uphold her parent’s expectations. This is her story of trying to be a perfect dumpling only to find her wrapper isn’t as transparent as she thought.
Sidney shares her own story in her perspective of being a first generation Asian American. Her emotions full of guilt, self-loathing, and trying to uphold her parent’s expectations. This is her story of trying to be a perfect dumpling only to find her wrapper isn’t as transparent as she thought.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2016
322 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 3, 2016
A good read of self discovery strength and life's lessons.
It's easy to forget Vietnamese refugees from the '70's now have adult children. They are a forgotten generation. Do these adults fit in? Did they keep their traditional values? Did they become 'Americanized'? A struggle to say the very least. Sidney gives such insight on demands of these first generation Americans. It's sad. It's humbling. It's empowering to see her breakthrough to become her own person. All presented as a diary to her child.
It's easy to forget Vietnamese refugees from the '70's now have adult children. They are a forgotten generation. Do these adults fit in? Did they keep their traditional values? Did they become 'Americanized'? A struggle to say the very least. Sidney gives such insight on demands of these first generation Americans. It's sad. It's humbling. It's empowering to see her breakthrough to become her own person. All presented as a diary to her child.
July 15, 2018
Whilst reasonably insightful, the book was extremely repetitive, going over the same thoughts and revelations time and time again. Further spoilt by very many typo errors .
May 12, 2018
It was a pretty good portrayal of Asian-American culture. As a westerner I appreciated seeing the importance of honor and valuing family. I enjoyed her story and search for meaning! She didn’t need a man all along! She was stronger than she knew! I also enjoyed the resolution she had with her mom at the end. Although I have to say, the constant typos (for perspective?) was very distracting!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews