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There are currently 15 member reviews
for The Original Daughter
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Connie K. (Oldsmar, FL)
Grim and Surprisingly Relatable
The sansevieria plant is native to dry desert. The mother in The Original Daughter struggles to nurture and maintain her beloved sansevieria plant in the unbearably hot, humid, suppressive conditions of Singapore. This challenging effort parallels her relationship with her daughter Genevieve, the title child. By the same token, the sansevieria illustrates Gen's ever-growing belief that she was not where she belonged even though she was the original daughter.
Gen, her mother, father and paternal grandmother lived in a tiny one-bedroom flat in poverty-stricken Singapore. The atmosphere of hopelessness and lost autonomy is established early on when Gen tell us "There was no arguing with my grandmother, the apartment was hers." And it was ill-gotten at that...Gen found no inspiration in her family tree. Things only got more heated in the tiny apartment when Arin, an unknown granddaughter (child of a grandfather who was thought dead long ago) came to live with them. Arin's presence is the catalyst for the rest of the book.
The story is a character study of Gen as we live inside her thoughts, experiencing her impressions of her family members, and how she is mistreated by them. Her inability to forgive or accept imperfection and successes of those she wants to love is self-defeating and self-destroying. A sensitive reader will not escape unscathed.
Throughout the telling, descriptions of the environment and emotions are tactile and brilliant and bare. Its grim and relatable all at once.
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Dee D. (Cleveland, OH)
Immersive read of Singapore culture
A compelling debut filled with emotion as it examines a dysfunctional family life. The writing is propulsive, and the chapters are short encouraging the reader to read just one more chapter! The description of Singapore life with the demanding pressures to be successful are heart wrenching. The characters were fully developed and felt real.
A terrific book for book clubs who may not be aware of Singapore culture and who want a character driven book. I am already looking forward to the next book by Jemimah Wei.
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Charlene H. (Dallas, TX)
Book Club Discussion Delight
There is so much in this story for a group to discuss. Is Genevieve the villain of her own life? Will she ever realize it? At what point does she stop being the parent-pleasing achiever and become a cruelly jealous failure? Is it Arin's injection into her family when Gen is 8 or her envy at Arin's later drive for achievement? Did the mother's ambition coupled with her father's lack of ambition send mixed messages of family loyalty? Is this story unique to Singapore or could it be set anywhere? "Who knows." (p.346)
Wei is off to a great start....It takes a really good writer to keep the reader in company with a truly obnoxious person for 346 pages! This reader just wanted someone to slap Gen and tell her to get over it long before the end.
One comment: A glossary is needed for terms (e.g., void deck?).
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Eileen B. (Vero Beach, FL)
A Great Debut
"The Original Daughter" is a story that explores themes of friendship, sisterhood, competition, jealousy, and grief. The story is told from the perspective of Genevieve, who believed she was an only child until she discovered she had a younger half-sister named Arin. The novel follows the journey of the two sisters as they navigate their lives together. Although the story starts slowly, it gains momentum as the reader progresses. Writing character-driven stories can be challenging, and the author did a great job developing the characters in her debut novel.
I look forward to reading her next novel.
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Melanie B. (Desoto, TX)
Thoughtful and Realistic
Gen and Arin's sibling relationship begins with a childhood "contract of sisterhood" that is constantly tested through young adulthood. Their desire to succeed within Singapore's highly competitive educational system and their mother's efforts to better herself and her daughters' lives creates lingering tension.
The author delivered an intriguing, honest depiction of the effects of sibling rivalry perpetuated by parental expectations and societal pressures. This is a thoughtful and realistic story. The characters are well -developed and believable. I recommend this book for group discussions.
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Ellen C. (Boca Raton, FL)
Great for discussion
I can't say I liked this book because it is a disturbing story of a family ruined by jealousy and guilt. The author develops the reasons and outcomes using words thoughtfully. Such as, "…I felt like we were falling endlessly from a great height, our desperate arms locked around each other, both snare and salvation."
The twists of personalities and their actions will provide multiple topics and nuances to be interpreted and discussed. I've found that often my most stimulating book discussions come from books I didn't enjoy, but made me think about subjects often avoided. For this reason I give 4 stars.
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Catharine L. (Petoskey, MI)
The Original Daughter
Living with her parents and grandmother in a one room flat in Singapore, Genevieve learns she has an unexpected sister, Arin, coming to live with them. The novel is about their sisterhood and the demands Singapore culture places on academic perfection. The girls become close and support each other in their studies. But when Genevieve drops out of the university, Arin continues to excel, and eventually betrays Genevieve's trust in her. The book revolves around their relationship with each other and mother and father.
I found the novel stressful and intense; yet, I couldn't put it down. I will remember the family for a long time.
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