What a beautiful story, honestly stunning. Left me smiling from ear to ear, while simultaneously leaving me sobbing with emotions. I will absolutely be picking up from this author again!

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but that is truly what caught my attention initially. I thoroughly enjoy Chinese culture and history so, combined, this was a pretty sure hit for me.

I don't think this was supposed to be a memoir but it is obviously heavily influenced by the author's life story and reads like a memoir. I appreciate that the author was honest about all that made up her life; the hardships and joy, the struggles of communist china and, finally, how the faith she found brought hope and love to her life. While slow at points, the vulnerability of the story brought a depth to the story that i appreciate.

Thank you to net galley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I thought it was going to be one thing but it ended up being another. Oh well. I didn't realize that there were heavy Christian themes in this book. Don't get me wrong — I respect all religions and am a Christian myself, but I don't really mesh well with books with religious elements like this. I think this is something that a lot of readers don't like, and it would have been good if it had been put in the synopsis. The pacing was a little slow and I skimmed parts of it. Don't know if I like the characters that much.

This book was very long for my taste and Ying-Ying did not have much character development or growth.
I did not know it was about Ying-Ying`s life being so horrible until she found god, wich i would have like to be in the blurb. To each their own, but i did not enjoy it when it was put like that.

This book cover is gorgeous which was what caught my attention in the first place and the blurb made me want to read this even more but it fell flat for me halfway through.

This story follows Ying-ying, who grew up in China under the oppressive rule of the Cultural Revolution. Both her parents were professors in a university but were prosecuted to do hard labour. Ying-ying only had her older sister left and together they tried to live as normally as possible. Her parents were soon released and they all moved to another city to start over. Ying-king was then given the chance to study in America and she took that chance so she can provide a better life for her and her family. Little did she know that she will be deceived over and over again by people she trust.

It was interesting at first to read about Ying-ying’s life as an immigrant in New York as she learns how to be independent, how to find work and and learn who to trust all the while facing injustice in an unfamiliar country and dealing with betrayal. However, it stops there. Despite all her bravery, I feel that she doesn’t learn from her mistakes and continued to be naive and unguarded until it is too late. I was really rooting for her but some of her decisions really pissed me off.

The only saving grace is that Ying-ying is not someone who gives up easily when life throws her obstacle after obstacle. She is determined to make the best of her life and show everyone what she is capable of when she puts her mind to it. Sadly, this is still a no from me.

Thank you Netgalley and Acorn Publishing for the arc.

I really enjoyed reading Wings of Silk! There are some triggering elements but I liked the overall plot and pacing of the book.

I feel really terrible when I have to write a review about a book I didn't enjoy, specially when I see that this story means so much to the author. But well, I'm just a random reader who had wrong expectations, so please don't take my words too seriously.

I thought it would be interesting to learn more about both cultures and see the challenges she faced along her journey, but actually Ying-Ying's just miserable most of the time. Bad things keep happening in her life chapter after chapter. Real bad things. Trigger warnings include rape and suicidal ideation. I don't remember reading a book with so many nasty characters before. Everybody hates the poor girl. This story was nothing like I expected it... She deserved so much better. I got really angry seeing how they treated her. I wanted to feel inspired, but I just got really, really angry.

Thanks to Acorn Publishing for providing a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start by saying that this book's cover is very beautiful. That's what caught my attention, to be quite honest. The synopsis hooked me and made me want to read the book, but as many other reviews have pointed out, I didn't imagine it would be a Christian book. This bothered me a lot. I have nothing against religious books, but the whole "my life was horrible, I've been through a lot of bad things, and then I met god and he saves me and it's all so wonderful now" speech is just not for me. And it's not for a lot of people, so it would be nice if there was something about it in the synopsis.

Overall, it was an interesting book. A little slow-paced and the writing was very consistent, it remained the same style from when Ying-Ying was a child to when she was more mature. She grew up, but it was as if her point of view as a child remained.

⋆⋆⋆½

Thank you to NetGalley and Acorn for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: death, miscarriage, spousal abuse, rape, sexual assault, misogyny, racism, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, depression, harassment.


Growing up in Mao's Communist China, Ying-Ying jumps at the chance to go to college in America. Arriving in New York City, she finds that not all is as it seems concerning the great American Dream, and that her relatives living in the States -- meant to care for her and help her onto the path of success -- are not as kind or considerate as she'd hoped. In spite of facing obstacle after obstacle, including homelessness, not being able to speak English, as well as the pain of being so far from her family and overcoming cultural differences, Ying-Ying is determined to make the best of her life, and show everyone that she can be the independent, powerful woman she's always wanted to be.
Initially, I requested this book thinking it was a memoir. As it turns out, it's not, but it is heavily inspired by the author's life, and there's no doubt when reading it that many of these experiences are hers. I saw a lot of rather negative reviews concerning this book, and to be honest, my expectations were quite low. In the end, perhaps because I was already expecting to be a bit disappointed, I actually rather enjoyed this novel and I found myself admiring Ying-Ying, as well as the author who crafted this story about a life of both hardship and love.

I wasn't sure if I would be as interested in this book since the majority of it actually takes place in America, but reading a firsthand account of an immigrant's attempts to make the most of her newfound freedom away from Mao's regime, and her innocent wonder for the new things she discovers in New York (like deli cheeses and bagels), was both captivating and touching.

For me, the writing was a bit dry; I was surprised when I learned that this wasn't a memoir, because the style it's written in makes you feel as if these are all true life accounts. It didn't quite have a poetic or lyrical flow (which I rarely expect to find in memoirs, but as this is a fictional story, I would have preferred a bit more of those qualities), but it was concise and straightforward, and therefore very easy to read.

Although there were some other issues, such as the pacing, I never stopped rooting for Ying-Ying, and while this book was not quite a four or five star read for me, I really admire the voice that Lundquist has given to women, immigrants, outsiders, and all combinations of those things! Many people disliked the Christian aspect present in this novel; though there is a spiritual thread throughout, I never felt like it was being pushed on me.

God doesn't even really factor into Ying-Ying's story until perhaps the last 10 to 20%, and she never strikes you as being hypocritical or judgmental of those who don't share her faith. In fact, she makes a point of baring Ying-Ying's mistakes, errors and sins, and relishes in her imperfections, which left me with a positive, hopeful feeling amongst all of the struggles throughout her life.

This wasn't a book I could really say I loved, but I liked it a lot and I think if you are interested in stories about immigrants and capable women who forge their own paths, it's worth giving this one a shot! All in all, a sweet, moving, and rather tender exploration of life and what it means to understand yourself not as others see you, but as you see yourself.

I was initially really intrigued by the premise of this book as I've read quite a few books with similar plots.

I was looking forward to seeing Ying-Ying's life from her start in life in Mao's China to moving to the US and navigating a whole new world.

However, I felt that as Ying-Ying matured, the writing style didn't progress with her. The writing style didn't match up with the very mature situations and ideas that were being discussed.

Also, trigger warning, but there seemed to be a slew of sexual assaults that felt like they served absolutely nothing to the plot except as a poor attempt at shock value.

I had high hopes for this book, but I feel like it missed the mark.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My review shared on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/abbeyread_this) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/abbeyreadthis)

Wings of Silk by Li-Ying Lundquist (e-ARC)
I want to say a huge thank you to Acorn Publishing for providing me an e-ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Novel's Description: “After surviving a childhood under the oppressive rule of Chairman Mao’s “Cultural Revolution," a young, courageous teenager abandons her life in China for the freedom of the unknown in America. Arriving at the New York City doorstep of family members she’s never met, Ying-Ying has been promised they’ll help her learn English and accomplish her dream of attaining a college degree. But weeks later, she’s kicked out without explanation. Now a homeless immigrant, Ying-Ying must learn who to trust, how to find work, and how to succeed in a bustling metropolis that looks the other way. Overcoming obstacles of abandonment, heartbreak, and injustice in a foreign land, she remains fiercely determined to become a woman who will impact the world. An incredible story of second chances, Wings of Silk reminds the reader that underneath the fragile form of an individual, a strong and resilient heart is always ready to take flight.”

This novel is very hard for me to give my usual star rating because when comparing the novel’s plot to that of the author’s bio on Acorn Publishing’s website, it is obvious how much the plot comes from Li-Ying’s actual life. I am not one to give a rating on someone’s actual experiences, however, this novel is listed as a fiction novel and not a memoir. Based on the writing alone and my personal experience reading the book, I’d give this 2/5 stars. Reading is subjective though, and I do not want to take away from the real experiences of the author that come out through her writing.

This novel was not for me. I had trouble with the writing because it feels very juvenile. At first I excused this because the beginning few chapters are from a young person’s perspective (5-17ish years old.) As the book went on though, I felt distracted by the child-like sentences the narrator would say. Part of this is also because when matched with 1st person present tense, it feels off kilter. On top of the perspective and the juvenile tone, the writing felt very bullet-pointed instead of narrated. On one page the short paragraphs are often beginning with “A few days later I did this,” “Then I felt this,” “A week went by,” and while there is nothing wrong with paragraphs starting like that, when it's the entire novel it feels like a rough outline of what the narrative would be but with no flair and no voice. It felt very ‘this happened. Then this happened. Then I did this.’ I guess I wanted more meat on the bones this book provided in its plot. Unfortunately this novel suffers from telling instead of showing.

TW: mentions of sexual assault in reference to scenes in novel:

There was one chapter that made me finally decide I felt iffy about the novel, specifically when in regards to bullet-pointing the plot. In one chapter the main character experiences multiple sexual assault attempts and they are written in a pattern that goes like this: person tries to assault the main character, they get caught, its the next day, person tries to assault the main character, they get stopped, its two weeks later…and it continues a few more times. Basically it felt like they were added to the plot for shock factor instead of for the purpose of addressing sexual assault critically. It felt like sexual assault wasn’t taken seriously but instead used as a plot device. I am not trying to call the author out and say this was done on purpose!! I simply felt that with the style of writing, it felt like this from a reading perspective.

A lot of criticism aside, I want to say that I feel a lot of respect for the author sharing her story through this fiction novel. Though the novel wasn’t for me, someone out there will appreciate it.

Special thanks to a corn Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my own opinion.

I had a pretty hard time with this book and probably would not have read it if i knew that Christianity was going to be forced in my face throughout and I AM a Christian, so I can only imagine how other people will feel reading it. I'm sure from the bio its not a memoir, but it certainly reads like one.

I had a very hard time wanting to finish this book with all the Christianity thrown in my face. I just couldn't relate as a reader to this character, that I believe is the author.

Interesting story and nice writing style. Made me sit and think a bit about life and choices we all have to make. Did we achieve what we hoped for? Can we forgive ourselves for mistakes we did along the way? Are we happy?

I almost quit on this book a number of times while I was reading it, mainly due to the author's basic, rather stilted writing style. I kept reading because I found her story so interesting, but was never able to lose myself in her story of perseverance and forgiveness due to the stilted, uncomfortable narrative voice. I found her story inspiring and valuable and only wish she had employed the services of a ghost writer. I don't think she achieved the level of emotion and impact that she intended. Too many exclamation points and not enough true feeling make this an intriguing but not all that enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Wings of Silk tells the story of a young girl growing up in China during Mao's Cultural Revolution. It is a devasting period in China's history, and these circumstances lead her to the United States of America. From the blurb of the book, this sounded like an interesting piece of historical fiction. I wanted to know more about China and its history, so I requested this copy. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

After a quick Google search to know more about the author, I quickly realised that this is more of a memoir than fiction. Maybe a fictionalized memoir? I don't know. It would be fine for me, except that it isn't marketed as such.

My biggest problem with the book, though, is the writing and the characters. From the beginning, I felt the writing lackluster and clunky. The dialogues were often awkward and left me wanting more. The characters lacked dimension - this book definitely tells more than it shows, so the characters have no space for thoughtful reflections or meaningful growth. Since it follows one main character, I would have wanted to read more of her feelings and thoughts on what was happening; instead, it felt like she was recounting her life in a very matter-of-fact way.

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I unfortunately wasn't a fan of this book.

First of all, the cover for this book is GORGEOUS. I requested an ARC from Netgalley because it was a memoir about the Chinese-American female experience. Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. The writing and dialogue were clunky and unrefined. The pacing was slow, and there were not enough plot points to keep me interested.

Wings of Silk is a historical fiction novel detailing a young Chinese girl’s path to adulthood, from growing up under the regime of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution to life as an immigrant in America.

This book started out promisingly enough, portraying the anxieties and concerns of Ying-Ying’s childhood as the intelligent daughter of academics who were persecuted under the regime. I found it easy to engage with the various historical contexts that the story spanned. However, thereafter it began to lose focus, never really honing in on the central message - which I belatedly realised was centred around finding fulfilment through a relationship with God. The element came late in the story, and up until then, it was unclear what the plot was leading up to, if anything more than just a run-through of a life story. I would often conclude a chapter wondering what the overall message or purpose had been and struggling to fully grasp it.

If the story had a greater lean toward the overall message about God and finding faith, and the relationships formed in this context, it would have been more effective, because that message is not clear until the last few chapters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

CW: domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault, racism, misogyny

Thanks to Acorn Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wings of Silk isn't a memoir, but it kind of reads like one. Based off the Acknowledgments and Dedication, it seems like the author had some similar life experiences to the MC, so that probably explains the memoir vibe.

Frankly, this wasn't for me. It definitely read like a Christian inspired text, and there are numerous references to Christianity throughout. This isn't a problem - Christian lit is popular after all - but I don't think the summary does a good job referencing this.

From a writing standpoint, I definitely think this book suffers from "telling, not showing," so I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

dnf.

this book was not for me at all. the writing wasn't the best, the story was all over the place and there is some problematic underlining to the narrative.

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this digital arc.

I wish I'd been aware of the very last line of the Acknowledgments before requesting an ARC of this book to review, "Above all else, this is a testimony of God's mercy and love." Had I known, I would have avoided reading this stilted "historical fiction" book about Ying Ying, who grows up in China with academic parents persecuted by Mao's Red Guards. In China and subsequently in America Ying Ying is lauded for her elegance, dancing skill, height, and supermodel-level body and beauty; as a brilliant student, and then a successful manager in the lucrative tech world where her team develops the world's first Text Message for mobile phones. Through it all she remains a perfectionist. And yet she's unfulfilled until she finds God. I found it tedious and not very interesting reading about Ying Ying overcoming misguided belief in communist propaganda only to instead spout church dogma.

Written by Li-Ying Lundquist, who according to Acorn Publishing's bio overcame "the plights of a young immigrant who did not speak the language, obtained her Master's in Computer Science from a prestigious university and became a successful lead engineer. While working for AT&T Bell Labs, her team made the world's first "Text Message" for mobile phones... She hopes readers of Wings of Silk will be inspired by the lessons of forgiveness, grace, and God's powerful love."