"Budding Lotus in the West" is a beautifully crafted exploration of the immigrant experience, blending rich cultural heritage with the challenges of assimilation. The protagonist’s journey is both heartfelt and relatable, as she grapples with her dual identity and the complexities of her surroundings.

The writing is lyrical and vivid, painting a compelling picture of both the homeland and the new world. The author excels at capturing the nuances of cultural clash and personal growth, making the protagonist’s struggles and triumphs resonate deeply. Supporting characters add depth to the narrative, each representing different facets of the immigrant experience.

While the pacing occasionally slows, the emotional payoff is worth it. The themes of resilience and self-discovery are poignant, leaving readers with much to reflect upon. Overall, "Budding Lotus in the West" is an insightful and moving read that offers a thoughtful perspective on identity and belonging. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a rich, engaging story.

Budding Lotus in the West is a very compelling and unique book detailing some truly unique ways to humbly deepen the influence of Buddhism in the west. The flow of the book is excellent. The balance between historical data and traditional Buddhist teachings and the ways to integrate this knowledge into the west is very well done. The book can be very direct , with compassion, and pulls no punches in holding misogyny and patriarchy accountable. All of this information is coming from an author who clearly has a thorough and diverse knowledge of Buddhism.
This book would be 5 stars for me if not for the random diatribe discussing obesity. These couple pages are not well informed and land as grievances without truly understanding the bodies of others.