Beautiful Country: A Memoir
“Heartrending, unvarnished, and powerfully courageous, this account of growing up undocumented in America will never leave you." —Gish Jen, author of The Resisters
In Chinese, the word for America, Mei Guo, translates directly to “beautiful country.” Yet when seven-year-old Qian arrives in New York City in 1994 full of curiosity, she is overwhelmed by crushing fear and scarcity. In China, Qian’s parents were professors; in America, her family is “illegal” and it will require all the determination and small joys they can muster to survive.
In Chinatown, Qian’s parents labor in sweatshops. Instead of laughing at her jokes, they fight constantly, taking out the stress of their new life on one another. Shunned by her classmates and teachers for her limited English, Qian takes refuge in the library and masters the language through books, coming to think of The Berenstain Bears as her first American friends. And where there is delight to be found, Qian relishes it: her first bite of gloriously greasy pizza, weekly “shopping days,” when Qian finds small treasures in the trash lining Brooklyn’s streets, and a magical Christmas visit to Rockefeller Center—confirmation that the New York City she saw in movies does exist after all.
But then Qian’s headstrong Ma Ma collapses, revealing an illness that she has kept secret for months for fear of the cost and scrutiny of a doctor’s visit. As Ba Ba retreats further inward, Qian has little to hold onto beyond his constant refrain: Whatever happens, say that you were born here, that you’ve always lived here.
Inhabiting her childhood perspective with exquisite lyric clarity and unforgettable charm and strength, Qian Julie Wang has penned an essential American story about a family fracturing under the weight of invisibility, and a girl coming of age in the shadows, who never stops seeking the light.
Beautiful Country: A Memoir by Qian Julie Wang is a moving and inspiring story of a young woman's journey from rural China to the United States. Born in a small village in the 1950s, Wang experienced firsthand the hardships of life in Mao's China, including poverty, famine, and political persecution. Despite these challenges, she excelled in school and eventually won a scholarship to study in the United States.
Wang's memoir is a powerful reminder of the importance of education and the transformative power of hope. It is a story of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a better life. Wang's writing is clear, concise, and engaging, and she has a knack for capturing the essence of her experiences in vivid detail.
Beautiful Country is a must-read for anyone interested in Chinese history, the immigrant experience, or the power of the human spirit. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
Here are some of the key themes of Beautiful Country:
- The importance of education: Wang's story shows how education can change a person's life. Despite the challenges she faced, she was able to excel in school and eventually win a scholarship to study in the United States. Her education gave her the opportunity to pursue a better life and to make a difference in the world.
- The transformative power of hope: Wang's story is a testament to the power of hope. Even in the darkest of times, she never gave up hope for a better future. Her hope sustained her through the many challenges she faced, and it ultimately helped her to achieve her dreams.
- The pursuit of a better life: Wang's story is a reminder that everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue a better life. She left her home in China in search of a better life, and she eventually found it in the United States. Her story shows that it is possible to overcome any obstacle and achieve your dreams if you are willing to work hard and never give up.
Beautiful Country is a powerful and inspiring story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a story of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a better life. Wang's writing is clear, concise, and engaging, and she has a knack for capturing the essence of her experiences in vivid detail.
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