I love memoirs that read like novels - the ones that are not just factual but also artistic. The Shadow of Hunger. There, she lived with her father and mother as they struggled to make a life for themselves in America. It was there that I never had to question whether or not I belonged. Nowadays, we are sent a link to a video where authors have recorded a short blurb about their book. There have been many times in the publication process when I have wondered whether I was crazy to go through with putting this book out into the world. My deepest hope is that it awakens in readers a recognition that beyond superficial labelsundocumented or American-born, Asian American or not, rich or poorthere are strong, universal strands of the human experience that connect all of us. There were many immigrants from South China, and most everyone spoke Cantonese or Fujianese. I realized she meant that all of us have these powerful secrets that we ascribe so much shame to but that really are very universal at its core. When Qian started school in New York City, she could not speak English and was full of self-doubt. I never left behind a single crumb, stuffing everything into my stomach before smuggling some more out the back door and across the field to Mertz. On this front, Frank McCourts Angelas Ashes and Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Singswere my north stars in crafting my own book. When was the point in your life where you felt ready to open up about your experience growing up undocumented? Watching Moment Magazine wonderful moderator Sarah Berger interview of Qian Julie Wang was a welcome & sad experience. Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang is a New York Times best-seller list. Its described as the moving story of an undocumented child living in poverty in the richest country in the world. Your email address will not be published. I wrote the first draft of "Beautiful Country" while making partner at a national firm. Review: Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang What do you hope readers take away from Beautiful Country? I was attuned to my mother's every move pretty much the minute we landed at JFK. The Best Books to Get Your Finances in Order, Books Based on Your Favorite Taylor Swift Era, Cook a Soul Food Holiday Meal With Rosie Mayes. When I quit, I was terrified, but every day that has passed since, I dont know how I ever questioned that choice. Has your family read "Beautiful Country"? But having had that ingrained early on, in my adult life there is nothing that is too much work for me. The stories that we tell ourselves about ourselves are the most powerful of all, and we have a lot of choice in how we allow society to tell us how to tell our story. Want to know what people are actually reading right now? What's your favorite part about being Jewish? I pulled my phone out and started typing on that flight, and gave myself until December 31, 2019 to finish the first draft or forget about it for good. Do I want to go down this path, which is just following the momentum of what Id done with my adult life, or do I want to listen to little Qian and do what she would want me to do? And my dream is that the books publication might help them finally find some forgiveness and healing over the past. Qian Julie Wang - Wikipedia