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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A finely written, affecting gem of a novel, October 2, 2006
"Seeing Emily" is a real find, engaging and poignant. Formally simple yet poetically and thematically rich, Joyce Lee Wong's writing possesses the depth, delicacy and force of authenticity. Very highly recommended.
The novel weaves together a series of poems through which unfold the story and portrait of a Chinese-American teenager as she discovers and crafts her own identity. As Emily's childhood memories are collaged with more fragmented experiences from her fledgling present, the imagery is at times stark, lyrical, blunt and startlingly beautiful. At its best the poetry combines striking images with an unusual gentleness and warmth which subtly convey the author's profound feeling for her own roots.
Emily's close relationship with her parents, movingly depicted, is at the core of her strength even as it is her own examination of this closeness which propels her to break from the confines of her family background. Here, the refinement of Chinese culture -- skillfully communicated through a haunting accuracy of images rather than through philosophy -- and the dynamism of American youth form a tender mix.
Lee Wong also explores both thematically and stylistically the link between the transformative natures of love and art, as she pairs Emily's growing confidence as a young adult with her development as a painter.
The directness and beauty of the author's style give an elegance to the book's complex layering of meanings, while affecting the reader's heart in a disarmingly straightforward way.
The transformation of Emily's perspectives on herself, her parents, and her friends in shifting contexts will speak to any young person who has experienced a sense of being outside the mainstream, and to any reader who relishes fine and hopeful writing.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is beautiful coming of age story (4.5 Stars), January 29, 2006
This is beautiful coming of age story. The poetic style is well written and striking in its imagery. I loved the cat themes. This was a great quick read and I think it will resonate well with teenage girls, who can relate to Emily's quest to see her true self, regardless of the racial elements of this book, which are also well done. This great pick.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Simple yet complex look at finding yourself, April 7, 2011
Sixteen year old Emily has always done what is expected of her. She works hard, stays out of trouble, and gets along well with her parents. After meeting a new guy at school, Emily decides that like her drawings and paintings, she would like to be a blank canvas, ready to be designed differently. However, when Nick tries to get her to become someone she isn't, Emily becomes confused as to who she really is. A trip to her parents' homeland of Taiwan, Emily finds out who she really is.
The beauty of this novel is the metaphors. Emily's poetry often compares her feelings to that of animals in a poignant way. "I imagined I was a cat, her eyes shining as she watches a goldfish/ that shimmers on the floor" (Wong 12). The imagery is detailed and moving. During the course of the story, Emily is working on a mural for her school. The mascot is a tiger, so many references are made to the tiger and its prey, paralleling Nick and Emily's relationship and her own struggle to find herself. While the comparisons are clear, a teen reader would not feel overwhelmed with "lecturing" by the morale of the story. "Taking Flight" and the following poem "The Dance" cut to the heart of the matter: a tiger chasing a monkey and Nick forcing Emily to be someone she is not. These two poems could be a pair reading for high school students, comparing the poem about the animals to the one about a relationship that doesn't feel right. Many students struggle with writing metaphors or similes without using clichés, and these two poems balance each other perfectly.
A part of "Taking Flight"
With a rustle of leaves
and a graceful leap
to another tree,
the monkey swings herself away,
disappearing into the green.
Even after she's gone
her screams echo back
so raucous and wild
they startle
a flock of birds. (178)
A part of "The Dance"
Even the blessedly hot
water shooting out
from the shower head,
beating down loud
against the glass walls,
couldn't drown out
the words,
my geisha,
Emily,
My geisha (181).
In addition to discussing the rich language, the topic of fitting in is always timely with teens. They struggle to find their place, and this book examines a Chinese American girl's road to self-discovery.
I reviewed this book for my poetry class at Texas Woman's University for my master of library science degree.
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