So the lovely Aminta Arrington, author of Home is a Roof Over a Pig, was kind enough to comment on my review of her book this morning. She provided a link to her website, which has the photos I was wishing I could see while reading. While I was there, I absently wandered over to her page that listed appearances, and, lo and behold! she was appearing in Seattle, three blocks down the street from me, today!
So of course I went down to the Elliott Bay Book Company and got to meet Ms. Arrington. She was very kind, asked about my blog and chatted for a bit. There were only about ten or fifteen people there and she read selections from the first chapter of the book and then opened the floor for questions. While she was reading, she had a presentation of pictures of places she read about which was nice. After taking questions, she signed books for everyone.
All in all it was great fun and it was very nice to be able to put a face and a voice to the "lady in the book." With all the coincidences that led to me being there, it was certainly in the stars too!
And I just want, again, to recommend her book, which was superb and which I think everyone should read, if only for the purpose of better understanding our neighbors to the east.
Here is the book on Goodreads and on Amazon as well as a link to Ms. Arrington's well-constructed website.
Showing posts with label Aminta Arrington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aminta Arrington. Show all posts
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Book Review: Home is a Roof Over a Pig
DETAILS: Home is a Roof Over a Pig: An American Family's Journey in China by Aminta Arrington. Copyright 2012. Memoir.
SUMMARY: An American family with three small children, including an adopted daughter from China, move to China to teach English. This book chronicles their journeys and examines the meanings of family, culture, language and education set against the backdrop of a small town in China.
PROS: I really enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Arrington's writing is funny at times, poignant at others and always interesting. She is transparent enough to admit when she has shortcomings, and those shortcomings make her very relatable and human. Her examinations of the pictographs that make up the Chinese language were very interesting. I enjoyed her look at the pros and cons of the Chinese education system.
CONS: The only complaint I had was that I wish she had included some pictures to supplement the story.
BOTTOM LINE: I would recommend this book to anyone interested in foreign cultures or anyone with an adopted child. Five stars out of five.
SUMMARY: An American family with three small children, including an adopted daughter from China, move to China to teach English. This book chronicles their journeys and examines the meanings of family, culture, language and education set against the backdrop of a small town in China.
PROS: I really enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Arrington's writing is funny at times, poignant at others and always interesting. She is transparent enough to admit when she has shortcomings, and those shortcomings make her very relatable and human. Her examinations of the pictographs that make up the Chinese language were very interesting. I enjoyed her look at the pros and cons of the Chinese education system.
CONS: The only complaint I had was that I wish she had included some pictures to supplement the story.
BOTTOM LINE: I would recommend this book to anyone interested in foreign cultures or anyone with an adopted child. Five stars out of five.
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