BOOK REVIEW: LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE BY CELESTE NG
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- Опубліковано 17 лип 2024
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8:14 In my case, I understood her opening up quickly because she was a child that just needed attention. nothing about her character seemed extremely guarded, she was just simply misunderstood by everyone and no one took the initiative to get to know her, so maybe that act of kindness was all it took. She wasn't a complicated kid. She was made to seem complicated because of the way people painted her.
I just finished this book. The premise was masterful. The writing sometimes fell really flat. Especially when Ng sprinkle the title throughout the book. It was really distracting. Yes there’s little fire everywhere. But sometimes her writing shines that you wonder if she would have written a masterpiece if she had an editor that pointed out some weaknesses in her writing. Mind you, I couldn’t have written anything as good. It’s just infuriating how close she was to making a contemporary classic. Still is a great read and a very insightful critique. Thank you
For what it's worth, in the Hulu adaptation the fact that Lexi stole Pearl's essay is definitely brought up again and discussed, which I personally liked. I totally agree with your opinion of the book though, and in a way it makes it much easier for me to rationalize why they made certain decisions in the adaptation. I'd love to hear your opinion on the adaptation once it's all over! I'm pretty sure next week's episode is the last, and I'm wondering how far they're going to stray from the book.
It’s interesting to see what they chose to add to the Hulu adaptation versus the book. Granted, I read the book a long time ago but leaning in on the racial dynamics between mia and elena’s relationship, izzy’s sexuality ... None of these seem to be surprising choices for adapting it to screen but it also makes me wonder how the book would be different if Mia and Pearl were explicitly described as being black (from what I remember, Ng never specified their race but made it clear the Richardsons were white... unless Im forgetting?) or if Izzy’s sexuality had become a focal plot point.
okay YES that was the first thing i noticed going into the show. they are so explicitly making the tension between the richardsons and the warrens mainly racial, which i guess is spicier for television, but they're truly missing the subtlety with which celeste ng carefully crafts her battles imo. they're adding more racial dynamics, queer identities... considering it's not in the source material, it honestly feels like the show writers are including it, not because they truly want to handle these topics with care, but just because they think it'll add more drama
thebookbasement yeah I completely agree. If the book had it as an element I wouldn’t think much of it on the tv show being present but it’s clear it was added for increased viewership. Not a bad choice I think to try to bring some 21st centuries issues (or at least issues that get a lot of media attention now) to the main stage BUT it does make me appreciate how subtle Ng was in the book a lot more now. The uncomfortableness of the relationship between Elena and Mia in the book was a slow burn but in the tv show it starts and does not let up. I don’t think the tv show is bad persay and I’ve enjoyed it so far but I definitely prefer the book to it and to me the two are very different even if the basic plot remains very consistent.
I have to agree. I understood why they added the drama, but I felt it really did a disservice to the crafting of the novel itself. I have to admit, I was disappointed that articles I read suggested that Ng masked the real reason (sell-ability/drama for tv) they were added for enlightening issues.
@@bookishsophia This! One of the things I appreciated about the novel was the subtlety that Celeste Ng treated the different social and racial tensions with. I appreciated that she didn't feel a need to be so didactic but let the story unfold and gave the reader room to choose their own sides among all of the grey areas whereas the writers of the adaptation really blow up the cliche character types and then some. The show feel likes a YA novel adaptation with all of the drama unfolding at will and although I felt like the book had it's YA moments, the content was treated with a lot more restraint.
Pearl being black was mentioned once in the book, when she, Lexi and Serena dress up for the party. Very discretely. Only noticed when I listened to the English audiobook this weekend. First time I read it in 2019, I read a Norwegian translation pre-proofreading copy (worked in a bookshop so we got early copies from the publisher), and I thought through a large portion of the book that Mia and Pearl were white with blonde hair and the Richardsons had dark hair.
always so happy to see a new video of yours in my subscriptions!! it doesn't sound like a type of book I would go for but definitely gonna add it to my tbr!
aww thank you so much for the sweet comment!! hope you're doing well 💖
I'm glad you liked LFE! It was a 4.25 / 5 for me. Richardson parents were superrr annoying, but I liked the themes and how they advanced the plot. Read this back at the end of 2017 so more important this is a good refresher for me and nice to hear another person's outlook.
Haven't yet read Everything I Never Told You. One of my friends liked that and LFE which intrigued me, but given your outlook I'll drop Everything I Never Told You further down on my lengthy 'Want To Read' list.
Thank you so much and always stay safe!
I agree with you on the essay
just watched the show. gonna get the book now
I loved the miniseries. I had checked out the book first and found the 1st chapter dull so I wasn't planning on watching. I'm glad I gave it a chance bc it was really well-written. Now I'm going to give the book a 2nd chance and compare the two.
I see bestdressed earrings!! Eeee
I still don't like Moody, but I felt the same way you did when he discarded the black notebook without Pearl noticing. If that ever happened to me, it would be immense heart pain.
Love your hair, Sophia! My dad told me "Hey I recorded an interview from the CBS morning show with that author you read, Constance Ng!" And I was like "Haha dad, do you mean Celeste Ng? I haven't read Little Fires Everywhere but maybe I should." 😋 Idk what to do with myself now that I can't go to the library 😭
I just got the book and started it a day ago. I liked the way it starts and at this point every character is sus but I'm enjoying it. Good review tho.
I read the book last year and I truly loved it. To me, the beginning was quite hard to get. I thought how boring it is! I didn't like any of the characters. but as you say, the more you get into the book, the deeper it is. So at the end, I really enjoyed it! Everything I never told you is on my wishlist, you don't recommend it? xxx
i personally didn't enjoy everything i never told you. i felt like the characters in that novel never really moved past their stereotypes. but i was definitely the odd man out with that opinion! most people loved it!
yayyyy! a book review
haha, i'm finally reading consistently again!
omg ur wearing the bestdressed earnings! (also good review)
Oh my gosh! Are those earrings by Ashley from bestdressed???
yes! i love them!!
It’s been too long for me to fully remember, but I don’t think windows 97 had login/lock screens
Thanks for reviewing, nice analysis :) I thought the book was just OK, for me the cliche characters were too much. I thought the adoption plot was a missed opportunity, this could have been a chance for us to think about the merits of both sides, but the Richardsons and the other couple (whose name I forget) were just so stereotypically unsympathetic that it felt like the author was telling me who was right before I got a chance to consider at all.
Love the show!!! Haven't read the book though.
this may go without saying, but i do think the book is a lot better!
OH my goshhhh! I just finished the book" little fires everywhere" and then now I am watching the series! The very first moment I finished it:" I was likeeee Sooo impressed by the plottt! Well the plot iss sooooo strangeee! I am going to make a book review about it in my channel! So stay tuned!! But I absolutely loved your review so much tooo❤❤
I’ve really enjoyed the book. The entire tone of the Hulu series is so starkly different from that of the book. Choices were made for these characters that completely change who they are and the purpose of the story. It’s not nearly as captivating because literally every character is annoying and not as realistic. This is my opinion of course. It’s just not the book. Almost at all. It’s an extremely loose interpretation with a few moments that are moment for moment. I can’t even say scene for scene because the timeline isn’t even the same. Idk.
There are so many good books out there I have wanted to read that have been slowly been turned into TV shows and I need to read them first but I have no money x.x and then there's the state of the world right now so ...
Library, dude!
Honestly the first chapters were okay to me, I found Moody and Pearl's meeting extra charming, Mia super interesting, I could feel the motherly-friendly feeling the kids, saw in her but as the characters evolved Pearl was really the one I started liking the less, she wasn't as interesting, I felt that she was loosing more than she was gaining, she was described as very very intelligent but did bad and was played quite easily, I don't hate her tho I just think she didn't get much part of the story and that's sad, every character is just so well done and makes you want to know what will happen to them but her, they're all so greatly liked to Mia, all but Pearl. I know that's her thing, but even at the end, I don't know, maybe I would've wanted a little more between them.
The plot is very slow to happen but once it does it entirely takes you in for a ride I couldn't stop, and I think the once again amazing work on the character building is what gives 6ou the ability to wait until then (at 90 pages ? I forgot at least it's like 50 and plus). Worth the read !
i have only watched the hulu adaptation lol and I thought it was amazing. would love to hear your thoughts on it!
I'm late to the party but I think the Hulu show does the Yale situation better as well as the ending if I'm being honest
ily
Spoiler Comment Below
Love the review. Haha it’s true. The part that Elena gets information is ridiculous. At least someone could say they saw Lexie there?
The relationship for Izzy I think is natural for her age - she needed a mother figure, so she gravitated towards Mia.
Just finished reading this Jone
Mrs. Richardson pissed me off.
I liked Pearl’s character at first but once I finished the book I was like hell naw FTB.
All these characters ain’t shit but the author did a good job of giving them some depth. Good review
are you going to watch the tv show?
yes! i just caught up on all the released episodes today!
How do you say her last name? Ang? Nang?
Michi more like “uhng”
@@mcjuwono ing
it's pronounced as "Nang" :)
There was no HIPPA in 1997
Great review! I read this book back in 2018 and loved it. I don’t plan on watching the Hulu adaptation. I’ve had two friends tell me it’s kind of cheesy.
the thing of Izzie (sorry, audiobook) opening up is actually so showing. She is literally recieving so much negativity on the regular from her family that NEUTRALITY was all she needed to flourish, which I think is really telling. It's also the fact that Mia truly dgaf about anything but her daughter and art that was puzzling to her as well. Everyone in the town has an opinion on how EVERYONE else should be living their lives and Mia minding her damn business (at the start ofc) was enough to be like woah, there is more out there in the world.
The essay part had me HOLLERING (again audiobook) i kept thinking of those rich people who fake their way into Ivies. They mentioned it a little bit before the brunch. "I'm so proud of my girl" or something like that and she didnt even think to say, in the privacy of her kitchen, that it wasn't her essay or creativity that got her in.
Ngl did not see Bebe taking her daughter back as a thing that could happen (even though they mentioned it vaguely in the begining), so it blindsighted me bc i thought she'd harm herself...
Also FUCK moody. I could telllll he was going to be Nice Guy (tm) when he watched her in the bed frame. That probably speaks more to the trope than the writing but ehh he's a fuckboy all the same.
And the wildest part to me is that Elena's prodding is really what made things fall apart... Her need to have control over the affairs of people's lives. To feel like a puppetmaster... she's like Javert (les mis) in a way unable to fathom personal growth or change
The worst thing happen to me today I deleted my account by accident today it’s me Kyle my old channel is now lost for ever it’s me INFOMEDIA but now this is my new channel and I have to start all over.Im the one that tells you you are beautiful all the time.
The series also was very disappointing, alot of unanswered questions
the TV series, you mean?
I think they’re doing a really good job with the Hulu adaptation!
i'm glad you think so! i just caught up on all the released episodes today
hi hello
I'm brazilian and even though there's a lot of videos in my language about this book, sometimes i prefer to watch this kind of contents in english, so, here i am.
OK BUT WHY MY ENTERTAINMENT HABITS MIGHT INTEREST YOU, ONWER OF THIS CHANNEL?
I didn't know you until now and i really enjoyed to watch your review. Actually, I thought It was good even before It started, and as a channel in growth process (or not, dunno), particularly, I hope you the recognition you already deserve.
I hated this book! Nothing in it makes sense and often found myself thinking it was so boring I almost didn't finish it. Thw only part I really enjoyed was the court scene about the adoptive parents and their relationship with chinese culture. That is the only reason i gave this book a 2 star review and not a 1.
7:00 how did they even have electronic health records in the late 90s? lol
Kids born after 2003 be like