My Grandfather's an Immigrant, and So Is Yours by Michael Chin

I was approached by Booktasters in connecting me with the author for an honest review.

Let me first start by saying how much I enjoyed reading this book. Albeit, it took me a long time to complete it due to work obligations. However, the premise of this book is very much written like a Literary Fiction to me. 

Things I like:
Chapter-less book
This is straight up storytelling at its best! Very clever way of engaging his reader. It keeps you wanting to know more. Also, you're in his head all the time. Not many authors are able to pull it off this way by allowing his readers to be engaged throughout the entire book without a single chapter division. Refreshing!

Character Development
First, I thought I'm reading a Mike's autobiography instead, or Billy. I have a question for him, how much of it is his story while he was growing up? The reading experience feels very personal and raw. That sentiment of nostalgia hits right through the heart as I was reading the book. There were so much things that I could relate to him whilst I was growing up with a twin half Chinese half Caucasian friends myself.

[I am so delighted to have the author's response to my question, thank you Michael! :-
"And to answer the embedded question about autobiographical elements, while the overarching plot is fiction, a lot of pieces do derived directly from my lived experience. I’m a couple decades older than Billy, but his upbringing as a minority in a homogeneously white small town, friendships, and intense crush on someone he doesn’t really know are elements directly inspired by my life."]

Secondly, his family dynamics is what I like most. Especially Grandpa. Eccentric in a good way since most of the Asian grandparents react the same way as how Mike depicts it. For example, silent agreement, diplomatically passive… etc to name a few.

The entire bunch of Boil Crew was my favourite. How much they grew together despite their differences. Who got together with whom. And their ever enriching idiosyncrasy boil! has always been fun with reactions visibly written.

Plot Development
Here lies the development of a love interest until it's very anti-climactic reality about a person we used to form in our mind when we like someone. It's a very familiar ground where the minds runs wild about a person until we speak to them. And there was a change in pacing and writing style towards the last few pages? I don't mean it in a bad way, but it kept me going really fast and so much so I enjoy how much Billy has moved on and grow.

It is a beautiful journey you'll enjoy it from the eyes of Billy Chen.

Overall, would I recommend it? Of course! This is my first ever chapter-less book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you Mike, it is such a privilege to read such a beautiful story. It's just not getting enough traction! Keep it up, Mike!

Goodreads Review

In the Beginning by John J. Higgins (The Archangel Jarahmael and the War to Conquer Heaven)

I was approached by Booktasters in connecting me with the author for an honest review.

Personally, I'm a big Bible nerd. That being said, from this stand point, it doesn't deviate my opinions when I'm reading fictionalised Biblical events. To be honest, I would never have thought that the events of the creation can be fictionally written at this scale.

Truthfully, Higgins knows the chronological events in Genesis extremely well. That being said, there are definite loop holes which allow him to play around with by filling in with his work of art to much delight. This is a definite supernatural fantasy genre that is really up my alley.

Things I like:

World Building
I enjoyed how the Creation took place progressively. And this is what I like about how the world building was written, he did not take for granted that his readers knows about the events of the creation and allow his readers to experience how the Almighty beautifully does it majestically. Guiding us through like a cinematic montage. Very well done, I might say.

Character Development
The Almighty itself might sound a little too human but then again, admittedly we will never know how He's going to sound like. Still a good representation of how the Almighty plays the subtle role yet the writing for His omnipresence is just the right amount. Not too much and not too over powerful.

What dominates the entire book here are the types of angels introduced to us. Specifically the archangels. Very well planned in developing their characteristics with different sets of voices whereby readers are able to clearly differentiate it. Jarahmael's character resonates with me a lot more as the book progresses.

There was one character that I am very still very much curious about is, Lilith. She is still a mystery to me until now. Which made me want to know more about what's the outcome of her role in this series.

Plot
The plot was predictable which leads up the fall of mankind. The deception plan was one I would have never thought out to be as such but then again, it was very well thought out. There were stuff like the pyramids built within Eden and outside of it. I wonder what's the purpose of having these pyramids for.

Overall, I would recommend this book and to advise Christians to read it with an open mind. It's really interesting how Higgins shaped the all well-known creation events with such an interesting turn. Radical Christians might call it a blasphemy, but this to me it's an interesting take altogether!

I really don't mind reading the entire series to get to know what happened next.

Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Review Link