A Man of Two Faces

"Can you be a witness to history if you do not remember it?" ~ pg. 45

A Man of Two Faces is the reason I read memoirs. It is the perfect blend of insight, wit, humor and personal stories of refugeehood, colonization, Vietnam and America. I learned so much through his story. At only age four, Viet and his family were forced to flee to the U.S. Then five years later on Christmas Eve, his parents were shot while working at their grocery store. As he gets older, he realizes the promises America makes and breaks.

Viet's profound story will stick in readers' minds. It is an inspiring journey written in lyrical fashion. A GoodReads Choice 2023 nominee for a reason! I recommend to Bookhearts interested in an honest, well-written memoir with a dose of history.

A Man of Two Faces is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: A Man of Two Faces
Author: Viet Thanh Nguyen
Published: October 2023
Pages: 400
Edition: Galley
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Obsessed

(Detective Michael Bennett #15) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"Anxiety and fear can definitely color your judgment." ~ 30%

My Series Sunday pick is Obsessed the 15th book in the Detective Michael Bennett series by James Patterson. A superstitious killer is targeting young women in every borough of New York City. It begins with Detective Bennett aboard a police boat on the Hudson River searching for a murder victim. He finds the young college student dressed for a night on the town. It fills him with dread that only a father of daughters could understand.

Patterson, Patterson, Patterson. What is this?! Did you let the co-author take the reigns and not review the final manuscript? How did this slip through as is? Now I understand why there was not much promotion for this latest novel in the Detective Bennett series. I could not wait for it to end. But like the loyal reader I am, I will still read the next release. Le sigh.

Title: Obsessed

Author: James Patterson

Published: July 2023

Pages: 400

Edition: eBook

Genre: Mystery

Challenge: Keeping Up With Patterson

Rating: 🖤

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"My beloved, I understand that forgiveness may not be possible. Some deeds cannot be undone. I took someone essential from you that last tragic evening—the blood, so much blood."

~ The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok