"The Latehomecomer - A Hmong Family Memoir"

"The Latehomecomer, A Hmong Family Memoir" by Kao Kalia Yang is one of the best memoirs I have ever read! Kalia is a remarkable young woman/author and this story is more than just her story - her memoir. It is the story of her family as well as a tribute to the Hmong people who fought on the side of the United States during the Vietnam War and many paid for that loyalty with their lives, the lives of their families, and the loss of their homes.

Kalia writes not only of her family's struggle to survive in the jungles of Laos while evading soldiers who want to kill them but also of their life in refugee camps in Thailand before coming to America. Although her family saw America as a way to start a new life and find a place to put down roots for them and their families, it was much harder than any of them thought it might be and being accepted has not been easy.

It took time for Kalia to find her voice but she has an excellent one and her depictions are so moving. Kalia writes in such a way that I could not help but feel for her and her family and empathize with their struggles. This book is a tribute to Kalia's grandmother and the love Kalia has for her as well as a tribute to the love her parents have for each other that has endured through many difficult times.

Kalia's high school teacher, Mrs. Gallentin, was instrumental in helping her find her voice. Pages 198-201 tell about Mrs. Gallentin's encouragement as well as a poignant story Kalia wrote for a class assignment that shares the story of her parent's love. That story demonstrates the insights this young woman has -- what an observer!

I cannot recommend this book highly enough -- a must read!

If you would like to sample some of her writing, check out her web site at www.kaokaliayang.com. The bio page at the end of her book indicates she has also released a film, "The Place Where We Were Born," documenting the experiences of Hmong American refugees.

She is also co-founder of Words Wanted which is an agency dedicated to helping immigrants with writing, translating, and business services.

pazt

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress (A Memoir of Going Home) by Rhoda Janzen

Rhoda Janzen's memoir of the breakdown of her marriage is insightful and humorous. She proves that you can go home again when you have a supportive and loving family. Although they may not always understand the choices she's made in her life, they're there for her when she needs them.

I grew up in a community that was predominantly Mennonite and Catholic and I was neither. What I know (and think I have always known) about Mennonites is their goodness as well as their willingness to help others in need -- family or not. Rhoda's memoir just reinforced that belief for me.

This was one of my favorite reads this year and Rhoda's interactions with her mother had me laughing so hard at times that I couldn't talk!

pazt

"Hold Me Tight & Tango Me Home"

Maria Finn discovers her husband (and salsa dancing partner) is cheating on her so she throws him out and files for divorce. "Hold Me Tight & Tango Me Home" is her memoir that details how she worked through the aftermath of the breakdown of her marriage by taking up tango lessons in preparation for attending a wedding in Argentina. There's a great paragraph on page 53 where Maria explains why being physical is a way of feeling better for her -- and also a form of prayer. Maria's life is consumed by lessons and attending regular tango social dances in New York City where she lives but she still finds time to explore internet dating. Her forays into dating are insightful as well as (at times) amusing. Tango also brings new friendships as her life revolves around this dance. I found the explanation (pages 114-115) of how chemistry plays a part in dating and in dancing interesting. Eventually she travels to Buenos Aires for the wedding and more tango lessons. Along the way she looks at a career change and gives us a fascinating look at the history of tango. I never expected a memoir about divorce and lost love to be so uplifting. I highly recommend this book!