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Jump to navigationJump to searchThe Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon (view source)
Revision as of 15:08, 28 August 2020
, 15:08, 28 August 2020no edit summary
''The Sun is also a Star'' has a very distinctive structure. The story is told in very short chapters - some less than a page long - alternating between the viewpoints of Daniel and Natasha. This to and fro narrative is also punctuated by chapters giving the histories of minor characters and factual excerpts on anything from stars to poetry to the domination of South Koreans in the African American hair care market. I mention this because some readers may find it interrupts the flow and urgency of a love story that takes place over just twelve hours. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was nice to see bit part players fleshed out and I also found out all sorts of things I didn't know anything about. You will have to decide for yourself whether this format appeals to you.
But mostly, this is a sweet and moving story of first love and love at first sight. It's a little bit cheesy at times, but if a love story can't be cheesy, what can? But I just loved the idea of a romantic and a rationalist coming together in this way. And underneath the romance runs a thread of honest authenticity about the immigrant experience in the United States - in some ways it's a melting pot and in others it most certainly is not. First and second -generation immigrant readers from any country will find a lot to relate to and non-immigrant readers will be able to see things through new eyes - I am the latter and it was valuable to me.
I truly enjoyed ''The Sun is also a Star'' and, unless your heart really is made of stone, I think you will too.
[[Angel Cake by Cathy Cassidy]] is a very sweet British immigrant love story. For more from Jamaica, try [[Time Swimmer (Island Fiction) by Gerald Hausman]].
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