What are you reading? “We Walked the Sky” by Lisa Fielder

 Noelia's Contribution

The Book

Source:Amazon

I picked up “We Walked the Sky” by Lisa Fielder partly because I’ve been trying to explore stories I wouldn’t normally read. So, I plunged into this novel expecting an enjoyable reading, and for a good portion of the book, that’s exactly what I found. The novel is divided into two different timeline stories. One of them is set in 1965 and the other in the present. Initially, it works beautifully, creating a quiet tension in the separate narratives unfold, which are destined to collide.

What stayed with me the most is the main book’s themes. In one of the stories, a teenager escapes an abusive father. She ran away, finding refuge in a circus, where she is forced to construct a new identity to survive and, most importantly, to be free. In contrast, the other storyline centred on a mother trying to show her daughter a wider world beyond the circus, one filled with new experiences and the possibility of forming meaningful friendships outside that environment.

Additionally, my engagement with the novel wasn’t consistent; the description of the circus life often felt overly romanticised, naive and safe, lacking the grit and complexity that such a setting naturally suggests. This idealisation made parts of the story feel less authentic than they could have been.

Most significantly, the present-day narrative gradually loses its strength. What begins as intriguing slowly falls into familiar patterns, relying on clichés. I found myself anticipating plot developments that would far too easily fade my curiosity.

In the end, We Walked the Sky is a novel that, for me, contains genuinely interesting ideas and moments of emotional resonance, particularly in its first half. But it struggles to sustain that depth throughout. I wouldn’t say it disappointed me entirely, but neither did it leave a lasting impression. 

The Author

Source: Islapedia

Lisa Fiedler is an American author recognized for her contributions to children’s and young adult literature. Her work encompasses a variety of genres, including contemporary fiction and fantasy, and often features imaginative reinterpretations of classical texts, particularly those inspired by William Shakespeare. Among her most notable works are Dating Hamlet and Romeo’s Ex, which offer innovative perspectives on well-known literary characters.

In addition to her literary achievements, Fiedler has demonstrated versatility in her writing style, appealing to a broad readership. She resides in the United States, where she continues to develop her work as an author.

What are you reading? The Leftover Women by Jean Kwok

 Noelia's contribution

The Book

The Leftover Women by Jean Kwok is a compelling and emotional novel that immediately captures my attention through its powerful prologue. From the very first pages, the narrative creates an atmosphere of mystery and tension that makes me wonder, what happened? Why does this person suffer such pain? This opening effectively invites continued reading.

Source: Amazon

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in the range of complex and sensitive issues it explores.  Among the long list of themes, the book talks about the troubling reality of illegal adoptions in China, the long-term consequences of the country’s strict birth-control policies, gender-based and vicarious violence, showing how these forms of abuse can affect not only individuals but entire families, and women choosing between promotion and motherhood.

Another remarkable aspect of the novel is its narrative structure. The alternating use of first-person and third-person narration enriches the storytelling, allowing me to engage with the characters from different perspectives. Moreover, the different plotlines and subplots are closely intertwined, gradually weaving together as the story unfolds. What initially appear to be separate stories eventually converge, creating unexpected twists that hook and eager to discover how the characters’ lives are linked.

However, despite its many strengths, the novel does present a few flaws. Some events are not fully explained, leaving unanswered questions. For instance, one of the female characters manages to escape from a toxic and violent marriage, but it is not clear how she did it. Giving a more detailed account of her escape would have made this part of the narrative more convincing and emotionally impactful.

Overall, The Leftover Women is a thought-provoking and powerful novel that combines personal stories with important social issues. While certain narrative details could have been developed more clearly, the book succeeds in offering a moving exploration of resilience, sacrifice, and the hidden truths that shape people’s lives.

The Author

Source: Amazon

Jean Kwok (born 1967 in Hong Kong) is a Chinese-American novelist and literary translator whose work frequently explores themes of immigration, cultural identity, language, and social mobility.

Kwok emigrated with her family to New York City when she was five years old. Growing up in poverty, she worked in a garment factory during her childhood while simultaneously learning English, which was not her first language. Despite these challenges, she excelled academically and later earned a degree from Harvard University.

She gained international recognition with her debut novel, Girl in Translation (2010), a semi-autobiographical story about a young immigrant navigating life between two cultures. The novel was widely praised for its vivid portrayal of immigrant experiences and linguistic displacement. Kwok continued to build her literary reputation with subsequent novels such as Mambo in Chinatown (2014) and Searching for Sylvie Lee (2019).

In addition to her fiction writing, Kwok has worked as a translator and has lived in several countries, experiences that further inform the global and multicultural perspectives present in her work. Her novels are known for their emotional depth, nuanced characters, and exploration of the complexities of belonging in a multicultural world.