By 
Madelyn Postman takes us on a journey to learn about her family and ancestors in “Staring Into the Sun” “Stories From a Chinese American Family 1895-2015” This is well researched, organized and intriguing adventure. The author notes “Five of these stories are narrative nonfiction, which is also known as creative nonfiction.” “The four memoir chapters are replays of my experiences.”(Author’s note xiii) The other genres are Non-fiction, Asian and American Biographies, and Grief and Bereavement. At the beginning of the book, is a list of all the relatives and characters. The author discusses and describes four time periods , the historical times, and her family. The Author mentions that there is Judaism in the family, but doesn’t elaborate , and mostly describes the Asian history.
Madelyn Postman has two children and tells them the family secret, that her Birth mother committed suicide. The author often wonders why she did this when Madelyn was so young. It was interesting to learn how her relatives and friends got to America, were able to have birth certificates and documents. Years ago, some people were substitutes for the original people , but used their slots, becoming “paper sons”. There were intriguing people in her family, millionaires, magician, and some relatives that the author locates later. I recommend this thought-provoking, memorable book to others.
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