Independent Book Review

October 17, 2008 engiesuh

Reviewer: Engie Suh

Novel: Born Confused

Author: Tanuja Desai HidierTanuja

The book, “Born Confused” written by Tanuja Desai Hidier is about a girl named Dimple Lala who is not sure of her own identity and how to think. This novel is a coming of age story of the protagonist.  Her parents are from India however, the family all moved to America after Dimple was born. Growing up in the different part of her parent’s own county, Dimple denies and resists Indian culture and traditions. However, when she becomes a high school student everything Indian-related is fashion and trend. Her parents make her to meet a guy who is suitable to her however, at first, Dimple finds him not attractive. However, when she goes to a club and sees the guy dancing, she suddenly becomes interested in him and the cdultural clash starts to happen. While I was reading the novel, I figured out how my situation was similar to hers and understood every word that was written as Dimple’s words. I as a Korean-American going to an International School in Korean society too find very difficult to claim my own identity and culture. Sometimes like the main character in the novel, I too resist my Korean culture to fit in myself with cool American culture. Growing up with old school Korean grandparents and Americanized parents it is sometimes very difficult to choose how I should act and how I should be taught in those very different enviornment. Now, as a grown up, the blended mix of two cultures really add interest to my and myself and it is what defines my true identity. I am proud to be a Korean-American. Born Confused was the first novel written by the author. The author, Tanjua Desai Hiner was born in America and lived in New York. Desai also filmed movies such as The Test and it too dealt with cultural issue. The novel is written in very casual and teenage-ish style and the whole book deals with the theme of finding true identity, the protagonist’s own heart and feelings. I liked how the novel had many dialoguing part and made me to imagine how characters should have spoken like and in that way I was able to connect myself with the situation and made the novel more interesting.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized

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