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Mani/Pedi: A True-Life Rags-to-Riches Story
She left everything behind and risked not only her life, but also the lives of her two small children to escape from Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon. In the middle of the night, Charlie―along with her husband, two toddlers and two young sisters―joined 100 other people on a tiny boat and fled their home country. The journey was long and dangerous, but after almost two years in refugee camps, the family finally made it to America.
After emigrating, as many Vietnamese refugee women did, Charlie began working in the booming nail industry. When her path crossed with Olivett, an African American woman, they became business partners―and built an empire together. After only a few years in the US, Charlie was a millionaire and living the American dream. Her tale is one of tragedy and triumph―a true rags to riches story that will amaze and inspire readers from all walks of life.
After emigrating, as many Vietnamese refugee women did, Charlie began working in the booming nail industry. When her path crossed with Olivett, an African American woman, they became business partners―and built an empire together. After only a few years in the US, Charlie was a millionaire and living the American dream. Her tale is one of tragedy and triumph―a true rags to riches story that will amaze and inspire readers from all walks of life.
312 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 22, 2019
So many thoughts...and not necessarily great ones.
I hate that I am left feeling this way about a book that's a true story of how one woman escaped so much horror in Vietnam and created an empire in America, truly living the American dream, but here we are.
First of all...the writing. I could not get past the writing. "Then she did this. And then they discovered that. It was this. It was that. Then they all said this." Ugh. I also read the word "difficult" in one sentence three times. THREE TIMES.
I feel awful because I think the protagonist of the real story deserved more eloquence when telling her experiences and think she was portrayed in not the best light at times. Many times she appeared selfish, when I don't think the author intended that. Again...all comes down to writing technique.
I did, however, learn a lot about the nail industry that I didn't know and why a majority of nail technicians are Vietnamese. There is an actual history behind this that I think many Americans do not know about and would benefit knowing. It's a history steeped in war and tragedy and deserves to be told so I AM glad that this book did that.
But so much of the writing was problematic and even though it touched a lot on racism and war, it came across as ignorant and basic.
I truly wish I had better things to say because I know that a lot of work and research was put into this biography and I don't want to disparage somebody's work in any way, but I do want to present my thoughts with pure transparency and honesty.
This book publishes October 8th, 2019. If anything, I think it teaches a great deal about the origin of the nail industry and the hardships an entire people had to overcome to achieve the American dream and provide a service that is so beloved in this country. That's worth a consideration, I believe.
I hate that I am left feeling this way about a book that's a true story of how one woman escaped so much horror in Vietnam and created an empire in America, truly living the American dream, but here we are.
First of all...the writing. I could not get past the writing. "Then she did this. And then they discovered that. It was this. It was that. Then they all said this." Ugh. I also read the word "difficult" in one sentence three times. THREE TIMES.
I feel awful because I think the protagonist of the real story deserved more eloquence when telling her experiences and think she was portrayed in not the best light at times. Many times she appeared selfish, when I don't think the author intended that. Again...all comes down to writing technique.
I did, however, learn a lot about the nail industry that I didn't know and why a majority of nail technicians are Vietnamese. There is an actual history behind this that I think many Americans do not know about and would benefit knowing. It's a history steeped in war and tragedy and deserves to be told so I AM glad that this book did that.
But so much of the writing was problematic and even though it touched a lot on racism and war, it came across as ignorant and basic.
I truly wish I had better things to say because I know that a lot of work and research was put into this biography and I don't want to disparage somebody's work in any way, but I do want to present my thoughts with pure transparency and honesty.
This book publishes October 8th, 2019. If anything, I think it teaches a great deal about the origin of the nail industry and the hardships an entire people had to overcome to achieve the American dream and provide a service that is so beloved in this country. That's worth a consideration, I believe.
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May 6, 2023At one point she asked me, “What color is a banana?” To which I promptly replied, “White.” She leaned toward me, peered over her cat eye glasses, and triumphantly declared, “No. A banana is yellow!” Not to be outdone, I stood up and placed my hands on my hips and said, “No ma’am, a banana is white, the peel is yellow!” That is how I view the world; I look below the peel.
I opened a dialogue with them in the way that many therapists do: “So, tell me about your childhood.”
In Vietnam, we ate with chop sticks. In the Philippines, they eat with their hands
once the Communists came into rule, Hieu’s father could no longer own his goldsmith shop. The government owned and controlled everything that was sold in the country and so his shop had been closed immediately.
I opened a dialogue with them in the way that many therapists do: “So, tell me about your childhood.”
In Vietnam, we ate with chop sticks. In the Philippines, they eat with their hands
once the Communists came into rule, Hieu’s father could no longer own his goldsmith shop. The government owned and controlled everything that was sold in the country and so his shop had been closed immediately.
October 15, 2019
Thanks to SheWrites Press and Booksparks for having me as a part of this book tour.
It took me a while to get into this book, but I ended up really enjoying the story of Charlie and how she started her nail empire. She outsmarted her competition and worked her way up to the top of the industry.
I wasn't a fan of the writing in this book though. I found it choppy and very repetitive. Certain words were repeated and I don't think it flowed well.
Overall, an interesting read.
It took me a while to get into this book, but I ended up really enjoying the story of Charlie and how she started her nail empire. She outsmarted her competition and worked her way up to the top of the industry.
I wasn't a fan of the writing in this book though. I found it choppy and very repetitive. Certain words were repeated and I don't think it flowed well.
Overall, an interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews