Indies Introduce

Fiction

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  Everything Here is Beautiful, Mira T. Lee
  Pamela Dorman Books, 9780735221963, January 16, 2018 (Fiction)
  

  “Told from alternating points of view, this novel is about the relationship between sisters Miranda and Lucia and the impact of mental illness upon their personal bond. Lucia is an artistic free spirit and has lived independently, in large part, because her sister, Miranda, has always been her caretaker. When Lucia’s lucidity begins to shift, Miranda’s responsibility to her sister does as well. Everything Here Is Beautiful explores the boundaries of our responsibilities to those we love, and how we might go about honoring someone’s self-determination when that person may not be stable enough to be up to the task. At what point does taking care of someone else cease to serve anyone involved, and how do you know when you’re there? Mira T. Lee’s debut work is necessary — a generous, beautiful, and frank examination of a very difficult subject.”

  Sarah Bumstead, Vroman’s Bookstore (Pasadena, CA)
  
  

  “Mira T. Lee’s Everything Here Is Beautiful is an extremely powerful and timely work of fiction. In this debut novel, Lee takes on the subject of mental illness and how loved ones must navigate its unpredictable, destructive path. What elevates Everything Here Is Beautiful from being solely a story about illness is Lee’s beautiful rendering of Lucia and Miranda, first-generation Chinese-American sisters who, after losing their mother, must forge their lives as young women without family guidance or support. Lucia, a brilliant free spirit, comes to life on the page as Lee paints her vibrant, thrilling, and unique view of the world. When Lucia loses touch with reality and becomes ill, Lee doesn’t label her illness in a limiting way, but rather draws the reader’s attention to Lucia’s vulnerability and her desire to be a mother despite debilitating setbacks. Miranda forcefully advocates for her sister, fighting the mental health system in an exhaustive effort to give Lucia the best life possible. Lee’s writing is dynamic, lush, and mesmerizing. I couldn’t put this book down as I rooted for Lucia and Miranda to gain control of their lives and embrace the beauty in this process.”

  Janine De Boisblanc, Orinda Books (Orinda, CA)