034 4 Spunky and smart , Lex Sakai is a woman on a mission . When her overbearing grandmother gives her an ultimatum and tries to control her life as she does the rest of her immense family , Lex springs into action , resulting in a hilarious journey for Ms . Tang's readers . Loaded with heartbreaking secrets , twist and turns , and characters that make you root for them from page one , this book is surely a keeper . I couldn't put it down !
028 4 I'm not a sports fan , but loved this book . I hope to read more of Ms . Tang's books . Loved her characters . There is a great deal of humor in this book .
029 4 this book is funny and sweet as it follows the life of a spunky young women in her quest for love . the characters make you fall in love with them and this book makes you root for Lex every step of the way . I completely recommend it .
037 4 I was surprised when I got this book from my mother . I had heard about it for some time , getting Camy's updates online . I was expecting a short , little romance . Sushi For One was more than I ever expected . It was a love story , with definate family conflict that keeps you guessing ! But the surprise was the book's challenge to me in my walk , trusting God with my baggage and challenges to truly know what is best for me . It was well written and kept my attention , AND even with the length was read in about 2 1 / 2 days because I couldn't put it down !
022 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( Kindle Edition )
I think my title says it all . I rarely write reviews , but felt compelled to do so here . The characters were boring and shallow , there was very little personal growth in this book , and I ended up rooting against the main character ( and hoping her love interest would move on ) .
I don't really want to think about this book any more than necessary , so I'll stop there . Suffice it to say , though , that I agree with the other 1 star posters ! Ugh !
023 4 I think my title says it all . I rarely write reviews , but felt compelled to do so here . The characters were boring and shallow , there was very little personal growth in this book , and I ended up rooting against the main character ( and hoping her love interest would move on ) .
I don't really want to think about this book any more than necessary , so I'll stop there . Suffice it to say , though , that I agree with the other 1 star posters ! Ugh !
055 4 The back cover blurb does not give Sushi for One ? enough credit . This book is so much deeper than that . Sushi for One ? is not just a cute , light read . It may be chick-lit but it's chick-lit with power . Camy Tang dealt with some deep truths in what it means to be a Christian . There are Christians by name and then there are Christians who actually try to live the way Jesus taught . We are not perfect . Lex was definitely not perfect yet she strived to live what she believed . She didn't settle for anything even when she was desperate .
056 4 Lex Sakei is just plain funny , and her life is a disaster waiting to happen . Author Camy Tang has introduced us to this realistically wacky lady and her more than slightly colorful family - - and left us wanting to be adopted ! Though I don't personally have the stamina it would take to be part of this clan , I found myself cheering for each of them at one time or another - - even Grandma - - but most of all for Lex . Anyone who can survive the scrutiny and embarrassment that goes with being part of this gang deserves to win !
059 4 Shushi For One is a fun , lighthearted read that shows the intricate values of family and friends . Her characters jump off the page as if you were a part of their lives and emotions . Camy Tang is a new talent to keep an eye on . Thanks for that kick of wasabi .
061 4 Camy Tang's Sushi for One ? is funny , emotional , and action-packed . Lex , volleyball junkie and coach , struggles against a manipulative grandmother , job and housing issues , injuries and nightmare dates - - and a past that scarred but hasn't destroyed her . Used to standing on her own two feet , Lex learns to rely on God and less on herself and finds His plan for her life . You don't want to miss this Sushi for One ?
Sushi for One ? ( Kindle Edition )
While I appreciate and admire the author's writing skill and her achievement , I am not at all impressed by this story . And I really did not enjoy reading this book . For one thing , it might seem realistic for some , but I'm having a hard time taking it seriously . I came from a similar background as the man character , Lex , and many people I know share the same cultural background , but none act like the characters described in the story . Surely there are all sorts of people out there and it's possible that people like that do exist so I can let it go , but it still feels a little too manufactured and grossly exaggerated for me .
Secondly , there are way too many stories that involve main characters having to face a timeline to find himself / herself a spouse / significant other in order to resolve a dilemma in their life . If you watch enough Asian soap operas or read way too many romance books , you would know that this is nothing new . Of course they all have a little twist and spin here and there , but they are not that different from one another . So the story lacks originality , despite its attempts to be different .
Third , I found the part ( Sample dialog : Are you lesbian ? No , Grandma , I'm Christian ! ) troubling . I actually stopped reading the book after that and reluctantly returned to finish the story after some times . It just doesn't feel right although I could imagine that part alone has pleased some of its target audience . In any case , I learned to be open-minded and accept Lex's point of view however I admit that I have developed a distrust and dislike of this character . And her behavior did not help redeem her image as the story progressed . She is rude and inconsiderate , she whines a lot , and she is very judgmental . I realized that the main character doesn't have to be likable but she is just too far from it . And she is just not all that interesting or special . I do feel sorry for her because her traumatized experience in the past , but that's all I have for her . I wish I could be proud , be inspired by her because what she has become after her horrible incident , but she just doesn't show any qualities worthy my admiration . I just simply don't care for her after a certain point .
Lastly , Lex keeps stressing and insisting to find a Christian boyfriend and all the other qualities that he should have , but she hasn't necessary demonstrated any of the decent qualities that I'd like to see in a faithful Christian girl . It's certainly not fair to expect all Christians to act in a certain way . However , she should at least try , if her religion matters to her that much . Also the people in her church do not seem likeable , helpful or even friendly . It just seems odd to me that they don't seem like the type of people I'd see in church , or perhaps they , too , found Lex irritating ? ; - P
I applaud the efforts and thoughts that the author put in . It's great that the story has inspired or entertained some people , but unfortunately I'm not one of them . And I regret to say that I feel like I should have donated the time and money to charity instead of reading and paying for this book .
001 4 Lex Sakai is being tortured by her grandmother to find a husband or else her volleyball team will have to suffer . So now Lex has to find a boyfriend in a mere matter of weeks or else suffer the wrath of having no funds for the team . Everyone seems to want to set her up , from the losers her brother keeps pointing her towards to the guys who only want to get her because of her insider info to the latest game . Lex decides there must be a guy who meets every one of her requirements and plans to stick to her Ephesians list . Then she meets Aidan , who is everything NOT on her list , but seems to be everything that she wants . A wonderful story blending chick lit with Asian culture .
I have been dying to read this book since I first started visiting Camy Tang's blog . Being an Asian American myself , there are few choices even in mainstream for books written by Asian Americans , let alone in Christian fiction . So when I heard that there was going to be a Christian chick lit book written by an Asian American author , I nearly passed out . And this book definately made all my expectations and more . Even if you're not Asian , you will still be able to follow the story and you get to learn about new cultures as well . Some people might say there's some stereotyping in this book with the Asian culture . Well let me say that we really do act like this . I love how there's a distinction of two different types of Asian cultures in this book and it shows readers that Asian are not one big group to be lumped together . I love how Lex loves sports and is not afraid to let her sports knowledge show . There are lots of hilarious spots in this book , my favorite is cameo of the author herself involving a volleyball accident . However there are serious moments in this book as well which makes this story extremely well written . The book goes from downright hilarity to painful memories within the same chapter . I really felt for Lex in this book and enjoyed her adventure . The only negative thing I have about this book , and I'm sorry , but I don't like the grandmother . Why does she want to force Lex to get married ? All her insults were really spiteful and I don't blame Lex at all for what she does near the end of the book . I'm hoping we learn why she acts like this so that I don't hate her for the rest of the series . And yes I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out . An excellent debut , a wonderful cultural chick lit novel and an inspiration to aspiring Asian Americans writers !
002 4 I am not one who is drawn to the chick-lit format , but having seen Cami around on other blogs , Novel Journey , and the ACFW ( American Christian Fiction Writers ) , I was curious about SUSHI FOR ONE . When I received it as part of a review group I belong to , and saw quotes like hilarious romance and entertaining romp , I again sighed thinking I was in for a slap-stick comedy with no depth or true story . Let me say , I was pleasantly surprised ! Though SUSHI FOR ONE does indeed have its humorous situations , the weight of the book deals with Lex Sakai , and how she deals with the interference of her extremely tight-knit family .
I really enjoyed the development of Lex's character , a women striving for independence in a culture where woman are expected to be marriage-minded . I'm so glad I was able to read this entertaining novel . This was a typical case of - Don't judge a book by its cover .
003 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( Kindle Edition )
I really wanted to like this book but . . .
The characters were two dimensional and I couldn't grow attached to any of them . I did like the love interest though . The author focused well on her two main characters but then seemed to have trouble utilizing the rest of them . The storyline was not compelling for me either . The story was based on Lex needing to find a boyfriend so that her grandmother wouldn't cut funding for the school volley ball team . The author barely focused any reading time on the volley ball team and so I struggled to even care about what happened to them . It seemed like since the whole book was about saving this team , that the author would have focused better on them . The storyline struggle for any focus . The book flitted from one topic to another and left me having a hard time caring about anything that was going on in Lex's life . I couldn't understand why Lex just didn't make up a boyfriend for her grandmother . It seems like it would have been simple enough for her to take one of her friends to family functions . I can understand where Lex wouldn't think that this is moral , but the fact that the idea never even crossed her mind seemed strange to me .
I could have handled all of the above flaws a lot better if I liked Lex . However , I found her to be one of the most annoying main characters that I have ever read about . She whined about everything . The book was a cycle of things going wrong for her and then her complaining about them . I understand that we all do this but the extent to which she did this was sickening . She also came off as extremely selfish . She was constantly asking people for help and then was rude to them when they did help her . She didn't handle it well when someone wasn't able to help her . The one time that she actually helped someone , she sulked and complained about it the whole time . She was rude at some point to every single person that she came in contact with . I couldn't for the life of me understand in the beginning why her love interest even liked her . She was rude to him for their first few encounters-especially their first encounter . He must have been glutton for punishment or something . I found it hard to relate to her . I , personally , am not a big sports fan and she was a major sports fan . I wish that the author would have included a few other interests of hers . That's just me personally though .
I skimmed this book and still felt like I wasted my time .
004 4 I really wanted to like this book but . . .
The characters were two dimensional and I couldn't grow attached to any of them . I did like the love interest though . The author focused well on her two main characters but then seemed to have trouble utilizing the rest of them . The storyline was not compelling for me either . The story was based on Lex needing to find a boyfriend so that her grandmother wouldn't cut funding for the school volley ball team . The author barely focused any reading time on the volley ball team and so I struggled to even care about what happened to them . It seemed like since the whole book was about saving this team , that the author would have focused better on them . The storyline struggle for any focus . The book flitted from one topic to another and left me having a hard time caring about anything that was going on in Lex's life . I couldn't understand why Lex just didn't make up a boyfriend for her grandmother . It seems like it would have been simple enough for her to take one of her friends to family functions . I can understand where Lex wouldn't think that this is moral , but the fact that the idea never even crossed her mind seemed strange to me .
I could have handled all of the above flaws a lot better if I liked Lex . However , I found her to be one of the most annoying main characters that I have ever read about . She whined about everything . The book was a cycle of things going wrong for her and then her complaining about them . I understand that we all do this but the extent to which she did this was sickening . She also came off as extremely selfish . She was constantly asking people for help and then was rude to them when they did help her . She didn't handle it well when someone wasn't able to help her . The one time that she actually helped someone , she sulked and complained about it the whole time . She was rude at some point to every single person that she came in contact with . I couldn't for the life of me understand in the beginning why her love interest even liked her . She was rude to him for their first few encounters-especially their first encounter . He must have been glutton for punishment or something . I found it hard to relate to her . I , personally , am not a big sports fan and she was a major sports fan . I wish that the author would have included a few other interests of hers . That's just me personally though .
I skimmed this book and still felt like I wasted my time .
005 4 Bold . Gutsy . Unique .
This debut book by Ms Tang is certain to open your eyes to a new culture alive and well and flourishing in gorgeous California . Bringing to life Asian customs , the characters never let you forget you're in the United States , yet the mouth watering descriptions of Oriental foods and the fine examples of dedication to time honored traditions encourage the reader to consider looking up the closest sushi bar in town .
Lex Sakai is perfectly happy with her life . Grandma is not . Lex has high aspirations for her life , many of which seem to be falling just within reach . Grandma wants Lex married and pulls all stops to get what she wants . Who will win ?
With a delightful cast of characters , Ms . Tang introduces us to the worlds of volleyball and physical therapy . Goals , ethics and dreams . Lex is thrown together with strangers , friends and relatives alike in a bizarre competition where the prize appears to belong only to Grandma . Drawing on her Christian faith , Lex juggles the obstacles thrown in her way and just when we think she is down for the count , Lex discovers miracles really do happen when you let go and let God .
Excellent read . I look forward to next book in the series .
007 4 I read the book , and I agree with every point in the J . Lewis review . I disliked Lex ; I could not understand what Aiden , the love interest , saw in her ( other than he thought she was beautiful ) . While grandma was pure evil and should have been shunned from the family as a noxious individual , the rest of them weren't any better , including Lex . I've never met a more morally destitute bunch .
I kept reading the book hoping that Lex would actually grow spiritually ( the Ephesians list is easily one of the most shallow and ill-conceived things I've ever read ) . In all the Job-like situations , where life is throwing one thing at her after another , she remains brittle - a whiney , angry , self-righteous , self-centered , pain in the rear . She is not joyful , admirable , or likeable at any level .
008 4 I picked this up when it first came out because the title caught my eye . ( Where I come from raw fish is bait , but friendly Yankees helped me learn to appreciate sushi . ) Then when I looked it over , I found the premise intriguing enough to purchase but not quite intriguing enough to read because this man's man doesn't usually read romance novels or chick lit , . . .
as far as you know .
However , I quite recently gave in and read it , and , boy , am I ever glad that I did !
Lex Sakai is a disaster magnet , only some of which she arguably brings down upon herself . She's a control freak , she works in a place and with people that she loathes , she still lives with her family except for her mother who died of cancer , she drives a barely functioning POC , she has the temper not to mention the manners of a drill sergeant , she never dates , her only outlet for pleasure is playing and coaching volleyball , in four months she will officially become the Oldest Single Female Cousin in her extended Japanese-American family , and Grandmother , the ( justly ) feared matriarch of the clan , has decided that Lex needs to be pushed into getting married and is not above using a little extortion to get her way , . . .
make that a LOT of extortion .
Oh , did I also mention that she's a Christian in a family full of Buddhists ? And the reason that she doesn't date is that she was raped about 8 years ago , told almost no one , and has yet to fully get over it ?
As this description suggests , this novel shouldn't be funny at all , but like the similarly cascading disaster of a movie I stole my review title from ,
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
, this novel is relentlessly , uproariously funny , as Lex desperately tries to foil her grandmother's plotting , fend off an endless line of sons , nephews , friends of friends , and other assorted losers , keep her life from spinning even further out of her control , and avoid falling for the one guy who seemingly lacks every quality on her list for an acceptable suitor . But Christians are supposed to give God control over their lives , and when all else fails , and Lex finally decides to try it , all those balls she has been trying and failing to juggle begin to fall into place , just not quite the way she figured .
Camy Tang is amazing ; when things got the most stessful or moving for Lex , they also got the most hilarious . While reading so many scenes , I laughed ' til I cried . . . .
Well , I didn't actually CRY , of course , man's man and all that you know .
Of course it is obvious early on how this is all going to turn out , though not to the protagonists , but the fun comes in how Camy Tang gets us there . She kept me guessing ' til the end .
The only bad thing about this novel is the fact that it is the first book in a series ; now that I am well and truly hooked , I shall be compelled to read the rest :
Only Uni
and
Single Sashimi
, further risking my manly reputation .
( sigh )
Oh well , at least there's the consolation that they should also be laugh out loud funny and deeply moving as well .
010 4 I've never actually written a review for Amazon but this book was so bad that I could not let another person pay actual money - either Chinese or Japanese for it . I happened to pick it for free on the Kindle , thankfully .
This book focuses on a girl that is half Chinese and Japanese . She's obsessed with volleyball ( which is fine ) and is harassed by her Grandmother to find a boyfriend in less than 3 months time or otherwise her funding from her Grandmother will get cut for her junior high volleyball coaching gig .
The Good :
- I was intrigued with an Asian fiction that blended both the Chinese and Japanese cultures into the American storytelling . However , it wasn't enough really to make me feel the mix of cultures and things were not explained except in the Appendix . Thankfully my anime watching and college Japanese classes helped me with words like baka meaning stupid in Japanese .
- The story is not really a hard read . It was pretty easy to finish the book in a day or two .
The Bad ( which is a lot ) :
- The story begins with the main character , Lex , bombarded by her Grandmother to find a boyfriend before her cousin's wedding . This begins the whining that doesn't stop until the last page . I felt like I was watching the character development of Sara in the movie , Labyrinth . But that's not fair ! ! ! ! ! She doesn't realize life isn't fair even at the end of the book . At least the 14 year old kid figured it out before the 31 year old in this story .
- The setup for the Christianity arc of the story is just contrite and obvious the first couple of chapters . And of course , God saves the day at the end - while really not saving it . It read like a book that's whole point was to convince you to trust in God and religion . I've read much better Christian fiction that didn't cram it down your throat . Try the DragonSpell series instead if you like fantasy .
- Even when great things happen in the character's life , she just finds the negative in everything . Got a great job ! ? Oh , my life still sucks . Hey , this great guy likes me ? Oh , he is not perfect . Why can't things go my waaaaaaY !
- The main character expects all of her friends and cousins to drop everything for her problems . I don't recall her even saying thanks to them for helping her . And if she did - she was so negative and focused on herself I didn't even notice . The whole story is focused on her issues even when it is obvious that others have problems too . She doesn't even stop to find out why her friends and family are unhappy at times .
I honestly finished the book to see what revelation and redemption the main character had at the end . And I'm not sure it was worth it . I wanted to be wowed and instead I irritated with myself that I wasted the time reading it . I've never disliked a character so much . Even Bella from Twilight has more dimension . Stay away .
011 4 Camy Tang's debut novel is a well written , funny story about an Asian girl , trying to get her life in order with a lot of dependence on faith . What is best about this book is the level of characterization Camy Tang demonstrates in her characters . Multi-layered , with deep inner conflict , goals and motivations , the reader can't help but be pulled into Lex's life , rooting for her every page of the way !
013 4 I got this book purely because it was free on my kindle and seemed small enough for an in-between read during a break . I did not know at the time that it was a christian book but a few pages into it I knew exactly what I was reading and what the story would be . I reserved my judgment until the last page and I have to conclude that this was a nice free mind numbing story . It is definitely not something I would have bought as I find it might have been targeted for 14 year old girls in the first stages of experiencing love .
The characters were bad at best , with the protagonist sinking further and further into oblivion at every page turn . I could not make sense of any of the christian remarks as they seemed to be put in to fit the writers purpose rather than the characters personality . Speaking of character development , there seemed to be none . The only person that seems to grow in any form was the one that was converted to accept christianity . The other people in the book , that are already christians , no matter how immature or wrongful they behave , are contempt with what they do showing no remorse ( except for when they sleep out of wedlock ) . This book is a good example of how someone has to twist and bend a particular story to fit a moral rather than allow the story to grow around it .
My end conclusion is this : read the book if you have nothing else to do or if you need an example of how not to write a story but I would strongly advice against buying it .
014 4 Lex Sakai is an independent dependent woman who wants to have it all : a fulfilling job , coach of a winning volleyball team , and a place of her own . While Lex strives for these things , at the bottom of the totem pole is finding a man to marry , which is priority #1 for her grandmother . There is a big underlying reason for Lex not wanting a boyfriend , but the author literally spends exactly ONE page ( if not less ) on it and never integrates it into Lex for growth through the book . The premise of the story takes us through the trials of tough breaks , unfair treatment , and small victories for Lex . The time constrained rush of everything is caused by Lex's grandmother , who will pull funding for Lex's beloved junior high volleyball team if Lex does not find a REAL boyfriend by the time of Lex's cousin's wedding .
Although the storyline drew me in , the characters turned me off . Lex is an uncouth woman who barks at people rather than work with what she has . If Lex is so independent , why does she somehow expect Grandma to fund the team or Daddy to keep a roof over her head ? And how does she attempt to break the stranglehold of Grandma's purse strings ? By dating a man with money . Come on - what about fundraisers and soliciting businesses . With the people Lex did try and solicit , Grandma got to them , and that reach no longer worked .
For a woman who wants to do it all on her own , she sure has a limited vision . The logic in the story seem plausible , but seriously , Lex lacks brains . She reminds me of the procrastinating college student who throws temper tantrums like a child when she doesn't get what she wants . Is there some justification to this behavior ? Sure , but not in EVERY scene .
There is familial support that changes like a wayward wind . If we are to get a glimpse of Asian culture , I can tell you right now , I have YET to see an Asian grandmother use the ultimatum of disowning her son and grandson , Lex's dad and brother , to get Lex to search for a boyfriend . With the Asian families I know , none of them behave this way - give conditional support . For example , Lex's brother was willing to introduce her to whatever guy he knew or didn't know , in exchange for a new car from Grandma . It's ridiculous .
By the end of the story , there is really no character growth or any real life lessons won . Every character lacks any social graces or conscience except for perhaps , Aiden , the nice man who somehow sees light in Lex . Aiden does something underhanded to spare Lex , but she turns it into a personal affront where he should be sorry ?
The book was not funny or inspiring and the references to Christianity seemed out of place , especially since it was a primary criterion for Lex's perfect man . Lex , herself , did not behave like with the daily values set of a Christian woman . The read is easy , but after reading Sushi for One , I will be passing on any more books from Camy Tang if they are written like this .
019 4 Camy Tang gives readers an insight ( only barely exaggerated ) into asian culture as well as Asian Christian culture in this zany foray into the perils and pitfalls of being a Christian and being asian in the quest to find a boyfriend .
Lex is a girl who takes action and like control , and sees the ultimatum from her grandmother as something she stubbornly won't give in to - at the same time she cares fiercely about her volleyball team like a mother hen . She struggles through the precarious dating scene and facing the cruel jibes of her relatives in true asian form . As an asian christian it's good to see a whole slew of issues being addressed in this book and they are complex ones in real life to deal with - by putting them in a humorous light one sees them more accessibly .
Although the novel is hilarious and has spark , at its heart it isn't lightweight - there are some serious issues that eventually bubble to the surface . What do you do when the Christians are creeps and the best prospects aren't with God ? How do you respond to the politics and pressure of asian elders to find a mate ?
The only things I'd like to see better are a more believable grandmother - even for an asian meddler she is too over the top to be credible - and perhaps not to see the same mishap occurring twice as a plot device . Other than that though this is a novel that reaches a specific genre that is not found often enough in Christian and asian fiction . A winner !
020 4 Food , romance , and some great Christian faith makes for one awesome book . In Camy Tang's first book , Sushi for One , we are introduced to one very cool woman , a large , somewhat . . . um . . . nosy family , and a great deal of Asian cuisine . When you meet Lex Sakai , you'll want to not only be her friend , but also sit down to an expansive meal with her !
Poor Lex . A twenty-something Asian-American that is somewhat obsessed with volleyball , truly loves her culture and the Lord , and is completely fed up with her meddling family . Her grandmother , nosy as can be , insists that Lex find a boyfriend before her cousin's summer wedding , or else she will stop sponsoring the junior high volleyball team that Lex is passionate about coaching . What Lex really wants to concentrate on is finding a new job , moving out of her dad's house , and getting a spot on a prestigious volleyball team where she can finally showcase her skills . Her grandmother's ultimatum has put her in an incredibly tight spot . Lex doesn't want to fail her girl's volleyball team , but she also doesn't want to fail herself either or God either by rushing into something she just isn't ready for .
Suffering through several hilarious ( though miserable , I'm sure ) dates and mishaps all along the way , Lex is determined not to let the girls down . Romance is somewhat difficult for her , due to a secret in her past , but if she shows fear , Lex knows she'll run the potential man of her dreams off , exactly what she does not want to do . Through disasters , injuries , and backstabbing family members , Lex Sakai never forgets her connection to God and that He is truly the one she needs to make happy in her life .
Is it weird that my favorite part of this book is the food descriptions ? ! Ok , maybe not my favorite , but you have no idea how delicious and tantalizing the dishes sound ! It seemed like every page I turned I was craving something else yummy . By the end , I didn't care what it was ; I needed some Asian cuisine in my life ! Unfortunately , the crazy pregnancy-induced high blood pressure is putting a hold on all things salty , so I just had to dream . A little less than 4 months and I'm going back through this book and finding a restaurant that serves these dishes !
Camy Tang truly has a knack for awesome description and not just with the food . Her descriptions of each of Lex's relatives and their hilarious antics was right on the ball , as was her subtle influx of Christian beliefs . The book is very much a Christian fiction novel , but in no way was it preachy or too much , which I loved . I know that all the readers of this book were really rooting for Lex , not only in finding a man that would love her for exactly who she was , but also for all the other positives that Lex really has in her life . I loved this book and can't wait to get my copy of Only Uni , the second of the series .
024 4 Ignore the four-star rating , please - - I only give five stars to War-and-Peace-type books ; as a novelist , I hate reviewers like me .
That said , when I finished reading Camy Tang's Sushi for One ? I found the ending so satisfying I had to dash to my computer and gush . I absolutely loved Lex Sakai and the riveting story of her emotional , physical , and spiritual adventures . Tang gives us a heroine who's the perfect combination of tough and vulnerable . Not a hint of pink about this chick ; she holds her own against vampy cousins , pushy suitors , and the grandma of all grandmas . Now , if she could just remember to ask for God's help , maybe she'd learn to trust . Maybe she'd start to relax . Maybe she'd need to order sushi for two ! I'd recommend this fun book to teens and up .
025 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( Kindle Edition )
While I appreciate and admire the author's writing skill and her achievement , I am not at all impressed by this story . And I really did not enjoy reading this book . For one thing , it might seem realistic for some , but I'm having a hard time taking it seriously . I came from a similar background as the man character , Lex , and many people I know share the same cultural background , but none act like the characters described in the story . Surely there are all sorts of people out there and it's possible that people like that do exist so I can let it go , but it still feels a little too manufactured and grossly exaggerated for me .
Secondly , there are way too many stories that involve main characters having to face a timeline to find himself / herself a spouse / significant other in order to resolve a dilemma in their life . If you watch enough Asian soap operas or read way too many romance books , you would know that this is nothing new . Of course they all have a little twist and spin here and there , but they are not that different from one another . So the story lacks originality , despite its attempts to be different .
Third , I found the part ( Sample dialog : Are you lesbian ? No , Grandma , I'm Christian ! ) troubling . I actually stopped reading the book after that and reluctantly returned to finish the story after some times . It just doesn't feel right although I could imagine that part alone has pleased some of its target audience . In any case , I learned to be open-minded and accept Lex's point of view however I admit that I have developed a distrust and dislike of this character . And her behavior did not help redeem her image as the story progressed . She is rude and inconsiderate , she whines a lot , and she is very judgmental . I realized that the main character doesn't have to be likable but she is just too far from it . And she is just not all that interesting or special . I do feel sorry for her because her traumatized experience in the past , but that's all I have for her . I wish I could be proud , be inspired by her because what she has become after her horrible incident , but she just doesn't show any qualities worthy my admiration . I just simply don't care for her after a certain point .
Lastly , Lex keeps stressing and insisting to find a Christian boyfriend and all the other qualities that he should have , but she hasn't necessary demonstrated any of the decent qualities that I'd like to see in a faithful Christian girl . It's certainly not fair to expect all Christians to act in a certain way . However , she should at least try , if her religion matters to her that much . Also the people in her church do not seem likeable , helpful or even friendly . It just seems odd to me that they don't seem like the type of people I'd see in church , or perhaps they , too , found Lex irritating ? ; - P
I applaud the efforts and thoughts that the author put in . It's great that the story has inspired or entertained some people , but unfortunately I'm not one of them . And I regret to say that I feel like I should have donated the time and money to charity instead of reading and paying for this book .
026 4 While I appreciate and admire the author's writing skill and her achievement , I am not at all impressed by this story . And I really did not enjoy reading this book . For one thing , it might seem realistic for some , but I'm having a hard time taking it seriously . I came from a similar background as the man character , Lex , and many people I know share the same cultural background , but none act like the characters described in the story . Surely there are all sorts of people out there and it's possible that people like that do exist so I can let it go , but it still feels a little too manufactured and grossly exaggerated for me .
Secondly , there are way too many stories that involve main characters having to face a timeline to find himself / herself a spouse / significant other in order to resolve a dilemma in their life . If you watch enough Asian soap operas or read way too many romance books , you would know that this is nothing new . Of course they all have a little twist and spin here and there , but they are not that different from one another . So the story lacks originality , despite its attempts to be different .
Third , I found the part ( Sample dialog : Are you lesbian ? No , Grandma , I'm Christian ! ) troubling . I actually stopped reading the book after that and reluctantly returned to finish the story after some times . It just doesn't feel right although I could imagine that part alone has pleased some of its target audience . In any case , I learned to be open-minded and accept Lex's point of view however I admit that I have developed a distrust and dislike of this character . And her behavior did not help redeem her image as the story progressed . She is rude and inconsiderate , she whines a lot , and she is very judgmental . I realized that the main character doesn't have to be likable but she is just too far from it . And she is just not all that interesting or special . I do feel sorry for her because her traumatized experience in the past , but that's all I have for her . I wish I could be proud , be inspired by her because what she has become after her horrible incident , but she just doesn't show any qualities worthy my admiration . I just simply don't care for her after a certain point .
Lastly , Lex keeps stressing and insisting to find a Christian boyfriend and all the other qualities that he should have , but she hasn't necessary demonstrated any of the decent qualities that I'd like to see in a faithful Christian girl . It's certainly not fair to expect all Christians to act in a certain way . However , she should at least try , if her religion matters to her that much . Also the people in her church do not seem likeable , helpful or even friendly . It just seems odd to me that they don't seem like the type of people I'd see in church , or perhaps they , too , found Lex irritating ? ; - P
I applaud the efforts and thoughts that the author put in . It's great that the story has inspired or entertained some people , but unfortunately I'm not one of them . And I regret to say that I feel like I should have donated the time and money to charity instead of reading and paying for this book .
027 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( Kindle Edition )
I'm not a sports fan , but loved this book . I hope to read more of Ms . Tang's books . Loved her characters . There is a great deal of humor in this book .
031 4 I love Sushi for One ! I found it to be a very enjoyable read . Camy Tang writes very well and the story drew me in right away . I am not very familiar with Asian culture so I also enjoyed learning more through the eyes of the main character .
I thoroughly enjoyed Camy's characters . I think she did an amazing job of helping the reader get to know them and their idiosyncrasies . If you are looking for a great read give Camy Tang's Sushi for One a try ! You won't be sorry !
032 4 Sushi for One ? is one of the best Christian fiction books that I read in 2008 . What I loved about this book is the very realistic characters ( none of those perfect Christians that are found in some Christian fiction works ) , the multicultural aspect , the humor , and the faith message . I also totally related to the difficulties that Lex faced with her grandmother . I know what that pressure is like , coming from an Asian-Indian background myself . I found myself relating to Lex's desire to honor her elders while being true to herself and her beliefs and the difference between the older generations and the younger generations . Lex did her best to be a positive Christian influence in her grandmother's life in spite of the pain that her grandmother caused her . I also enjoyed the relationship between Lex and Aiden and the closeness between Lex and her cousins .
All in all , a fantastic book . I couldn't wait to read the rest of the series ! I really hope that there will be more Christian fiction from an Asian perspective and I look forward to reading more from Camy Tang .
035 4 This was a great read for me . . . as an Asian American Christian woman . It takes me back to my single days and also my days of going to a Chinese Baptist Church . Also , my husband plays volleyball , so I was able to relate to the volleyball scenes .
I loved the love story between Aiden and Lex . Aiden's way of coming to Christ was excellent . ( But that darn Grandma ! )
The second book in the series is great too ! I can't wait to read the third one !
036 4 Camy Tang recently won first place in the Debut Author category of the ACFW ( American Christian Fiction Writers ) Book of the Year awards . I'm so excited for her ! It was well deserved .
Camy labels her books as romance with a kick of wasabi . That's a great description . Her Sushi Series features sassy Asian American characters who struggle to live a Christian life in the midst of a not-so-Christian world .
This first book centers on Lex Sakai . She's one of four Christian cousins and , at the book's start , has been promoted to the position of OSFC - - Oldest Single Female Cousin . In a family where her grandmother , a bulldog-like matriarch , believes immortality is gained through grandchildren , this is a big deal . Lex is now Grandma's number one target and soon becomes the object of an ultimatim : start dating someone seriously ( while currently having no prospects on the horizon ) or lose the funding she desperately needs for the girls volleyball team she coaches . Lex has to find a boyfriend in three months , before her cousins wedding . Oh , and she doesn't trust men . Meanwhile a knee injury keeps her from the club she's waited years to join .
Final Thoughts : I loved this book ! Its authentic characters endure real-life struggles without the sugary , watered-down grace often present in Christian fiction . These are chicks I would love to be friends with - if only they weren't fictional .
038 4 I really enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing what new things are in store in the next one . I loved the humor in the characters dealings with each other , especially the grandmother , and felt they were real people dealing with real issues . We are none of us perfect and this story reflects that and reminds me that God loves each of us and forgives each of us .
Keep it up , CAmy !
041 4 I found this book very thought provoking . The author shows what happens when not only cultures collide , but religions , too . I've never had to deal with the culture situation . How do you break free and live your own life while respecting your family and roots ? ! Lex , the main character , battles with this as she tries to please her Grandma without giving up who she is .
The author has a gift of bringing her characters to life . You really care what happens to each and every one . Once you start reading , you have to keep going to find out what happens to Lex next !
I highly recommend this book !
042 4 This book is delightfully silly in places without being shallow . It makes for some good lighter weight reading in between the emotional rollercoasters and tense suspense novels that twist my stomach into knots . Lex and her cousins have to band together because they are all the next OSFC ( oldest single female cousin ) after the family's spring wedding . What does being the OSFC mean , well in Lex's family it means Grandma isn't going to leave you alone till you're practically married and she thinks he's the right one . When Grandma decides it's your turn in this family , life will be miserable if you let her dictate the rules and if you decide to run your life on your terms or anyone's besides hers for that matter it gets even more miserable . Lex as the first in line after Mariko's wedding gets the brunt of Grandma in this book as well as the rest of the family trying to help because Grandma basically owns the whole family or can buy them off if she doesn't . Finally Lex and her three closest in age cousins ( Jenn , Trish and Venus ) , who will be next in line after Lex for the matchmaking attempts of the entire family , realize it will take all of them working together to outsmart Grandma and still manage to stick to their convictions where dating is concerned . This in itself is a whole kettle of fish because the four girls are Christians and Grandma is still enmeshed in Japanese Buddhist beliefs so thinks the girls are just using not dating someone unless he's a Christian an excuse to reject all her offerings of young men .
All the girls , but especially Lex , experience any number of lessons about faith , love , discernment and obedience . I think the biggest thing for Lex in this book though is letting go and trusting God enough to leave the outcomes up to him instead of trying to make it work her way .
This is a great read for those who are single whether you are looking for a relationship or content to stay single and for anyone single or not who either has family and friends that insist they need a significant other NOW ! or knows someone single in that position . Remember if you're single you could be the next one on someone's matchmaking list .
043 4 Camy's debut novel is seriously entertaining , and one of the best Christian chick-lits I've ever read . Lex Sakai is a volleyball-playing-fourth-generation Japanese-American currently holding the title of Oldest Single Female Cousin in her big , noisy family . And her grandmother is not happy , and threatened to cut funding to Lex's volleyball group if she doesn't get a boyfriend in four months . Camy's description of the Japanese-American community is hilarious and her heroine is so endearing , you can't help but cheering for her .
Once you pick up the book , you won't want to put it down . Can't wait for her second novel in the Sushi Series ! !
044 4 I finished this book on the weekend and cant wait for Only Uni to be released .
Lex is a Sports mad Asian girl who loves nothing more than playing Volleyball . Her Grandmother has different ideas of what Lex should be doing .
With her cousin soon to be married , Lex is now the oldest single female cousin and is now being singled out by her grandmother .
Everyone seems to be trying to set her up with suiters but could the right one be under her nose ?
I enjoyed the way Camy explained the Japanese / Chinese customs and the importance of family events .
I really felt for Lex at times and I did relate very well to some of the incidents that happened to her , and thought it added to the book .
I found the book really good and the more I read the more I just couldn't put the book down .
045 4 I must admit I only bought this book because at the time ( and still do ) , I loved to eat sushi . Stupid reason , I know ! However , this book was extremely humorous at times as well as touching at other times . At times I found my self frustrated with Lex and Aiden just because they kept on hindering their relationship in some way . But , as I read , I began to see their reasons for being hesitant . I began to understand and feel for them both . It was a great read ! And I am glad I bought it even if it was only for the love of sushi !
046 4 Hats off to Camy Tang for a wonderful debut novel . The way she steadily ramped tension for poor Lex . . . . excellent ! ! ! This book would be a GREAT study for aspiring novelists on sound story structure . Each character is well-developed and the plot is meticulously carried out and engaging . Just pre-ordered Only Uni by Camy and highly recommend this series .
BRAVO to the author for a job well done ! ! !
Cheryl Wyatt
047 4 Poor Lex - Alexis Sakai is now the OSFC ( oldest single female cousin ) in her family and her Grandma is out to change that and in the Japanese culture that's not a good thing , slowly everything in her life changes as she realizes just how much influence her grandmother has . Just because her grandmother is determined that Lex is to be in a serious relationship by her cousin Mariko's wedding and that is only four months away or else she will stop all funding for the girls junior high volleyball team that Lex couches .
Since Lex quit her job and though a series of circumstances or was it God she landed her dream job at SPZ her life has become a revolving door of strange men claiming their mother is friends with one of her aunts and willing to date her for college game tickets . Even her brother is bringing men around that he claims are friends but seem to be the biggest losers . When she tries not to give into the pressure her grandmother threatens that other things could happen and things do but which is her grandmother and which are circumstances ? Suddenly her dad is forced in to retirement from his job and decides to sell the house . Lex tears her ACL and has to have knee surgery just when she lands a chance to play on the ultimate volleyball dream team at Wassamattayu . Her other cousins / friends begin to avoid her . And Lex struggles with the dating thing due to something that happened three years ago that very few people know about especially not her grandmother who blames her not dating on the fact that Lex is too athletic and not feminine enough and even goes so far as to offer to pay for breast implants ! Than there's Aiden the one man she has come to trust as a friend and becomes her physical therapist but he's not Christian and does not match anything on her Ephesians list for the perfect man but yet she is drawn to him . . . . .
Wow , what a page turner ! Enter into the Japanese culture in this Asian twist on Chick Lit . The author Camy Tang will have you in stitches in this hilarious romance . This reviewer just couldn't put this awesome book down and once you finish the novel you'll be wanting more from Tang . Check out the glossary of Asian words ( Camy style ) at the back of the book and pick up some new words along the way .
048 4 Although I'm normally not a fan of romance novels , I loved this book . The characters are wonderful , and I was immediately drawn in to the story . The book made me laugh and I even got a little teary-eyed in places . Great book !
049 4 I see there are some great summaries of the story in other reviews , so I'd just like to add that I loved this book ! I laughed out loud so many times that my kids finally asked me what on earth I was reading . Fun , touching , and very entertaining , Sushi for One ? is a book I highly recommend .
Camy Tang has an excellent deubt novel , and I look forward to reading the next one !
050 4 Camy Tang's new novel , Sushi for One ? is a blast . Before I could even glance at Chapter 1 , my daughter , who is 13 , grabbed it from me and finished in two nights ( and she never reads ) . I think she was attracted by the cover and the fact that the main character , Lex Sakai , was an Asian-American Christian woman with whom she could relate .
After finally peeling the book from my daughter's fingers , I began reading . From the very first chapter , I am rooting for Lex . Will she find a boyfriend before her cousin's wedding so Grandma won't cut funding from Lex's middle-school girls ' volleyball team ? Or will she find another solution to her problem ?
Lex's hilarious adventures are tempered with serious issues . How can she honor her grandma and follow God's will for her life ? How can she get over her fears ? Cami Tang has deftly woven her Christian values and Asian culture into an enjoyable novel .
I have read many Asian-American novels , but this is the first one that I've seen written from a Christian perspective by an Asian-American . The book will appeal to anyone interested in another facet of the Asian American experience .
051 4 Sushi For One ? , Camy Tang's freshman sushi series novel , is amazing ! Camy is witty and intelligent with a sparkling personality , and this comes through in her writing . I can almost see her character's quirky relatives at my own family reunions only with a more European appearance .
Lex has some issues . The least of which is certainly not her grandmother , who wants her to be married . When grandma tells her to have a boyfriend by the time her cousin gets married , Lex must find a man to bring to the wedding who will pass grandma's scrutinous inspection . If Lex fails , grandma will stop sponsoring the junior high girls volleyball team that Lex coaches .
This book made me laugh so hard ! It also made me cry . The writing style is wonderful - I sat down and read over 100 pages in almost no time . I will definitely look for more books by Camy Tang !
052 4 In some ways , reading Camy Tang's debut novel Sushi for One is like a dining experience at a great Chinese restaurant - - an exotic buffet of quirky and engaging characters , a simmering plot of sweet and sour fun , and a hefty wasabi-dose of sass and humor . Oh , and yeah , a short time after you finish this enjoyable meal . . . you're hungry for more !
My first clue I was going to like this book was the cover - - a beautiful , contemporary Asian woman stares you down , her head cocked and hand on her hip , almost daring you to look inside . When you do , you are reeled in by a cast of unforgettable characters and a fun and well-written story as sharp and sassy as the lady on the cover .
Enter Lex Sakai , a 30 - year-old sporty and no-frills kind a gal who butts heads with her grandma , a pit-bull matriarch who strikes fear in the hearts of Lex and her three female cousins over their marital status ( or lack thereof ) . Grandma threatens to pull funding of the girls ' club volleyball team Lex coaches if Lex doesn't come up with a boyfriend fast . The lineup of comical suitors that Grandma sends her way gives Lex more heartburn than a trip to a really bad sushi bar , especially given a dark secret from her past that's soured her taste for romance . Nonetheless , armed with a boyfriend checklist based on Ephesians and faith in God , Lex is determined to make a match that will please her grandmother . Imagine her surprise when God has an unlikely match in mind to please her as well .
Camy Tang's writing is witty , crisp and fresh with a spiritual message that makes this taste of Asian chick-lit truly satisfying . Do yourself a favor and go out for Chinese . . . Sushi for One definitely hits the spot !
053 4 This book was hysterical from the get go . Lex is a character who stands for what she believes , but misplaces her strength in herself , forgetting for a time that the Lord should be her strength . This is definitely a romantic comedy with all the frogs Lex has to endure on her search for Mr . Right , but there's a very serious side to her story as well .
Camy Tang gets the reader inside of Lex's head and we can see why she thinks the way she does . You want to feel bad for the twists and turns her life makes , but she's such a strong person , the reader can only believe she'll pull herself through .
I thoroughly enjoyed Camy's writing . She's very fresh . I gained an insight as to how some cultures influence the lives of the younger generation . The way the rest of the family jumped on board to find a boyfriend for Lex makes me thankfully I never had to endure that . I enjoyed her references to so many contemporary things in the Christian world as well as the secular .
I hope the rest of Camy's books in the series focus on each of the OSFC that are left ! We were given a glimpse into their lives and their character in Lex's story and I hope Camy continues to expand on them .
054 4 The Christian fiction market has been criticized for a bit of homogeneity . Well , this book brings an Asian-American heroine who is an athletic , sports-obssessed gal with a traumatic past and a grandmother who is out to get her married no matter what .
It has a flavor of Chick Lit , but just as easily could be categorized as a gentle romance or Christian Women's Fiction .
Synopsis : Lex Sakai , one of the single cousins in a large Asian-American family , becomes the laser-beam focus of her grandma's matchmaking fury . Lex , who has refrained from dating and intimacy due to something in her past , tries to thwart grandmother ( and other marriage-pushing relatives ) in order to achieve her own goals regarding sports / carreer / residence . But grandma and life events keep getting in the way . And then , there is Mr . Wrong . . . who starts to seem very right .
This debut novel opens a might frantically and takes a while to get its footing , but soon , you will be caught up in the family dynamics and Lex's journey to heal more than just her athletic injury .
If you like sweet romances , if you like women's fiction and would like to sample a minority milieu , if you like Chick Lit and want to try somethign a little different from the offerings currently out there - - Chick Lit with Asian-American characters and with clear Christian themes and settings , that nevertheless eschews dense preachiness - - this novel is one you should pick up . It's the first in the Sushi series , and I plan to read ONLY UNI when it comes out next year .
Happy reading ,
Mir of Mirathon blog
057 4 This is such a fun read . It's not the Theory of Relativity Asian style . IT IS entertaining and laugh out loud funny in places .
Lex Sakai has some growing up to do , spiritually , socially and in the romance department . But her heart is pure . She will take you on a journey , along with her fun Asian family . And in the end Lex discovers what really matters .
Yep , this is Christian Chick Lit . Deal with it . Enjoy it and savor Lex's ride .
Looking forward to the next book in the series .
058 4 This was one busy story . Not a dull moment at all . In fact , I think Lex is the unluckiest and clumsiest chick lit character I've ever met , poor thing . I wanted to scream , no , no , no right along with her when she kept getting hurt . Like she belonged to the bad luck ( rather than joy luck ) club . She had a lot of spunk and determination , though , or as someone else described her . . . pluck ! At times her thoughts seemed younger than her stated 30 years - - like when she referred to guys as boys . And I think I've learned more about volleyball reading this book than I ever learned watching the sport during the Olympics .
Sushi for One ? was a romp through the eyes of a character who had a lot of reasons to be angry , and that came out often in her thoughts . As with most people who love God but are feeling hurt , she closed her heart off to prayer and fellowship to protect herself . As a result , she missed sensing God's safe touch on her life , though He never left her side .
The hero in this story was truly lovable . I think the fact that the author used third person POV and slipped the reader into the mind of this man helped a lot . He seemed absent often when Lex needed him , but considering he hadn't allowed himself to get close to Lex , this made sense . She needed space and he gave it to her . What a great guy ! The author's tag line fits this story to a T .
Sushi for One ? is the kind of chick lit story that demonstrates . . . sometimes romance needs a kick of wasabi . And the powerful , touching ending should bring tears to your eyes . It did mine . I can't wait for the next installment !
060 4 Sushi for One by Camy Tang is the first book in the Sushi series . Lex Sakai , volleyball coach and player has just become OSFC ( Oldest Single Female Cousin ) in her clan due to cousin Mariko's upcoming wedding . Lex's grandmother insists that Lex find a boyfriend ( the real deal , no fake ) in time for the wedding or she's pulling funding for Lex's junior high girls volleyball team . Lex is desperate to get the funding , so she starts a manhunt with help from her cousins , but her list of qualifications in a man keeps growing longer and longer and no man seems to measure up . Tang manages with great ease to pull off the delicacy of writing hilarious pratfalls along with deep friendship and faith . Lex's clumsiness had me in tears laughing at the poor girl and then again in tears at her frustration at the failure of her body . Aidan doesn't stand a chance against Lex , and he knows it , but just can't seem to help himself . Tang makes Aidan and Lex's feelings for each grow naturally without force . Lex's cousins are fascinating in and of themselves , and I can't wait to read the next book in the series ! I crown Camy Tang Queen of Asian Christian Chick-Lit !
062 4 I grab a book once in a while that I just am sucked into . I can't look away . I care so much about the characters AND while a really fantastic , gripping story is unfolding , I'm just having fun with every word I read .
That's . . . Sushi for One ?
Camy Tang did such a great job with this book . I'd be reading along and I'd read a line and think , That's the funniest thing I've ever read .
Then , later , here'd come another line , so sharp , so funny . This is a book you don't dare skim because every word is worth reading .
But , while I'm having this great time with the words , this bigger story is playing out , holding me fast to the page .
Lex and Adrien are fantastic , but Lex's cousins are each so well developed , even in their small rolls and I'm hoping Camy writes a book for every one of them . . . even Mimi and Richard the brother . . . and Spencer . I've got her up to what ? A seven book series ? Bring it on . Because she didn't just introduce them , she let me know them and care about them .
You'll notice there is no ' summary ' of this book in my review , that's because I don't want to give anything away , so many steps in the book are a surprise - - even little things near the beginning , and they're important and I don't want to spoil it .
But just open the pages , there is no escape .
063 4 I always feel a little nervous when I crack open a book written by someone I know , someone I've bantered with and traded wise cracks with and someone I really like as a person .
What if I don't like the book ?
What will I say ?
Fortunately , Sushi for One , will not leave me scrambling to be gentle yet truthful . Camy Tang is adorable , funny and sweet , and those qualities come through loud and clear in Sushi for One .
I love the cultural feel with unfamiliar language , customs , scents and tastes . I'm a big fan of Amy Tan and am currently reading Memoirs of a Geisha . Tang takes the culture and adds a sassy Americanized spin with Lex , her thirty-year-old heroine . Lex is obsessed with volleyball , and though I don't even come close to caring about that sport , I didn't get pulled away from the story or annoyed with the many references . The Chick-Lit third person feel of the story created intimacy with Lex and made it easy to cheer her on .
Spiritually , Tang tossed in some very real-life situations exploring religion vs . authentic Christianity . The drama of dating and girlfriends / cousins brought loads of yuck moments and chuckles . In the end , I felt certain that Lex was on the road to recovery in many different ways .
I recommend Sushi for One to those who love cultural reads , Chick-Lit , and light , fun humor packed with truth .
064 4 Lex Sakai is a volleyball junkie , ( she plays several nights a week in different leagues ) , coaches a volleyball team consisting of junior high girls and has just landed her dream job at an online sports company .
Her controlling grandmother is not pleased . As the sponsor of Lexi's girls ' team , she issues Lex an ultimatum . Have a steady boyfriend by her cousin's wedding or lose funding for the team . The rest of the book deals w / Lex's life as it spirals out of control , the parade of losers foisted upon her by her manipulative grandmother via extended family , her growing desperation as the deadline draws near , and her attraction to the one man who doesn't fit her Must have list lifted from the book of Ephesians .
Sushi For One is a fun read , inhabited by interesting characters and pulled along by a fast moving plot . Lexi is a strong woman who stands on her own two feet while struggling to put a horrible experience behind her . She has a smart , funny attitude that mixes and clashes well with her four best friends , also her cousins . Its a good look into an Asian-American family , written by one with insider information . A good debut novel .
065 4 The pressure is on . Oldest-single-female-cousin is not a title Lex wants to carry . Add a blackmailing grandmother , disastrous dates , work problems , housing problems , and a family she can never seem to please , and it's no wonder Lex keeps missing the romance waiting right under her nose .
With katana-sharp wit , Camy Tang immerses readers in the comedy and conflict universal to all families , while vibrantly painting the specifics of Asian-American culture . A romance hasn't made me laugh this hard since My Big Fat Greek Wedding .
066 4 I picked up Sushi for One ? for a light vacation read , and it did not disappoint . From the first page , I was hooked primarily because of the strong writing and fantastic characters . I could so relate to Lex Saki , the heroine .
Lex Saki's family is big , nosy , and marriage-minded . And with one cousin's fast-approaching wedding date and a substantial push from her Grandma , Lex suddenly finds herself on a quest she doesn't want : she needs a boyfriend in four months . If Lex doesn't , then her grandmother will pull funding of the girl's volleyball team that Lex coaches . The boyfriend has to be convincing enough to make Grandma believe they are serious , while allowing Lex to maintain her freedom .
The book is a romance with chic lit trimmings . Camy tells the story in third person , so the reader gets to go inside several characters ' heads . The book has a fun , sassy attitude that even carries over to the glossary of Asian words .
This book is a fantastic read .
067 4 When your grandmother believes her immortality is dependant on you marrying and bearing children , matchmaking moves into a whole other stratosphere !
Camy Tang's debut novel is both fearless and feisty , a novel which doesn't pull any punches about the reality of manipulative family members , rivalry amongst grandchildren and the struggles of being single . At the same time it is packed with laugh out loud humour , appealing characters and a message of hope . The writing is down to earth and startlingly genuine , so much so that at times I didn't like the way Lex thought or what she said simply because Camy has written with authenticity and not given us a perfect and unreal heroine . Lex is bright , independent and athletic with an overly sensitive stomach which provides for some disastrous and amusing scenes . Her cousins , Trish , Venus and Jennifer ( the subjects of additional books in the series ) are all unique and the way is paved for some interesting story lines to come . I loved Aiden's character and would have liked to have seen his fascinating and attractive self on a few more pages !
Camy Tang's writing is a breath of fresh air ~ funny , courageous , compassionate and sometimes confronting ~ a writer not just to watch but definitely to read !
069 4 Just a heads up - the back cover copy for this novel doesn't even begin to do it justice .
Volleyball fanatic Lex Sakai is single and just fine with that until she inherits the infamous family title of Oldest Single Female Cousin and her Grandma issues an ultimatum . She threatens to pull funding for the beloved girls volleyball team Lex coaches unless she buckles down and finds a boyfriend in time for her cousin's wedding in four months . Armed with her Ephesians list - requirements a guy has to meet in order to be dateable - Lex embarks on her quest to find a boyfriend and satisfy Grandma . Then job-wise she takes a significant pay cut , Grandma sabotages her efforts to land outside team sponsors so she can avoid the whole dating thing , and Aiden , the one man she's sure she should write off as unsuitable , keeps intruding on her life in unexpected ways . When her carefully constructed life comes apart at the seams , Lex is forced to re-evaluate who she's really been trusting with her future - herself or the Lord ?
Probably one of the best ways to describe Sushi for One ? is to think
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
, change the Greek to Asian-American , throw in a deftly handled spiritual thread , and voila ! - you have the recipe for a great chick-lit novel . Camy Tang delivers all of the humor , outrageous mishaps , witty dialogue , romance , and great food fans of the chick lit genre could wish for in spades . Lex is a wonderfully prickly , sassy heroine with a take-no-prisoners attitude towards life that masks heartbreaking hurts and fears . It's a great stroke on Tang's part to write the novel in third person instead of the first person point of view generally found in chick lit novels . While most of the novel is told from Lex's view point , the use of third person allows Tang to pepper the novel with scenes from Aiden's perspective , which walk the delicate line of being incredibly sweet without being sappy - it's wonderful to watch him fight his attraction to Lex even as he longs to be the one to break through her emotional barriers . The family dynamic is also one of the novel's greatest strengths . Lex doesn't come from the typically Christian background found in most CBA fiction - she and her best friends , also her cousins , ( Trish , Venus , and Jennifer ) are the only Christians in a mostly Buddhist family . Tang does a fantastic job of showing Lex negotiate the line between living her faith and being a witness and respecting her heritage and a family that doesn't understand her beliefs .
Sushi for One ? is the hilarious , often poignant story of a woman who learns to cede control of her life and allow herself to be held in the arms of the God who loves her , whose plans for her life , romantic and otherwise , are far greater and more fulfilling than she could have ever dreamed . Camy Tang's debut novel shines with life and energy . I can't wait to read more about the Sushi cousins and thankfully the wait won't be a long one - the second novel ,
Only Uni ( Sushi Series )
, releases in February 2008 !
072 4 I was thrilled when I stumbled across Sushi for One by Camy Tang . I love light hearted chick lit that still has some substance to it . Tang did not disappoint . Lex is a well rounded character that is flawed yet I found myself completely sympathizing with her , even during her judgemental quirks .
I was intrigued by the Asian-American mileu . I enjoyed learning more about a culture that I really don't know that much about .
When I finished the story , I found that I was left wanting to know more about Lex and Aiden's stories . I am so happy that there are more Sushi books . I look forward to reading more from Tang !
073 4 After reading the first chapter of this book , I was laughing , feeling hungry , feeling nauseated too , as well as being embarrased for the main character , Lex ,
I can't wait to read more of this book !
074 4 I think I wanted to like this book , and I was able to finish it , which is a point in its favor . Let me say that I don't generally read Christian romance novels ( I have no objection to books featuring good ol ' sexytime ) and tend to steer clear of the majority of mainstream romance novels ( exceptions include Diana Gabaldon , because hello , hot men in kilts ) . That said , I've certainly read worse books than this one .
I am a Christian but not the type at which this book is aimed , meaning I don't go to a nondenominational Bible church ; hence I disagreed with many of the author / main character's beliefs . ( Sample dialog : Are you lesbian ? No , Grandma , I'm Christian ! Yeah , because those two things are automatically mutually exclusive . ) But I could get over that if not for the more basic plot and characterization problems .
The characters are caricatures ; the cultural stereotypes are way over the top and almost appear to be crammed in sometimes . Lex , the heroine , is a disaster magnet to an unrealistic degree . I couldn't buy the evil grandma . The plot meanders , characters get lost in the shuffle , and the payoff is way too abrupt . And don't get me started on the Ephesians list , though that's partly a personal pet peeve .
If you really like Christian chick lit , you may be able to look past the flaws . I couldn't .
075 4 Sushi for One is the story of a thirtyish Asian-American woman whose grandmother has decided needs to marry sooner rather than later . The woman , who was once sexually assaulted , is an avid volleyball player and a volunteer coach of a volleyball team for underprivilged girls , a team whose expenses are underwritten by her grandmother . Her grandmother threatens to pull funding unless she finds a serious boyfriend - - and then makes sure that no one else in the community will fund it either . I didn't like Grandma . The book involves the heroine's search for a husband and her search for funding for the team .
On the religion front , as a Catholic , I found it interesting that the catalyst for one character's religious conversion is a large picture of the crucifixion which was found in the pastor's office . Looking at that graphic picture and seeing the pain of Christ turned the unbeliever into a believer - - and the Protestants wonder why we Catholics fill our churches with statues and other images .
076 4 This book was chosen for our book club for February . You can read all the other reviews for what the book was about , this is not my purpose for my review . I expected the book to be a light read , but what I got was almost weightless . I love Christian Fiction and I love light romance , but this book was neither .
First , the author lacks any true character development . I felt that they were very flat and did not make me want to like them , especially Lex , the main character . I felt that her priorities were wrong . She proclaimed to be Christian and went to church , but you never sense that her heart is really bent towards Jesus . She finally allows God to take over , but she still tried keeping some control . Aiden was the only character I liked , and he was the Agnostic . I wish that his character was developed better so the reader could understand why he was Agnostic , and why he was moved by the picture in the pastor's office .
The Grandmother character had no redeeming qualities . If this is truly how Asian Grandmothers are , I am glad I'm not Asian . The four cousins showed no respect for their grandmother , which is not a very good Christian value . And why didn't the author show anything good about the Grandmother . She wrote it in 3rd person , so she could have showed a soft side that allowed the reader to understand her motivations .
The Father and brother were unbelievable . You never really get an feeling for how Lex felt about them , or how they truly felt towards her . I ended up feeling glad that they were not my brother or Father .
The plot was also unbelievable , and I never felt like it could possibly be real . There are plenty of things that the author could have done to build any amount of suspense in the book . Why not build more on Lex's past , hint sooner about what happened to her so the reader could build sympathy for her earlier in the book . The author should have spent more time at the end , bringing everything together to make you feel that the book was really over .
As for any insight of the Asian American culture , or Christian Asian culture , I hoped that this did not reflect their real lives . My biggest hope in this book was to find out what it would be like to be an Asian Christian . I don't see what makes Lex any different that any other American girl , except she has a mean Grandmother . Without much work , you could turn this story into an Italian Catholic family with a domineering matriarch , a single Italian girl who becomes saved and leaves the Catholic church , and Grandma is forcing all kinds of good Catholic boys at her .
And finally , where is God in this book ? He's like an extra in a movie . He's there , he doesn't interact with the main characters much , and he doesn't have much to say . This is a Christian genre , and Christ should play a bigger role in the book . What sets this book apart from any secular fiction ?
I would love to see a Asian Christian author succeed in this genre . This author is young and I'd like to see her develop her voice to make a statement about her culture and relationship with God to the readers .
Sushi for One ? ( The Sushi Series , Book 1 ) ( Paperback )
I've never actually written a review for Amazon but this book was so bad that I could not let another person pay actual money - either Chinese or Japanese for it . I happened to pick it for free on the Kindle , thankfully .
This book focuses on a girl that is half Chinese and Japanese . She's obsessed with volleyball ( which is fine ) and is harassed by her Grandmother to find a boyfriend in less than 3 months time or otherwise her funding from her Grandmother will get cut for her junior high volleyball coaching gig .
The Good :
- I was intrigued with an Asian fiction that blended both the Chinese and Japanese cultures into the American storytelling . However , it wasn't enough really to make me feel the mix of cultures and things were not explained except in the Appendix . Thankfully my anime watching and college Japanese classes helped me with words like baka meaning stupid in Japanese .
- The story is not really a hard read . It was pretty easy to finish the book in a day or two .
The Bad ( which is a lot ) :
- The story begins with the main character , Lex , bombarded by her Grandmother to find a boyfriend before her cousin's wedding . This begins the whining that doesn't stop until the last page . I felt like I was watching the character development of Sara in the movie , Labyrinth . But that's not fair ! ! ! ! ! She doesn't realize life isn't fair even at the end of the book . At least the 14 year old kid figured it out before the 31 year old in this story .
- The setup for the Christianity arc of the story is just contrite and obvious the first couple of chapters . And of course , God saves the day at the end - while really not saving it . It read like a book that's whole point was to convince you to trust in God and religion . I've read much better Christian fiction that didn't cram it down your throat . Try the DragonSpell series instead if you like fantasy .
- Even when great things happen in the character's life , she just finds the negative in everything . Got a great job ! ? Oh , my life still sucks . Hey , this great guy likes me ? Oh , he is not perfect . Why can't things go my waaaaaaY !
- The main character expects all of her friends and cousins to drop everything for her problems . I don't recall her even saying thanks to them for helping her . And if she did - she was so negative and focused on herself I didn't even notice . The whole story is focused on her issues even when it is obvious that others have problems too . She doesn't even stop to find out why her friends and family are unhappy at times .
I honestly finished the book to see what revelation and redemption the main character had at the end . And I'm not sure it was worth it . I wanted to be wowed and instead I irritated with myself that I wasted the time reading it . I've never disliked a character so much . Even Bella from Twilight has more dimension . Stay away .
006 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( Kindle Edition )
I read the book , and I agree with every point in the J . Lewis review . I disliked Lex ; I could not understand what Aiden , the love interest , saw in her ( other than he thought she was beautiful ) . While grandma was pure evil and should have been shunned from the family as a noxious individual , the rest of them weren't any better , including Lex . I've never met a more morally destitute bunch .
I kept reading the book hoping that Lex would actually grow spiritually ( the Ephesians list is easily one of the most shallow and ill-conceived things I've ever read ) . In all the Job-like situations , where life is throwing one thing at her after another , she remains brittle - a whiney , angry , self-righteous , self-centered , pain in the rear . She is not joyful , admirable , or likeable at any level .
009 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( The Sushi Series , Book 1 ) ( Paperback )
I've never actually written a review for Amazon but this book was so bad that I could not let another person pay actual money - either Chinese or Japanese for it . I happened to pick it for free on the Kindle , thankfully .
This book focuses on a girl that is half Chinese and Japanese . She's obsessed with volleyball ( which is fine ) and is harassed by her Grandmother to find a boyfriend in less than 3 months time or otherwise her funding from her Grandmother will get cut for her junior high volleyball coaching gig .
The Good :
- I was intrigued with an Asian fiction that blended both the Chinese and Japanese cultures into the American storytelling . However , it wasn't enough really to make me feel the mix of cultures and things were not explained except in the Appendix . Thankfully my anime watching and college Japanese classes helped me with words like baka meaning stupid in Japanese .
- The story is not really a hard read . It was pretty easy to finish the book in a day or two .
The Bad ( which is a lot ) :
- The story begins with the main character , Lex , bombarded by her Grandmother to find a boyfriend before her cousin's wedding . This begins the whining that doesn't stop until the last page . I felt like I was watching the character development of Sara in the movie , Labyrinth . But that's not fair ! ! ! ! ! She doesn't realize life isn't fair even at the end of the book . At least the 14 year old kid figured it out before the 31 year old in this story .
- The setup for the Christianity arc of the story is just contrite and obvious the first couple of chapters . And of course , God saves the day at the end - while really not saving it . It read like a book that's whole point was to convince you to trust in God and religion . I've read much better Christian fiction that didn't cram it down your throat . Try the DragonSpell series instead if you like fantasy .
- Even when great things happen in the character's life , she just finds the negative in everything . Got a great job ! ? Oh , my life still sucks . Hey , this great guy likes me ? Oh , he is not perfect . Why can't things go my waaaaaaY !
- The main character expects all of her friends and cousins to drop everything for her problems . I don't recall her even saying thanks to them for helping her . And if she did - she was so negative and focused on herself I didn't even notice . The whole story is focused on her issues even when it is obvious that others have problems too . She doesn't even stop to find out why her friends and family are unhappy at times .
I honestly finished the book to see what revelation and redemption the main character had at the end . And I'm not sure it was worth it . I wanted to be wowed and instead I irritated with myself that I wasted the time reading it . I've never disliked a character so much . Even Bella from Twilight has more dimension . Stay away .
012 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( Kindle Edition )
I got this book purely because it was free on my kindle and seemed small enough for an in-between read during a break . I did not know at the time that it was a christian book but a few pages into it I knew exactly what I was reading and what the story would be . I reserved my judgment until the last page and I have to conclude that this was a nice free mind numbing story . It is definitely not something I would have bought as I find it might have been targeted for 14 year old girls in the first stages of experiencing love .
The characters were bad at best , with the protagonist sinking further and further into oblivion at every page turn . I could not make sense of any of the christian remarks as they seemed to be put in to fit the writers purpose rather than the characters personality . Speaking of character development , there seemed to be none . The only person that seems to grow in any form was the one that was converted to accept christianity . The other people in the book , that are already christians , no matter how immature or wrongful they behave , are contempt with what they do showing no remorse ( except for when they sleep out of wedlock ) . This book is a good example of how someone has to twist and bend a particular story to fit a moral rather than allow the story to grow around it .
My end conclusion is this : read the book if you have nothing else to do or if you need an example of how not to write a story but I would strongly advice against buying it .
017 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( Kindle Edition )
I didn't enjoy reading this book . For one it had way too many characters and by the time I caught up with who was who even more undeveloped characters entered the scene . I found myself in the middle of daydreaming far too many times while attempting to read this one .
039 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( The Sushi Series , Book 1 ) ( Paperback )
I ordered SUSHI FOR ONE because it seemed like it would be great Christian chick lit , which is one of my favorite genres . Well , it is . It's a very well written novel , funny , informative , realistic - - I can't say enough good things about this book . I read very quickly so I read it in about 2 hours . I enjoyed reading it so much I read it again a week later . I couldn't wait to order the sequel and am looking forward to reading it .
Mimi
040 4 I ordered SUSHI FOR ONE because it seemed like it would be great Christian chick lit , which is one of my favorite genres . Well , it is . It's a very well written novel , funny , informative , realistic - - I can't say enough good things about this book . I read very quickly so I read it in about 2 hours . I enjoyed reading it so much I read it again a week later . I couldn't wait to order the sequel and am looking forward to reading it .
Mimi
068 4 Camy Tang's SUSHI FOR ONE ? made me smile , giggle , and even well up at just the right places . With deft characterization , the author went above and beyond to create a heroine who is not your average chick lit gal . By the time I turned the last page , it felt as if I'd known Lex for years . What a debut !
the characters , the writing , the REAL life , the struggles , and the fact there's NO preaching . Not even when one of the characters becomes a Christian .
That said , if you have a family . . . you'll be drawn into the dynamics of this one . The issues families face cross cultural lines , and Camy Tang writes wonderfully about what these issues look like in an Asian family .
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have happily passed it along to a fellow reader at my office who likes well-written stories . Now , off to get the other books in this series ! ! I can't wait !
015 4 This review is from :
Sushi for One ? ( Kindle Edition )
This book really bothered me , I guess the writter REALLY wanted to get the born again Christen meassage across , since she mentions that the main charater is Christen on just about every page . The main charater is really easy to dislike , she acts like she is a tough girl , and then she is just a whiny , selfish baby .
I really disliked this book and I think people should know it is a big time message book .
016 4 This book really bothered me , I guess the writter REALLY wanted to get the born again Christen meassage across , since she mentions that the main charater is Christen on just about every page . The main charater is really easy to dislike , she acts like she is a tough girl , and then she is just a whiny , selfish baby .
I really disliked this book and I think people should know it is a big time message book .
033 4 It's January 2009 and I just finished this first book ! I'll not recap the story line , other reviewers did that quite nicely .
Let me tell you what appealed to me about this book : the characters , the writing , the REAL life , the struggles , and the fact there's NO preaching . Not even when one of the characters becomes a Christian .
That said , if you have a family . . . you'll be drawn into the dynamics of this one . The issues families face cross cultural lines , and Camy Tang writes wonderfully about what these issues look like in an Asian family .
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have happily passed it along to a fellow reader at my office who likes well-written stories . Now , off to get the other books in this series ! ! I can't wait !
