Log 6

 

For me, finishing a book is a difficult task. Since I don’t have a regular reading habit and I read slowly, I often lose interest halfway through. Although this time I had to read a book for a course, I’m still happy that I successfully finished one!

After reading this book, I realized there are actually a lot of topics to explore, such as family relationships, performance art, and self-expression. However, the theme that gave me the most thoughts and reflections is family relationships, as it feels close to my daily life. Each family’s dynamics and issues are different; for instance, in the story, the Fang family’s problem is that Mr. and Mrs. Fang ignore Annie and Buster’s feelings. Reading it, I felt that these two kids were merely tools used by their parents. In my own family, I also see similar issues, like how my grandma has the traditional mindset of favoring boys over girls. Her treatment of my brother and me is very different. Whenever we eat at her house, not only I but also other family members can feel her favoritism toward my brother. Nevertheless, my grandma is very stubborn, even if my aunt gently reminds her that times have changed, my grandma remains unmoved and might even get upset.

Although I can’t change my grandma’s mindset, I’ve found an opportunity to learn how to adjust my own feelings to make myself feel better. Regarding these issues in my family, I try first to understand the reasons behind my grandma’s thinking. I think it might be because, in her generation, these were the common values, and she herself may have been treated this way, so she doesn’t see a problem with treating my brother and me differently. After understanding this, I can let go of the expectation that “she will change,” because changing her mindset would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. With this new perspective, even though my grandma still favors my brother, I no longer feel unbalanced. I can still be genuinely happy.

In a nutshell, through exploring the Fang family’s relationships in the story, I’ve realized that an important takeaway is that if there are situations we cannot change, we can try to change our own approach or mindset. Even if the situation remains unpleasant, perhaps by adjusting our perspective, we can live more happily! This is the most profound insight I gained from reading The Family Fang.