The Bookworm says... Maybe. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng was not a horrible book, but it was not amazing. The story of a 1970's Chinese American family, beginning with the death of their eldest daughter. But they don't know she's dead yet. From Marilyn and James's wedding, to Nath's birth, to Lydia's death, follow the Lee family through hardship and peril. Lydia, forced to conform to the dreams of her parents, a subject of parents living through their child. Nath, full of achievements yet pushed to the side in Lydia's wake. Hannah, overlooked and observant. And the whole Lee family, trying to make do as the only Chinese family in the whole of small town Ohio.
Plot wise, this book was alright. It developed much too slow for my liking, and I was left with chapter upon chapter of what felt like filler information. Not my favorite.
"Lydia is dead. But they don't know this yet."
I completely agree with your assessment, Abby. It started out pretty strong and then lost me. The themes -- Marilyn giving up her career and living through her daughter, the alienation of being the only Chinese family in the town, and Nath's experiences -- became very repetitive, and, for that reason, the book was a good 50 pages too long. I also didn't believe the characters' sudden epiphanies at the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leslie! I'm glad that you agree :)
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