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Note: This review is for an unpublished manuscript
Lin unfurls an exquisite story of life and love in this gripping memoir as he sifts through the memories of his coming-of-age in the 1980s American Southwest. Born to Chinese immigrant parents, Richard spent his childhood enduring racial taunts at school and his father’s harsh discipline at home. When Lesley, the lovely new girl in town, walks into Richard’s life, things seem to improve. But true love is hard to come by.
With extraordinary candor and wit, Lin vividly details his parents’ occasional fights and the strict discipline at home while charting both the highs and lows of his teenage years. A candid, brutally honest first-person narrative creates intimacy, capturing Lin’s innermost world, and readers will find themselves immersed in his boyhood shenanigans. In recounting his epic story of love, he evokes poignant emotions through careful, occasionally witty prose.
Lin’s strength lies in his ability to delve into the bleak parts of his youth without veering into melodrama (he remains unusually considerate of his parents’ flaws). Combined with his remarkable storytelling, this approach keeps the reader thoroughly engaged. A thoughtful personal reflection, this un-put-downable, satisfying story about young love, racism, and social prejudices is easy to fall for.
***
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