Book Review- Jade Chang's The Wangs vs. the World

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an advanced copy of Jade Chang's novel, The Wangs vs. the World, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Charles Wang's life is imploding. The immense fortune from his cosmetics empire, a business that he built from the ground up when he immigrated from China, is gone. Due to bad investments, his business, his cars, house, and most of his savings are gone. Charles must break the news to his three children, all of whom were born in America and who have never known poverty. 

His fashionista, youngest daughter, Grace, is pulled out of her private boarding school. Andrew, his son who has aspirations of being a comedian, is forced to drop out of college. Charles takes his spoiled wife, Barbra and his kids, on a cross-country road trip, to the home of his eldest daughter, Saina. Saina, an artist in New York, is the only family member with assets. Unbeknownst to his family, Charles has a grander scheme of returning to China to reclaim his family ancestral land that was lost during the Cultural Revolution. 

LIKE-  Chang has written a modern day The Grapes of Wrath. I love Steinbeck and his masterpiece is one of my favorite classic novels, so I do not give this praise lightly. The similarities are not just a journey story, but more in the way that Chang focuses on the impact this new circumstance has on each of her characters, how they both bond together. and have their private revelations. The theme is change, in all of its forms.

Wangs vs. the World has a slow build and like peeling back the layers of an onion, Chang slowly reveals the layers. After the first third of the story, I was completely captivated by these characters, especially Charles, who has seemingly lost everything, but keeps pushing forward. Charles is a bold contrast to his children, who also have big dreams, but are unsure of themselves. Their sudden change in circumstance makes them question their ambitions, rather than take notice of their father, a self-made man. What's interesting about Charles, is when he has lost what he has built, he looks towards reclaiming the land that his family has lost, which seems like a far more difficult goal than rebuilding his business. Maybe that's the point; Charles reaching for the sky. Chang has filled her story with complex characters, who are struggling to find a course for their lives, as they deal with family, cultural, and economic issues. 

I think it's fairly obvious that a major theme of the story would be Charles realizing that despite his wealth, he is a lucky man for his family. However, Chang doesn't write such an trite story. The Wangs have their differences and normal family misunderstandings, but this is never a family that lacks love or takes each other for granted. The kids are not simply spoiled rich kids and Charles is not the hardworking businessman who sacrifices his family to build a business. The bonds run deep in the Wang family.

Chang lightens the mood with a frequent dose of humor, often due to an awkward or uncomfortable situation. The story heads in unexpected and kind of zany directions. I never knew where Chang was going to take her story next, which is a huge part of the charm. 

DISLIKE- I didn't  immediately get into the story, it took about a hundred pages to hook me. The characters take awhile to grow on me. If I hadn't been given an advanced copy, I'm not sure that I would have stuck with it. I'm glad I did though.

RECOMMEND- Yes. Chang is an immense talent. The Wangs vs. The World is an epic ride with a lot of heart. I found Charles, with his plucky spirit to be inspirational. 

Book Review- Paul Theroux's Deep South

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an advanced copy of Paul Theroux's Deep South, in exchange for an honest review. 

PLOT- Having spent his career traveling to far-flung corners of the world, travel writer, Paul Theroux, decides to focus his latest book on the American south. Deep South covers Theroux's years-spanning/multiple-trips to many cities in the south, where he meet residents and immerses himself in southern culture.

LIKE - Paul Theroux does not leave stones unturned, nor does he shy from controversial subjects. As a Californian, reading Deep South from the comfort of my living room, I often felt very uneasy for the situations that Theroux puts himself in, however, had he not, this book wouldn't have packed the same punch. Theroux goes to churches, gun shows, farms, impoverished towns; often crossing the perceptible racial divide, and always aware of his outsider status being a northerner. 

Deep South was an eye-opener. Theroux's research is current, having taken place in the last few years, and he discovered that integration is still a major problem; including towns with school districts that have unofficially kept segregation alive, by sending their children to separate schools to keep with "tradition". As a Los Angeles native, this is crazy to me. 

I was shocked by the level of poverty. Theroux, having experience in third-world countries, thought that many areas of the south, were worse off than what he had experienced in Africa. I like how he highlighted individuals who are working hard to make a difference in their communities, giving their plight a sense of hope. If he hadn't included these people, the problems would have felt insurmountable. There are many communities in dire need. 

On a more fun-fact note, I learned that there are many Indian motel owners in the South, and that seventy percent of all Indian motel owners have the last name Patel. Even crazier, one-third of all independent motel owners in the United States, are named Patel. How's that for a factoid? 

I enjoyed Theroux literary references. Deep South is sprinkled with mention of southern writers, and he includes a whole chapter on Faulkner. These are a reminder of the strong literary tradition in the south. Theroux also strings southern cuisine and music as themes through his book, themes that bind the people of the region.

DISLIKE- Deep South is long. It's repetitive in content. It seems like Theroux attends a billion gun shows, all with the same result. I think he could have been more selective with what was included, yet still have maintained the importance and impact of Deep South. Also, occasionally his tone towards a subject is off-putting and unnecessary. 

RECOMMEND- Yes!!! Deep South was both affecting and rattling. It definitely shook me with regard to poverty and equality in my own country. This isn't to say that Theroux only focuses on the negative aspects of the South, he also writes about the beauty of both the people and the landscape.