Mambo In Chinatown by Jean Kwok – 384 pages
Book Blurb:
Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Wong grew up in New York’s Chinatown, the older daughter of a Beijing ballerina and a noodle maker. Though an ABC (America-born Chinese), Charlie’s entire world has been limited to this small area. Now grown, she lives in the same tiny apartment with her widower father and her eleven-year-old sister, and works—miserably—as a dishwasher. But when she lands a job as a receptionist at a ballroom dance studio, Charlie gains access to a world she hardly knew existed, and everything she once took to be certain turns upside down. Gradually, at the dance studio, awkward Charlie’s natural talents begin to emerge. With them, her perspective, expectations, and sense of self are transformed—something she must take great pains to hide from her father and his suspicion of all things Western. As Charlie blossoms, though, her sister becomes chronically ill. As Pa insists on treating his ailing child exclusively with Eastern practices to no avail, Charlie is forced to try to reconcile her two selves and her two worlds—Eastern and Western, old world and new—to rescue her little sister without sacrificing her newfound confidence and identity.
My Review: 3.5 stars
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This was a highly anticipated read for me as I really enjoyed Kwok’s earlier book, Girl In Translation. Perhaps my standards were set too high, as it’s hard not to compare the two. This story revolves around Charlie Wong and her ‘ugly duckling turns into a swan’ story. It’s a wonderful premise but unbelievable that the transformation can happen as quickly as it did. Still, as readers, we can suspend reality and believe in this fairytale of a dowdy dishwasher to a professional dancer, right? I did enjoy the tales of Eastern vs. Western medicine, the intricacies of living in Chinatown, the forbidden romance and the dancing. I’m dumbfounded however, that the author would discount the reader’s smarts about what was happening to the younger sister, Lisa. It was obvious from the start and I found it annoying that it took so long to come to a conclusion in the book. I would suggest this as a great beach read or lighter read for fans of women’s fiction.
Quotes I Liked:
It is when you become one with your body and soul, that is when you will be whole. That is beauty.”
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