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The Family Chao
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
26 posts | 25 read | 21 to read
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review
canbku
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

I'm really glad that I finally picked this up. I'd let my hold lapse again and again. Finally got it and read it as a print copy. It's really unique and I love the different voices that all have their individual character. It's confusing and figurative at times and fantastical and imaginative at others. I enjoyed it!

67 likes1 stack add
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cdreincarnate
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

I‘m going to have to sit with this one for a while before determining whether I really liked it. I think I did, but it‘s definitely intense. I‘m going to have to follow it up with something much lighter.

review
mjtwo
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

2-6 Oct 22 (audiobook)
Once finished, I read this is a reworking of a Dostoevsky novel. I have not read the original but can see his style in this. Well-written and seemingly authentic tale of the immigrant experience in small town USA, which is probably not so different from small town Australia. Racism and stereotypical tropes boil close to the surface, surfacing as soon as there is a hint of something amiss.
Another Obama recommendation.

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Floresj
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

Family saga with multiple points of view. Each character was definitely flawed, but I was intrigued with the family drama. It‘s a murder mystery and there‘s enough plausible solutions that it kept me guessing until the end!

17 likes3 stack adds
review
Megabooks
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

Was this a family drama? A literary mystery? A legal thriller? I‘m still not sure. Whatever way you slice the scallion, this was #GoodNotGreat.

Leo Chao owns a small-town Chinese restaurant. His oldest son wants to take over, but Leo thinks he‘s not up to par. His wife has become a religious zealot. Youngest son James ends up with a suitcase full of cash (don‘t ask). When that goes missing and Leo turns up dead, fingers are pointed at the family.

Ruthiella I really enjoyed this one too. 😃 2y
Cinfhen Hmmmmm, I think I‘ll pass for now! 2y
Megabooks @Ruthiella it was a like not love for me, but I‘m glad I read it. 👍🏻 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen you might enjoy it as a #BorrowNotBuy down the road. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤔 (edited) 2y
86 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
TracyReadsBooks
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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My daughter is graduating from high school today (and WOW where did the time go) and the family is gathering. Bonus for my mom who is a big reader—I‘m sending her home with a stack of books! The tagged one is one of my favorites in this stack. Also The Undocumented Americans, The Poison Thread, What Strange Paradise…ok, who am I kidding, I liked all of them! 😬

KristiAhlers I LOVED fifty words for Rain! 2y
LiteraryinLawrence Sharing books with family members is the best! 2y
Dragon Nice stack! 📚 💚🐉 2y
22 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Ruthiella
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

#Booked2022 “Make Your Own Prompt”

My prompt is “Modern takes on Classics”. The tagged is a reworking of The Brothers Karamazov (which I‘ve never read) set in the present day with three second generation American-Chinese brothers and their domineering father and long-suffering mother. It took a while to orient myself, but once I did, I was hooked. Family ties, secrets, lies, plus a murder! I‘m quite keen now to read the Dostoevsky original too!

Cinfhen Great idea!! You might see that prompt again next year 😁and glad to hear this book was a winner! 2y
Ruthiella @Cinfhen I‘m a sucker for this kind of book! 2y
57 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
PNWBookseller85
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

This was riveting and totally brilliant! It‘s a modern take on the Brothers Karamazov (which I didn‘t realize until it was referenced halfway through and then I had the hugest no duh moment - I‘ve read The Brothers Karamazov twice 😳) and it was just flawlessly executed. I can‘t praise it highly enough. So solid. I hope Lan Samantha Chang writes many many more books!

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Jilly6183
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

This book started slow but I enjoyed the family/community dynamics, and then bam! A dramatic punch to the face! And the rest played out slow again. I did like it, but I would have preferred slightly different pacing.

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traa
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

There was a great depth to how each member of the family perceived what it meant to be Chinese in America, and how their personalities shaped their choices to create this intriguing family history.

Linsy Love that bullet journal! 2y
1 like1 comment
review
bookandbedandtea
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Bailedbailed

It pains me to say it but I am not enjoying this. Back to the library it goes.

DivineDiana Nothing ventured; nothing gained. Wishing that your next choice will make your heart sing! ❤️ 2y
18 likes1 comment
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Hooked_on_books
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

This book looks closely at a family of two Chinese immigrant parents and their 3 adult Chinese-American sons as they gather at the family restaurant for Christmas. We start to see the cracks in the family and the complexity of the relationships as events unfold. I just loved this! I really look forward to reading more from this author.

47 likes2 stack adds
review
Blerdgal_Fenix
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
Pickpick

I am a little late with this review. This book started off slow and I wasn‘t sure how to feel about it. I will say the Father was one of the best characters. I think he gave an insight to life, immigration, assimilation, parenthood, and marriage. He was not suppose to be likeable but he stayed with me from his introduction till the end. I give the book 7.5/10. I should have done the audiobook version. #poc #family #traditions #food

review
TheKidUpstairs
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

Warning, this is going to be a bit vague and scattered!

I really liked this book, but for the life of me I can't figure out why. It was slow and a bit all over the place in both story and style. But I still just enjoyed meandering through it.

@Blerdgal_Fenix I'll try to put some more cohesive thoughts together for my next letter!

68 likes1 stack add
blurb
SkeletonKey
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Current audiobook for family book club. Not enjoying it much yet but I‘m pushing through.

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Sophronisba
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Leo bellows back. “You‘re younger—you don‘t know about that time of life. It starts in her fifties, when a woman dries up. She does and says whatever she wants.” James almost smiles. Menopause doesn‘t sound too bad, to hear his father tell it. “She drops womanhood like an old sock. There‘s no reason to please anybody anymore!”

I am 50, so I guess officially I'm offended but also: truth.

blurb
Blerdgal_Fenix
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Update: still recovering and have about another 10 more weeks to go. I am always tired. My legs are starting to look a little normal. I have been a bit of a hermit lately but I am@coming out of it. Here is Mortimer aka Alfredo - he says hi & drink water. 🐠

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Hope you feel better soon! ❤️‍🩹 2y
14 likes1 comment
blurb
Blerdgal_Fenix
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Okay — this book is a little slow. I am enjoying it. I think we could have sped up the timeline a little to get to the meat of the story. I think since the ground work is done maybe the fireworks will happen. Interesting take on immigrant parents vs first generation American children. #bipoc #familydysfunction #alf #brothers #food

TheKidUpstairs I'm feeling the same about this one. It's slow going, but I do like it. It's got a different feel to it, that I can't quite define. 2y
11 likes1 comment
blurb
TheKidUpstairs
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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@Blerdgal_Fenix - I've got a weakness for food magazines. I picked up March's Food and Wine yesterday, and there's a feature written by Lan Samanrha Chang!

LeahBergen I might have to pick this up, too! 2y
Blerdgal_Fenix Omg!! The pic looks tasty 2y
61 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Blerdgal_Fenix
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang

March buddy read! My #litsylove letters are going to be late. I was hit than pinned to a car on 2/27. So my letters are a little behind. Pain meds are good lol. I will be starting my buddy read with @TheKidUpstairs next week! Love & prayers needed. No broken bones but I am banged up pretty good.

TheKidUpstairs Oh no! Sending you healing vibes! 2y
Librarybelle Hope you feel better soon 2y
xicanti Oh no! I‘m so glad you weren‘t hurt worse. Here‘s hoping for a fast recovery. 2y
See All 9 Comments
Cupcake12 Oh no! Your letter arrived today. Hope you have a swift recovery, read lots and take care xxx 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Oh no!! I‘m so happy you are ok! 🙏🏻❤️ 2y
Liatrek Hope everything ok❤️ 2y
Kenyazero Oh no!! I‘m glad you‘re ok-ish! Wishing you a speedy and recovery. 2y
CoffeeNBooks Oh no!! That's so scary! Glad you are OK, and wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery! 2y
UwannaPublishme Oh my! So sorry to hear this! Sending prayers and healing hugs to you and hope you‘re feeling much better. ❤️ 2y
11 likes9 comments
review
TorieStorieS
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

Set in a small Wisconsin town, the three Chao brothers are home for the holidays. Their long-suffering mother has left to live in the spiritual house, escaping the larger-than-life (and often lewd) husband, Leo. He constantly berates & belittles his sons- but after a fateful Christmas party, secrets start to spill out. While none of the characters are always likable, it‘s an engaging and quite well-performed #audiobook. A real discussion-starter!

blurb
TracyReadsBooks
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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And that‘s a wrap…Finished All the Water I‘ve Seen is Running for book #28 in January. A good month of reading highlights of which include the return of Saga—I LOVE THIS COMIC SO MUCH—the tagged book, Lore Olympus (a Litsy Award Winner & deservedly so), Elder Race (an excellent, thought-provoking SF novella) and last but definitely not least, Three Girls from Bronzeville, a fascinating memoir about growing up on Chicago‘s South Side.

review
TracyReadsBooks
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Pickpick

So good! 💯 worth staying up late to finish this glorious, delectable family drama/comedy about a Chinese American family, their restaurant, the mysterious death of the family patriarch & the subsequent fallout for the three sons. Billed as a modern day Brothers Karamazov, this story is darkly comedic & shines a bright light on the undercurrents of life in a small town. Great characters (to love & hate), excellent story. Highly recommended.

PNWBookseller85 Loved it toooo!! 2y
25 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
TracyReadsBooks
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Am I going to stay up past my bedtime to finish this book because it‘s almost impossible to put down? Yes, yes I am.

20 likes2 stack adds
blurb
TracyReadsBooks
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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#WeekendReading

I have the house to myself—this never happens—and there is only one thing to do…chores!!! 😂 While reading some good books of course! I‘m currently reading the tagged book, and loving it so far, and hope to get to the other two in no particular order.

📖 The Family Chao
📖 Ballad & Dagger
📖 The Book Eaters

@Andrew65

Andrew65 Perfect for weekend reading. 2y
14 likes1 comment
blurb
TracyReadsBooks
The Family Chao | Lan Samantha Chang
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Went to visit my former co-workers at the bookstore and came home with a lot of new reading—ARCs on the left and in the middle, books they recommended on the right. Book people are awesome people!

DrexEdit Oooooo! Nice Haul! I‘ve been stalking that Cartographers book. Looking forward to publication day for that! 📚📚📚 2y
15 likes1 comment