Everything I Never Told You by Celeste NgMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
An incredibly compelling novel set in the late 1970's in small town Ohio and focusing on a Chinese American family of five. In the first paragraph, we find out that Lydia, the ‘favorite’ middle child, is dead. As the story progresses, we learn about each family member and their role / relationship to Lydia. Secrets are concealed but also revealed. Conversations and behaviors are filtered, hidden, and uncovered. The truth slowly unfolds.
Many social issues are covered in this book: the role of women in the society of the 1970s, stereotyping of immigrants, how race impacts each of the Lee family members, and how each of the three Lee children have been raised vastly differently.
The story is non-linear, jumping around in time from when the parents first meet to the present day (1977). Typically I don’t like non-linear storytelling, but this novel had me riveted. I finished this book three weeks ago and I’m still thinking about the story and the characters – a true sign that a book has touched me.
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