A review by mitskacir
The Fortunes by Peter Ho Davies

5.0

As a mixed-race Asian-American, this is a very important book to me. It’s one of the only fiction books I’ve read that speaks so truly to how I feel, articulating many things that I’ve not been able to. Davies does not shy away from the paradoxes and contradictions of being Asian-American, of being mixed-race. I find the last story, Pearl, to be particularly powerful in this regard. What is culture and what is its importance? Is cultural connection necessary because of its use as a defense mechanism in a racist America, or is creating cultural connection for this purpose an act of racism in itself? How and why can we both love and hate ourselves, our parents, our friends, our country? In each story, Davies is able to create unique character voices, although Davies’ self deprecating humor, which is both insightful and painful, comes through in each. In short, a reflective and challenging read.