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A review by nathaniacalaee
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
4.5
So what now… OH MY GOSH!! Celeste Ng is a genius. This book was one of the closest things you could get to perfection (even though I didn’t get those 5 star feels, but who knows maybe I’ll bump up my rating). I don’t know how she was able to flush out FIVE CHARACTERS in less than 300 pages and some authors— no hate— can’t do it in 500 😐 this book made me want to cry and scream and yell and while I didn’t do those things (I was incredibly close), the thought alone is enough for me to know that this book was good especially since I still loved all the characters through it all. This book is a perfect example of the lost lines and complications with communication…
(SPOILER TERRITORY-ish)
All of the characters communicated— for the most part— the things they wanted— Marilyn: to become a doctor + her daughter to succeed; James: to fit in + have his children fit in; Nath: to feel accepted by his father + to leave his family; Hannah: to feel seen + wanted; and Lydia: make her parents happy. Yet somehow, this wasn’t enough! Every one of the characters could understand what the other felt (besides poor Hannah…), yet the still could not understand each other. There was a complication they couldn’t get over due to their selfishness (but can we even call it that? Isn’t it just their basic human qualities?) I don’t even want to get into this anymore because I could go on and on and on
Anyway, the powerful message about communication and dynamics and relationships between family members was interesting and the writing was exceptional and exquisite (yes I am going to be pretentious about it), yet simple and easy to understand! I loved this book and everyone needs to read it!
… now I need to go tell my family how much I love them (but is that even enough?! I can communicate but will they interpret what I mean correctly? How will they know unless I talk? But that leads to conversations I don’t want to explore? So do I just leave it or do I say something? But it’s not important because saying “i love you” should be enough? Right?)
Yeah… those are the type of questions this book posed.
Safe to say this is a great book 🫶🏾 (sorry for the rambling and if this makes no sense… mind your business 🤪🥰😘)
(SPOILER TERRITORY-ish)
All of the characters communicated— for the most part— the things they wanted— Marilyn: to become a doctor + her daughter to succeed; James: to fit in + have his children fit in; Nath: to feel accepted by his father + to leave his family; Hannah: to feel seen + wanted; and Lydia: make her parents happy. Yet somehow, this wasn’t enough! Every one of the characters could understand what the other felt (besides poor Hannah…), yet the still could not understand each other. There was a complication they couldn’t get over due to their selfishness (but can we even call it that? Isn’t it just their basic human qualities?) I don’t even want to get into this anymore because I could go on and on and on
Anyway, the powerful message about communication and dynamics and relationships between family members was interesting and the writing was exceptional and exquisite (yes I am going to be pretentious about it), yet simple and easy to understand! I loved this book and everyone needs to read it!
… now I need to go tell my family how much I love them (but is that even enough?! I can communicate but will they interpret what I mean correctly? How will they know unless I talk? But that leads to conversations I don’t want to explore? So do I just leave it or do I say something? But it’s not important because saying “i love you” should be enough? Right?)
Yeah… those are the type of questions this book posed.
Safe to say this is a great book 🫶🏾 (sorry for the rambling and if this makes no sense… mind your business 🤪🥰😘)