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kblincoln 's review for:
Good Fortune
by C.K. Chau
Jane Austen remakes in modern Asian families is one of my sweet spots (see Sonali Dev's Pride, Prejudice & Other Flavors as well). Chau's version is the contrast between working class American-born Chinese and rich Hong Kong Chinese real estate developers.
Elizabeth Chen, or LB, graduated college but now is in endless job-search mode. Meanwhile she's still helping at the family restaurant and trying to rein in her wilder younger sisters, especially Lydia.
When her real estate mother sells the community rec center to Hong Kong rich Chinese, she is forced to rub elbows with elite folks who may not see the value of the community center other than in dollar signs.
The best part of an Austen remake is hitting all the familiar signposts, well loved phrases, particular scenes, but examining them from the new angle of the modern setting. This book does both marvelously. We've got all the necessary Austen beats down to LB's father washing his hands of Lydia when she gets the chance to go to the Jersey Shore, and Catherine coming to confront LB with pictures from a charity ball of her and Darcy and reminding her of her unsuitability.
Even the interim director (stand in for the Rector) who steals away LB's best friend Charlotte hits the Austen sweet spot.
Meanwhile, we get the tensions between immigrant and third culture rich kids, as well as some interesting tensions about second generation kids and the heavy expectations that lay upon them.
I would definitely follow this writer into more books.
Elizabeth Chen, or LB, graduated college but now is in endless job-search mode. Meanwhile she's still helping at the family restaurant and trying to rein in her wilder younger sisters, especially Lydia.
When her real estate mother sells the community rec center to Hong Kong rich Chinese, she is forced to rub elbows with elite folks who may not see the value of the community center other than in dollar signs.
The best part of an Austen remake is hitting all the familiar signposts, well loved phrases, particular scenes, but examining them from the new angle of the modern setting. This book does both marvelously. We've got all the necessary Austen beats down to LB's father washing his hands of Lydia when she gets the chance to go to the Jersey Shore, and Catherine coming to confront LB with pictures from a charity ball of her and Darcy and reminding her of her unsuitability.
Even the interim director (stand in for the Rector) who steals away LB's best friend Charlotte hits the Austen sweet spot.
Meanwhile, we get the tensions between immigrant and third culture rich kids, as well as some interesting tensions about second generation kids and the heavy expectations that lay upon them.
I would definitely follow this writer into more books.