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A review by nini23
The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau
lighthearted
3.0
I've been curious about Jackie Lau's books for awhile (especially the one with a man eating a durian on the cover!), this is my first test run.
What I like about her book:-
• Asian characters are in unconventional careers like stand-up comedian and acting (for those who say that Roger Kwok seems based off Simi Liu & Melvin the stocky sidekick resembles Andrew Phung, I agree)
• Toronto setting
• bisexual rep
• childfree woman who has thought over her choices in a logical manner (she had to be de facto parent to her younger siblings) and thinks to herself having children for the purpose of having someone look after you in old age is selfish. For those who don't know, that's a common bingo levelled at childfree women. She communicates her CF choice early and clearly to a potential life partner. That's a lot more thought and planning than those who breed mindlessly.
• responsible eldest sister archetype who does all the organizing and caring but who looks after her? The talk with her family about how she feels was cathartic, the response realistic (dad, sister and brother came over to apologize later but not mom)
• Melvin's Po Po is a hoot
• the Chinese wedding banquet food, jook, polo bao, karaoke, soju bar, matcha tiramisu etc
• the couple's talking with plush toys, très cute
I never quite took to Melvin maybe because I know people like him who make insensitive brash 'jokes' that may inadvertantly cause offense/pain. His stand-up routine wasn't quite funny either. I did soften a bit against him with his insomnia, spiraling thoughts and depression. But maybe it's true that 'loud' people are the most insecure internally.
[As an aside, I recently watched
Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (transl. Where Have We Lost Ourselves?), a Hindi movie that involves a young stand-up comedian with a devastating secret, had me chuckling and bawling].
It's a fast, easy read. I may check out Lau's latest books the Chu Restaurant series.
What I like about her book:-
• Asian characters are in unconventional careers like stand-up comedian and acting (for those who say that Roger Kwok seems based off Simi Liu & Melvin the stocky sidekick resembles Andrew Phung, I agree)
• Toronto setting
• bisexual rep
• childfree woman who has thought over her choices in a logical manner (she had to be de facto parent to her younger siblings) and thinks to herself having children for the purpose of having someone look after you in old age is selfish. For those who don't know, that's a common bingo levelled at childfree women. She communicates her CF choice early and clearly to a potential life partner. That's a lot more thought and planning than those who breed mindlessly.
• responsible eldest sister archetype who does all the organizing and caring but who looks after her? The talk with her family about how she feels was cathartic, the response realistic (dad, sister and brother came over to apologize later but not mom)
• Melvin's Po Po is a hoot
• the Chinese wedding banquet food, jook, polo bao, karaoke, soju bar, matcha tiramisu etc
• the couple's talking with plush toys, très cute
I never quite took to Melvin maybe because I know people like him who make insensitive brash 'jokes' that may inadvertantly cause offense/pain. His stand-up routine wasn't quite funny either. I did soften a bit against him with his insomnia, spiraling thoughts and depression. But maybe it's true that 'loud' people are the most insecure internally.
[As an aside, I recently watched
Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (transl. Where Have We Lost Ourselves?), a Hindi movie that involves a young stand-up comedian with a devastating secret, had me chuckling and bawling].
It's a fast, easy read. I may check out Lau's latest books the Chu Restaurant series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting and Mental illness