A review by ramreadsagain
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I already knew this was very character-driven going into it but I still wasn’t prepared for just how little the “plot” mattered to the story. It follows five Chinese-American college students who are each dealing with their own complex feelings about their family origins. A mix of first and second generation immigrants, they each have a slightly different relationship with China and this book explores these sentiments and conflicts beautifully. It’s about feeling Chinese, feeling American, and feeling neither, all through the lens of art theft. It also deals with colonialism, art smuggling, growing up, family and friendships. 

While it is very slow paced, it has to be in order to give all five main characters enough growth. I loved how friendships (and more) developed between them throughout the book. A really good read. 
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