A review by aprilyang1
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I liked a couple things about this book, but I disliked a lot more. The concept was great with the heist and stealing back art that was originally stolen. I loved that. The topics about diaspora, museums contributing to the trafficking of stolen art, struggles children of immigrants go through and all that were interesting. But, there was no depth. The story was shallow with no real details or characterization. Each character was so interchangeable they all were essentially the same person if you took away the external details or situations that made them different. It didn’t help that the writing was so… repetitive and unnecessary. The amount of times the word “sky”, “Durham”, and “wind” repeated itself made me want to cry. The characters all seemed to suddenly remember how the wind felt or how the sky looked when they did the most mundane thing. I couldn’t forget that they went to China two months ago or how the cold November nights felt even if I wanted to because they wouldn’t let me.

This book was also less about the heists and more about the struggles of the characters. I mean, listen, as a child of immigrants myself I get it. I understand almost every struggle the characters voiced. I understand the struggle of choosing a career that’s worth what your parents went through, feeling not good enough for either country you identify with, and even wanting to be great at everything because you have the privilege your ancestors couldn’t even imagine, but really? The reason you’re going to risk going to jail for robbing these museums is because you want a change? because you’re bored with life? It just doesn’t feel like it is a strong enough reason or even a good reason. 

I could really go on and on about little things I didn’t understand or things I didn’t like (like why was Daniel even needed for his nimble lock-picking abilities if he was going to use a bat to break the glass case open..?), but we might be here forever. I mean, like I said, the concept of the book is amazing and the conversations between Daniel and his dad tugged on my heartstrings, but overall… I can’t say I enjoyed this book. I liked the second heist, but nothing before or after. That being said, I’m rating this a 1.5 out of 5 stars. the .5 for the concept & the less than 10 pages I enjoyed.