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A review by mikolee
A Free Life by Ha Jin
2.0
Interesting melancholy novel based on a Chinese family who must adapt to life in America following the massacre at Tianamen square. Dad Nan goes from being a student poet to small restaurant owner in Georgia. Constantly artistically frustrated and pining for his lost love. Mom Pingping is the classic suffering, frugal, hardworking lovelorn wife. Son Taotao is sort of a stereotyped somewhat selfish kid trying to adjust to two different cultural experiences.
The writing is fine and the novel has been celebrated. I listened to the audiobook whose speaker does the lead Nan's voice and accent perfectly. The women characters and particularly the white southern ones are hard to listen to.
The overall moody sad melodramatic feel was disappointing and not what I expected. And I think upon reflection that the number of stereotypes was disturbing to me - the hardworking fobs, the suffering, frugal wife, the repressed gay husband, the tiger mama, the frustrated artist, the whining teen in between.
The writing is fine and the novel has been celebrated. I listened to the audiobook whose speaker does the lead Nan's voice and accent perfectly. The women characters and particularly the white southern ones are hard to listen to.
The overall moody sad melodramatic feel was disappointing and not what I expected. And I think upon reflection that the number of stereotypes was disturbing to me - the hardworking fobs, the suffering, frugal wife, the repressed gay husband, the tiger mama, the frustrated artist, the whining teen in between.