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A review by sophiareadswaytoomuch
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
This book is fantastic. I loved both the characters and the world they inhabit.
I read most of it in one sitting. It was a very fun, power fantasy type book. There is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief required, but for me, for this book, that was part of the appeal.
I personally enjoyed how the writing style contributed to the overall tone of the book. While the writing style is not perfect from a critic/technical standpoint (I’ve seen some people say the wiring is too poetic/flowery) it worked perfectly for me. The pacing was a little bit odd, but it worked for the story being told.
I actually loved how the heist storyline was resolved- getting caught (though the lowkey betrayal of Daniel’s dad was… heartbreaking); breaking into the Met; releasing all that information about shady museum practices. Incredible. So much fun.
I understand why it was not for some people: it’s a very ambitious book, and from the reviews I’ve read I think the marketing focus on the heist aspect left a few people disappointed. While this book is about a heist, it’s more about what the heist means for each character and their connections to each other and their shared and unique cultural heritage. As well as some fun heist moments.
I can’t express how much fun I had reading this book. I laughed, I cried, I contemplated existence. It might be a cliche, but I could tell every part of this book was written with love.
It was also an interesting view into Chinese culture, particularly the diaspora living in America, which I am not personally very familiar with. I enjoyed the unpacking of both cultural and heist stereotypes, and the diverse range of both characters and worldviews represented. I loved each character for different reasons- though sometimes their decisions stressed me out a fair bit. I loved all of their character arcs, and I felt like they each got a decent amount of ‘screen time’, especially for such a large main cast. All in all, an extremely fun and interesting debut novel. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.
I read most of it in one sitting. It was a very fun, power fantasy type book. There is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief required, but for me, for this book, that was part of the appeal.
I personally enjoyed how the writing style contributed to the overall tone of the book. While the writing style is not perfect from a critic/technical standpoint (I’ve seen some people say the wiring is too poetic/flowery) it worked perfectly for me. The pacing was a little bit odd, but it worked for the story being told.
I understand why it was not for some people: it’s a very ambitious book, and from the reviews I’ve read I think the marketing focus on the heist aspect left a few people disappointed. While this book is about a heist, it’s more about what the heist means for each character and their connections to each other and their shared and unique cultural heritage. As well as some fun heist moments.
I can’t express how much fun I had reading this book. I laughed, I cried, I contemplated existence. It might be a cliche, but I could tell every part of this book was written with love.
It was also an interesting view into Chinese culture, particularly the diaspora living in America, which I am not personally very familiar with. I enjoyed the unpacking of both cultural and heist stereotypes, and the diverse range of both characters and worldviews represented. I loved each character for different reasons- though sometimes their decisions stressed me out a fair bit. I loved all of their character arcs, and I felt like they each got a decent amount of ‘screen time’, especially for such a large main cast. All in all, an extremely fun and interesting debut novel. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Racism, and Colonisation