Scan barcode
A review by brice_mo
Why Didn't You Tell Me? by Carmen Rita Wong
3.0
This is a tricky book to review, and I was leaning towards two stars until the final third.
The central revelation—the ostensible reason the memoir was written—is the kind of life-defining challenge that is perfect for exploring in this medium, and once Carmen Rita Wong addresses it, the book kicks into high gear. She offers readers a fascinating reflection on identity, family, and her sense of emotional displacement. It's complex and heartfelt and engaging.
Unfortunately, the majority of the book feels untethered from its final act, and it's alternately confusing and slow, as if Wong was trying to retroactively narrativize personal history that rejects narrative. Furthermore, the epilogue contains another seismic shift in Wong's knowledge of her family history, but it doesn't get the time or attention it deserves. She notes that she learned the new information as the book was nearing its completion, but it's the kind of change that warranted a pause on the publication timeline so that Wong could reframe and revise earlier chapters.
Sadly, it seems that the book was pushed to publication, whether at Wong's discretion or the insistence of her publisher, and the end result is a muddled book with an incredible memoir buried at the end. Despite my critiques, I found myself really hoping for a follow-up that would further develop and complete the themes introduced in this book, and I'm excited to see what Carmen Rita Wong writes next.
The central revelation—the ostensible reason the memoir was written—is the kind of life-defining challenge that is perfect for exploring in this medium, and once Carmen Rita Wong addresses it, the book kicks into high gear. She offers readers a fascinating reflection on identity, family, and her sense of emotional displacement. It's complex and heartfelt and engaging.
Unfortunately, the majority of the book feels untethered from its final act, and it's alternately confusing and slow, as if Wong was trying to retroactively narrativize personal history that rejects narrative. Furthermore, the epilogue contains another seismic shift in Wong's knowledge of her family history, but it doesn't get the time or attention it deserves. She notes that she learned the new information as the book was nearing its completion, but it's the kind of change that warranted a pause on the publication timeline so that Wong could reframe and revise earlier chapters.
Sadly, it seems that the book was pushed to publication, whether at Wong's discretion or the insistence of her publisher, and the end result is a muddled book with an incredible memoir buried at the end. Despite my critiques, I found myself really hoping for a follow-up that would further develop and complete the themes introduced in this book, and I'm excited to see what Carmen Rita Wong writes next.