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A review by azrah786
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: racism, parent death, grief, alcohol
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I found this book quite slow to get through so I’m finding it hard to pinpoint my exact feelings on it but I did enjoy it!
The book follows a group of Asian American college students who join forces to steal back Chinese art from Western museums and I’m going to straight up say that you have to kind of dispel reality a little going in.
The heist action doesn’t have that big of a focus in the book which was definitely not what I was expecting but the overarching storyline still has a film-like quality to it.
What makes this book shine are the nuanced characterisations. Li’s prose is utterly compelling and beautifully narrates the multifaceted diaspora experience through each of the main characters. However, their individual musings also got quite repetitive which I think was a big reason why sometimes the book felt like stretch to get through.
Though I’ll admit the repetitiveness did help to emphasise the characters dreams and aspirations for themselves as well as the whimsiness of the whole situation too and I know all of their individual stories will stick with me for a long time.
Final Rating – 3.75 / 5 Stars
CW: racism, parent death, grief, alcohol
--
I found this book quite slow to get through so I’m finding it hard to pinpoint my exact feelings on it but I did enjoy it!
The book follows a group of Asian American college students who join forces to steal back Chinese art from Western museums and I’m going to straight up say that you have to kind of dispel reality a little going in.
The heist action doesn’t have that big of a focus in the book which was definitely not what I was expecting but the overarching storyline still has a film-like quality to it.
What makes this book shine are the nuanced characterisations. Li’s prose is utterly compelling and beautifully narrates the multifaceted diaspora experience through each of the main characters. However, their individual musings also got quite repetitive which I think was a big reason why sometimes the book felt like stretch to get through.
Though I’ll admit the repetitiveness did help to emphasise the characters dreams and aspirations for themselves as well as the whimsiness of the whole situation too and I know all of their individual stories will stick with me for a long time.
Final Rating – 3.75 / 5 Stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Grief, and Alcohol