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

Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.

Very repetitive writing...lots of "slow smiles" and repeatedly mentioning they are in a "Beijing penthouse"...I'd like the author to assume that I can remember that they are in a Beijing penthouse from one paragraph to another. Many reminders that they are in Beijing, even when not in the penthouse. Marble columns, the marble pedestals, cool marble, noticing marble, white veined marble. Golden light. Harvard. The future ahead of them. All repeated. Hesitation. Street racing. 

I love the idea of retrieving art stolen and displayed in European and American museums. I also love the idea of an exploration of Chinese immigrant and first generation Chinese American experiences. 

Unfortunately I could not get past the writing. The author is going for deep, descriptive writing but falls flat for me.