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samnite 's review for:
Portrait of a Thief
by Grace D. Li
When I watched Crazy Rich Asians, I remember thinking "I love everything about this except that it inexplicably isn't a heist movie." Suffice to say, I'm an easy mark for Portrait of a Thief.
Does the pacing slack a little in the middle? Sure. Is the descriptive writing occasionally repetitive (particularly in romantic moments)? Absolutely. But this book packs enough surprises and delights to recommend without reservation.
While the heist setpieces are maybe not quite as intricate and thrilling as those in the movies the characters name-check, there are plenty of unexpected twists and reversals. Where the book really shines, though, is in its memorable characters, who Li uses to explore different perspectives on the Chinese-American experience. It makes for a richer, more nuanced portrait (insert obligatory "Portrait of Thieves" joke here) than one might expect from a popcorn novel.
I hope the Netflix movie does it justice!
Does the pacing slack a little in the middle? Sure. Is the descriptive writing occasionally repetitive (particularly in romantic moments)? Absolutely. But this book packs enough surprises and delights to recommend without reservation.
While the heist setpieces are maybe not quite as intricate and thrilling as those in the movies the characters name-check, there are plenty of unexpected twists and reversals. Where the book really shines, though, is in its memorable characters, who Li uses to explore different perspectives on the Chinese-American experience. It makes for a richer, more nuanced portrait (insert obligatory "Portrait of Thieves" joke here) than one might expect from a popcorn novel.
I hope the Netflix movie does it justice!