Everything I Never Told You: A Novel - Celeste Ng

Celeste Ng, brings to light the plight and joys (less Jo of being an Asian in America from as early as the 50s - the 70s/80s. Things you would have never thought, are brought into our attention. These are not uncommon feelings, experiences, and not felt by only Asians. Any immigrant moving to a place which they are the only ones, is what this book is about. Any person who tried to fit in, and not stand out. Any person who did not like their own very alien or different physical attributes.

This books is an intellectual, and emotional journey through the lives of a Chinese-American man, and an American woman and their family. The tagline at the back of the book is such: "Lydia is dead but they don't know this yet." So begins this delicate novel about the Chinese American family living in the 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia's body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos."

One of the things I loved about this book was that it was set in Ohio. A place I live in currently, and am very familiar with. Ohio in the 60s, and 70s, is something I am not familiar with, although my father did go to Case in the late 1970s. I imagined some of it from what it would have been like for him; as a result this book hit close to home, if not home itself.

The book develops the characters so richly, and you feel them. You are them. It brought tears to my eyes, on multiple occasions.  I suggest not reading it while at the gym. This book is a great book for sitting at a cafe, or at a park on a sunny day. It helps to let the taste loll about in your mouth, and slowly swallow and digest it as some parts maybe heavy or grey. Another very deep, thought provoking, moving, and gripping book. It will often times remind you of your own family and its issues, and various family dynamics.

The book also focuses on grief, and how different people deal with the various stages of grief. It is not only grief that is looked at but also loss- loss of a life not lived, loss of love, loss of dreams. The pressures of being in an Asian, or Asian American family is explored. In some ways even something of teasing and bullying is exposed seemingly lightly touched on, but it is there staring you in the face.

Another book for those looking to go deeper. For those who want to see things from someone else's eyes. Those who want to empathize. This book is a ride that we may have experienced in some form, but not in the way Lydia and her family has.

Plot: 7/10
Entertainment: 6/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Thought Provoking: 9/10
Recommend: 8/10