I found myself quickly entranced in this character driven novel where I did feel a bond with the main protagonist. She grew up in the 1930’s dreaming big but facing obstacles due to being a Chinese American in California. The Author shows how being different in any way made things a much bumpier road to travel, especially if it included being queer. It takes a meaningful look at how people that are different have to work so much harder to get places such as in Hollywood and really makes you contemplate how far we’ve come and how we still have work to do as a society. I absolutely loved this book.
*****
Growing up with her sister and working for their parents business, Luli Wei , a Chinese American is different but will eventually learn how different she really is. She aspires to be an actress after seeing Stars on screen and them dropping off clothing to her family’s laundromat. Nearby she gets lucky when a Filmmaker puts her in roles as a beggar for a few bucks as a kid. He promises to make her a Star when she turns 18.
But Luli finds out the lies that this Filmmaker is spewing, from a former star who is disfigured and was paid off to keep quiet. Luli uses this to her advantage to start her career early and certainly not as a beggar. Soon she realizes that playing the roles of a monster doesn’t compare to the monsters in the industry. The people that disappear, the people in power that can get away with anything. It makes her question everything she ever wanted and who she can trust.
*****
Growing up with her sister and working for their parents business, Luli Wei , a Chinese American is different but will eventually learn how different she really is. She aspires to be an actress after seeing Stars on screen and them dropping off clothing to her family’s laundromat. Nearby she gets lucky when a Filmmaker puts her in roles as a beggar for a few bucks as a kid. He promises to make her a Star when she turns 18.
But Luli finds out the lies that this Filmmaker is spewing, from a former star who is disfigured and was paid off to keep quiet. Luli uses this to her advantage to start her career early and certainly not as a beggar. Soon she realizes that playing the roles of a monster doesn’t compare to the monsters in the industry. The people that disappear, the people in power that can get away with anything. It makes her question everything she ever wanted and who she can trust.