One Woman's Deeply Personal Search for Answers, Meaning, Vocation

Susan Lieu’s mother was a force of nature. She, her husband, and two young sons survived five failed attempts to flee war-torn Vietnam before escaping to California in the 1980s. She eventually owned two successful nail salons, employing several family members who also lived in her home. She was definitely the matriarch of her clan. So when she died during elective surgery when Susan was 10, the family was lost, adrift for years. This book chronicles two decades of Susan’s search for answers, meaning, and vocation.

I appreciate how candid and vulnerable Ms. Lieu is in sharing her journey, both highs and lows. This was definitely a “window” story into the life of a fellow American that’s completely different from my own. The cover is so eye-catching and pays tribute to the meaningful title.

I highly recommend this be read via audiobook. It’s skillfully narrated by the author who shares many phrases and sentences in lyrical Vietnamese. I can’t imagine it being nearly as meaningful read in print

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for access to the audiobook.