Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Alfred A. Knopf
DDC/MDS
| 813.54 |
Description
From the massively talented Gish Jen comes a barbed, moving, and stylistically dazzling new novel about the elusive nature of kinship. The Wongs describe themselves as a "half half" family, but the actual fractions are more complicated, given Carnegie's Chinese heritage, his wife Blondie's WASP background, and the various ethnic permutations of their adopted and biological children. Into this new American family comes a volatile new member.Her name is Lanlan. She is Carnegie's Mainland Chinese relative, a tough, surprisingly lovely survivor of the Cultural Revolution, who comes courtesy of Carnegie's mother's will. Is Lanlan a very good nanny, a heartless climber, or a posthumous gift from a formidable mother who never stopped wanting her son to marry a nice Chinese girl? Rich in insight, buoyed by humor, The Love Wife is a hugely satisfying work… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member autumnesf
I really enjoyed this book. It was full of hard topics and relationships - adopted children, interracial marriage, surprise bio child and a relative from China coming to live with this family in the US. Ending has a surprise twist that left me wanting more. Fiction. Worth the read for entertainment
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value. I'd like to read more by this author. Show Less
LibraryThing member akritz
A little difficult to follo at the beginning because every character "writes" their own story. I never really figured out why Blondie got married in the first place, but it was sad to see them seperate. The family dynamic was interesting if not a bit dry.
LibraryThing member MissMea
Excellent use of multiple point of view...the sporadic nature of the different characters is, at times, delightfully confusing but nevertheless refreshing and comforting...it completely drives the story. The ending was a shock...what a turn of events in the life of a mixed-breed Chinese American
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husband and his family! The reality of the way the teenage girls speak is hilarious because I remember saying some of the same things to my parents while growing up. It just goes to show you that ethnicity does not matter...we're all "American," as is Jen's reigning theme in her stories. The humor strewn throughout the narrative is appropriately comical and the character dialogue is very relatable for the subplots that occur throughout the story. I wish there was some type of continuation because *spoiler* [Blondie and Carnegie was still separated at the book's end, and I had to assume that Blondie was unaware of Lan's relation to Carnegie.] I felt very invested in the lives of these characters, and it actually took me some days to read to the end, for fear that their lives would end when I turn the last page. Highly recommended piece of literature...perfect for "literary readers." It will be frustrating and will not "click" with those who do not appreciate the individual elements of a story. A perfect admirable, accompanying read? Francine Prose's "Reading Like a Writer," with its specific chapters on words, sentences, paragraphs, and narration. Show Less
LibraryThing member earmespk
Read this if a completely ridiculous ending gives you satisfaction. The characters were a nasty sort and the book didn't do much as ambassador for the Chinese culture. Rude, obnoxious and sneaky being the dominant colors in this portrait. The author fell into writing for her teacher mode in more
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than one chapter. There are many, many excellent books out there if you want a great read. If you want something to pass the time while you travel and won't care if you lose the book: this is the one! Show Less
LibraryThing member heike6
I loved that it was told from 5 different perspectives and that it incorporated some Chinese culture, but that wasn't enough to actually make the book interesting. It was tedious. Man falls for nanny with a big twist at the end.
LibraryThing member Kristelh
I finished [Love Wife] and I was entertained, engaged. My feelings for the characters changed often. This is a story of mixed up family and kinship. Carnegie is Chinese but he is American and doesn’t know much of his history. His wife, labeled derogatorily by Carnegie’s mom as “Blondie” is
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sometimes more Chinese than he is but she is the outsider because she is not Chinese. Her daughter’s are rude to her, her husband doesn’t come to her aide, and Lan the Chinese woman brought over to be a nanny is out right an enemy to Blondie. I found it very interesting story. It was told in multiple voices of the family members in first person and the end parts of Lan did not help to improve my feelings toward her. Show Less
Subjects
Original publication date
2004
ISBN
1400042135 / 9781400042135