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pinesandpages 's review for:

Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
4.0

Torn between 4 and 5 stars for this one. I love lyrical, flowery writing which contrasted interestingly with the heist plot. It was beautifully written. The premise was so intriguing (although admittedly implausible). I live in Boston so enjoyed reading glimpses of the city.

I am not Chinese American nor an immigrant so it was very interesting learning more about how each protagonist thought about their family's histories and the disapora. I loved the discussions of colonialism and the role museums play in continuing to maintain it.

The romance was an unexpected addition, and while I am a firm romance-lover, I didn't think it was necessary.