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ambershelf 's review for:
Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant
by Curtis Chin
Following his time growing up as a gay Chinese-American kid in 1980s Detroit, Chin reflects on coming of age in a volatile place, his experience with anti-Asian racism, the tightknit multigenerational family dynamic, his not-so-brief adventure as a young Republican, and his ultimate embrace of his sexuality & identity.
As with most memoirs, Chin's experiences with racism at a young age, particularly at the crossroads of being a closeted gay boy, were heartbreaking to hear. But I appreciate that EIL isn't just a memoir of trauma and grief. With witty and sometimes self-deprecating humor, Chin balances the melodrama with lighter notes of coming of age. I loved hearing Chin talk about helping out in his family-run Chinese restaurant, where the constant references to all the delicious food had me drooling.
EIL sometimes reads more like a scattered commentary and less like a memoir. Similarly, Chin's inclusion of a wide range of topics in EIL means that not all issues are explored deeply. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with EIL and reading about Chin's profound love for his community.
As with most memoirs, Chin's experiences with racism at a young age, particularly at the crossroads of being a closeted gay boy, were heartbreaking to hear. But I appreciate that EIL isn't just a memoir of trauma and grief. With witty and sometimes self-deprecating humor, Chin balances the melodrama with lighter notes of coming of age. I loved hearing Chin talk about helping out in his family-run Chinese restaurant, where the constant references to all the delicious food had me drooling.
EIL sometimes reads more like a scattered commentary and less like a memoir. Similarly, Chin's inclusion of a wide range of topics in EIL means that not all issues are explored deeply. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with EIL and reading about Chin's profound love for his community.