The Chinese Groove: A Novel

Synopsis

Longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates PrizeA New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceAn Amazon Editors' PickPeople, A Best Book of the YearFor readers of Less and The Wangs Vs. The World, a buoyant, good-hearted, and sharply written novel about a blithely optimistic immigrant with big dreams, dire prospects, and a fractured extended family in need of his help—even if they don't know it yetEighteen-year-old Shelley, born into a much-despised branch of the Zheng family in Yunnan Province and living in the shadow of his widowed father&’s grief, dreams of bigger things. Buoyed by an exuberant heart and his cousin Deng&’s tall tales about the United States, Shelley heads to San Francisco to claim his destiny, confident that any hurdles will be easily overcome by the awesome powers of the &“Chinese groove,&” a belief in the unspoken bonds between countrymen that transcend time and borders.Upon arrival, Shelley is dismayed to find that his &“rich uncle&” is in fact his unemployed second cousin once removed and that the grand guest room he&’d envisioned is but a scratchy sofa. The indefinite stay he&’d planned for? That has a firm two-week expiration date. Even worse, the loving family he hoped would embrace him is in shambles, shattered by a senseless tragedy that has cleaved the family in two. They want nothing to do with this youthful bounder who&’s barged into their lives. Ever the optimist, Shelley concocts a plan to resuscitate his American dream by insinuating himself into the family. And, who knows, maybe he&’ll even manage to bring them back together in the process.

Copyright:

2023

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9781640095670

Related ISBNs:

9781640095663

Publisher:

Catapult

Date of Addition:

12/12/23

Copyrighted By:

Kathryn Ma

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Literature and Fiction, Parenting and Family

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.