Susie Luo

audio fiction (~8 hrs) multiple narrators relate a story that follows Tammy (growing up in aI Flushing basement apartment with Chinese immigrant parents "Tony"/Tongheng and "Kim" whose visas may not always be in order) and Oliver (a trust-fund law student in the building where Tony worked as a doorman, who becomes friends with 9 y.o. Tammy while giving her piano lessons, and who will eventually fall in love with her after she's grown up). Takes place between 1987 Dalian, China (when Tongheng show more meets the woman he'll marry and decides to go to the US to get ahead) and 2016 NYC.

The "violent act" mentioned in the blurb doesn't actually happen until the last 1/3 or so (there is an event at the start of the book which I guess could qualify, but it's nothing like what you'd expect), so the pace picks up at the very end, and I've got some mixed feelings about the abrupt ending, but overall this was pretty readable -- partly a love story between mentor and mentee (which I gather not everyone is a big fan of -- either because of the 17-year age difference, or because Oliver abandons the dog he just adopted in a fit of commitment-phobia, or because of the whole white Savior thing -- which, ok, that's a fair point that would definitely distract/detract), but also a story about a girl who grew up resenting her Chinese roots for the "otherness" that she perceived it represented. It's a story about presenting yourself as someone else in pursuit of being more socially acceptable--Tammy, who dislikes identifying as Chinese, and who agrees to marry Vincent, a man who looks good on paper but maybe isn't a great match given that he won't even eat anything as "adventurous" as Chipotle; and Oliver, whose parents have changed their surnames to avoid association with his infamous grandfather--in prison for fraud on a massive scale.

I did like how Tammy's perspective on her Chinese-Americanness and her relationship with her father evolved over the course of the story, and didn't mind the changing narrators/nonchronological flashbacks too much (it just meant I had to go back and check the chapter headings once in a while). The audio narration was fine (appreciate the Asian-American rep! Please continue to give these actors meaningful work), though Tammy's and Kip's voices were a bit of a stretch. Would read more from this author but not sure if I'd recommend this one. show less

I'm torn on this one. On one hand, it's a very moving account of a husband, wife and daughter - relocating from China to America. Learning the language, the customs and having to take tough, horrible jobs to earn money. It's the story of Tammy, the daughter, and how she grew up toeing the line to try to live up to all the sacrifices her parents made.

But there's also Oliver. He's a rich attorney with a secret. He bumps into their lives and never leaves. He's always in the background, helping show more in anyway he can.

The three POV - daughter, father, Oliver - open up the world to the differences they are all experiencing. It takes into account upbringing and generational trauma along with the differences with society of money and skin color.

It was hard in parts. And Oliver's initial intro and purpose gave me the ick. While I liked this one, I never felt good about Oliver. show less

Read this book on a cruise. The description had a few qualities that grabbed my attention: a story of striving immigrants ambitious to do well and New York, my favourite American setting.

Told through a rotating first person perspective, my favorite character was Tony. He starts his career as a professional engineer in China, comes to America, works as a doorman in a Manhattan building and then restarts his career in the technology field. His work ethic, ambition and drive were inspiring to show more read about.

The father / daughter dynamic between Tony and his daughter was also interesting. I wonder if the author drew inspiration from her own experience? show less

Paper Names is a beautiful story of a chinese immigrant who once dream of a better life in America for his wife and daughter. (Funny that one of his reason to fight and try to live in America is to get a refrigerator lmao) Its a multiple perspective of different life struggles and success as a chinese living the american dream. It was well written and the plot is okay. I love Tony's life quotes though. Its an inspiring story that really happens in real life. 3.5/5 Highly recommend this book.