THE FAMILY CHAO by Lan Samantha Chang - Review & Giveaway

 

Leo "Big" Chao and his wife, Winnie opened their Americanized Chinese food restaurant thirty-five years ago in the small town of Haven, Wisconsin. Leo and Winnie have three sons Dagou, Ming and James in Lan Samantha Chang's new novel, THE FAMILY CHAO (WWNorton). Over the years there have been many changes in the family. Leo is hated by everyone in town for being a narcissist and capitalist who takes great pleasure in screwing people over. He has embraced the promise of American achievement, while exploiting his sons and wife's labor. Winnie has enough so she leaves Leo and becomes a nun at the Spiritual House. Leo's shocked Winnie leaves but he has been having so many affairs it's amazing she hasn't left sooner.

Dagou and his father hate the other, but they're very much alike. Dagou has an enhanced sexual appetite. He's been engaged to Katherine for ten years, while having an affair with Brenda. Ming has left Haven for the big city and his life is all about making money, which he's very good at. James is pre-med at college and trying to find his way in life. 

The family gathers for their yearly Christmas dinner, and it ends up like no other. Leo is found frozen in the restaurant freezer, authorities suspect murder and everyone is a suspect. But it's Dagou that the prosecutor arrests for his father's murder. 

Yes, a lot is going on, but Lan Samantha Chang's novel hits on many significant subjects. How a small town never fully accepts someone different. It's a study of the hardships, sacrifices and prejudices experienced by immigrants. It's a comedy and tragedy and each character has their own story of humor and suffering.

I found it clever and appreciated the inside jokes. THE FAMILY CHAO is called a modern day, BROTHERS KARAMASOV by Dostoesky, which I've never read, so we'll have to trust the PR notes.

It's a fun and unique murder mystery like you've never before.

Lan Samantha Chang is the author of a collection of short fiction, Hunger, and two novels, Inheritance, and All Is Forgotten, Nothing Is Lost.

Her work has been translated into nine languages and has been chosen twice for The Best American Short Stories. She has received creative writing fellowships from Stanford University, Princeton University, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

She is the Director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Thanks to W.W. Norton & Company we have one copy to giveaway. Just tell us what is the most engaging novel you've read so far this year. We'll announce a winner son. Good luck.

GIVEAWAY: USA only please.