Everything I Never Told You

EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU BY: CELESTE NG I first read, "Everything I Never Told You," when it was first published in 2014. I wanted to re-read it to see if it still was worthy of the five stars that I had rated it back then and it was. I have read "Little Fires Everywhere," and watched its miniseries produced by Hulu. In both novels Celeste Ng captures beautifully dysfunctional family dynamics. I loved both books and I would encourage you to watch the miniseries of "Little Fires Everywhere," because it is excellent and varies a little from the book. The acting is incredible. In both novels Celeste Ng explores how parents expectations of their children is the catalyst for a tragic outcome that they never expected. Also, in both novels that unexpected heartbreak is told to the reader in the very beginning. Since this is a review for "Everything I Never Told You," I will focus on that one. The setting is during the 1970's which makes, "Everything I Never Told You," a historical novel, but I still think that the themes within that are so expertly explored are still relevant today. Celeste Ng crafted a realistic depiction of the discrimination that Asian Americans still face today. This novel in my humble opinion is even more heartbreaking because the beginning lines tell the story of every parents' worst nightmare. The title is pitch perfect for what ensues during flashbacks of how the Chinese American family of the Lee's ended up in the incredibly sad position that they now face. It is not a spoiler to say that the beginning sentence tells that the middle child of three in this family is dead. The reason why I have included it in this review is because it is stated in the synopsis of this novel. Over the course of reading you will discover how this happened. Was it murder? By reading you will easily figure out what happened to Lydia. This one remains my favorite perhaps because of how it does a great job of the character development and the question of what if? You will not be disappointed in this deep dive of how it examines the cost of weighing what can result if you want a better life for your child and you pick a favorite child who you want to do and have all of the things that you didn't have. Is being the favorite more helpful or harmful to the child who you as a parent pin all of your hopes and dreams that you in your own life didn't achieve? If only? It is a question that will haunt you as you read this UNFORGETTABLE, but realistic story that centers on one family's struggles to reconcile one of life's toughest consequences. It did affect me just as powerfully as the first time I read it and I would rate it Five sparkling and bright stars and it is absolutely perfectly written. I wouldn't change a thing. Highly, Highly Recommended!

SPOILER ALERT!!! I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the beginning and it kept my interest all the way through. Celeste Ng writes beautifully and I am excited to read more from her. Like many reviewers pointed out this isn't an uplifting book (I didnt get the idea it would be), the author does get a little over the top with some of the plot points, but I think that actually works to magnify (what i believe) the extreme individual motivations of the parents James and Marilyn. Clearly this isn't a whodunnit mystery I think the superficial first layer of the book is to find out why Lydia died, but after we delve into who Lydia was alive, and who her siblings are, we get to the crux of the novel-- who the parents are-- because this is really all about them-- and this is why I really thought Ng really shone. I loved the way she let exposed the personalities of the parents, let it unravel slowly until we really see how this all ties in . Also, I don't think this novel is about race. (whether or not in Ohio in the 50's or 70's or whenever the kind of racisim could happen-is not the question) This novel is about perceptions and misperceptions. It's about what happens when you have a distorted and one dimensional viewpoint-- that such a 'chip on the shoulder' perspective-- can distort your personality. Here, it's through the distorted lens of James who views every experience and event in his life as a by product of his Chinese background--through Marilyn, a woman raised in the 50's, and see's her experiences as the inevitable product of sexist times. Other reviewers have pointed out that James and Marilyn are a little too exaggerated, but I disagree, I think they are self-involved -- so much so that their kids are direct extensions of themselves and therefore they play out their personalities in them. Long after James left his childhood behind-- after Harvard, after getting married, after having children, he continues to view his experiences (and now his kid's) lives through his warped lens, and in trying to get his son to have a different life-- actually creates the very same traits in him-- now Nathan bleieves he's being ridiculed when it doesnt happen much like James continues to believe. (certianly i'm not denying the racism he encountered-- but the author takes pains to show many (if not most) of his interactions James would assume racist overtones when there was no evidence of it -- ex. interactions with Fiske, and his assistant) Marilyn believes her ambition of being a doctor was thwarted by external forces-- she doesn't take repsonsibility for her own choices and in fact makes incredibly selfish decisions that would have a catastrophic effect (she could have realized those ambitions, she chose not to). The interesting point here is that Lydia's death exposes these incredibly narcissistic parents. They have no clue or empathy beyond themselves, neither of them really communicate or know each other or their children-- or seem to care to know them. Both of these educated and brilliant parents are clueless, and believe they are unselfishly motivated to give their children better lives. and each one defines this "better life" by what each parent wants for themselves and what would make THEM happy, and not what actually makes the kids happy. It's interesting that the child with the most empathy and intelligence and with (the most) objective point of view, was the youngest child, who James and Marilyn (and even the siblings) barely paid any attention to (and perhaps that's the point) was the most well adjusted. I agree with one of the reviewers that said we are not supposed to like John and Marilyn. Who could? I do think that the way Ng peels back the layers to reveal their personalities is brilliant. I especially liked the ending-- there is no poignant revelation, no redemption, not even the epiphany of realizing what really happened to their family-- just a vague, amorphous general feeling- they pretty much remained clueless, (which is why i believe many people found this depressing) -- I found it to be well done because it was far more credible and authentic.

Une lecture qui fait réfléchir,en particulier sur le poids que font peser les attentes des parents sur leurs enfants , sur la notion d'amour désintéressé - ou pas tant que ça... De plus la narration est extrêmement bien menée et vous tient en haleine. Toutes les qualités, donc : l'intelligence et l'intrigue bien menée , ce qui est rare.

This is a beautifully sad piece of writing. Upon finishing it, I felt a need to just reflect on life and ask myself a few questions. It truly stirred me within. There is a great deal within the pages of this book for people from all sorts of backgrounds and circumstances to relate to. So much humanity.

Ela tem um jeito muito envolvente de descrever cada personagem e cada situação. Uma visão única sobre nossos pensamento diários e situações cotidianas. Virei fã!!!

Te mantiene enganchado hasta el final, me gustó

I liked the way and order in which the story was revealed, intriguing! The writing was simple, not as in boring (at all), but more in a realistic way, and easy to relate to (altho bilingual, French is my first language, so if the writing is too poetic or "decorative", it can get confusing). Characters were lovable, but also had flaws, which is something I appreciate in novels. I look forward to another book from Ng!