≫ Download Mambo in Chinatown A Novel Jean Kwok 9781594632006 Books

Mambo in Chinatown A Novel Jean Kwok 9781594632006 Books

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Mambo in Chinatown A Novel Jean Kwok 9781594632006 Books

I wanted to read this book because I absolutely loved Kwok's earlier novel, Girl in Translation. Ultimately I think Girl in Translation is a better book, but this was still an enjoyable read. This book follows Charlie, a young woman with few opportunities, whose life is dramatically changed when she becomes a ballroom dancer. We see many of the elements of the Chinese immigrant community that were central to Kwok's earlier work, and I loved the setting in the dance world. Charlie, much like the protagonist in Girl in Translation, rises from very little to prominence, though in this book we see more of the transformation, whereas Girl in Translation is more about the struggle. Overall, this is a fun read. The story and Charlie's character drew me in immediately. I look forward to more books from Kwok.


Tags : Mambo in Chinatown: A Novel [Jean Kwok] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <b>From the bestselling author of Girl in Translation</i>, a novel about a young woman torn between her family duties in Chinatown and her escape into the world of ballroom dancing.</b> Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Wong grew up in New York’s Chinatown,Jean Kwok,Mambo in Chinatown: A Novel,Riverhead Books,1594632006,Asian American,Contemporary Women,Ballroom dancers,Ballroom dancers;Fiction.,Chinese American women,Chinese American women;Fiction.,Chinese Americans,Chinese Americans;Fiction.,Domestic fiction,Family life,Family secrets,ASIAN AMERICAN NOVEL AND SHORT STORY,FICTION Asian American,FICTION Family Life General,FICTION Literary,FICTION Women,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction-Coming of Age,Fiction-Literary,FictionFamily Life,FictionLiterary,GENERAL,General Adult,Literary,New York,United States

Mambo in Chinatown A Novel Jean Kwok 9781594632006 Books Reviews

LOST IN TRANSLATION,Jean Kwok's first novel was really mesmerizing, based
on her experience mingled with fiction. MAMBO is also riveting, because the
author worked as a ballroom dancer while putting her self through college.
I'd read anything by this author and would like to see third novel even broader
in scope, more dramatic and poignant. Bravo!
I liked this story a lot. I loved the whole "Cinderella" theme. The story is humorous, yet moving, illustrates gentleness in character, as well as the need for strength. It had the flavor of the Richard Gere movie "Shall We Dance" (also the original Japanese version of the same story.) I could absolutely relate to the main character's dilemmas, because Asian families can be very successful in "guilting" each other into complying with family expectations. However, this story of triumph and conviction transcends race and color, and it is an entertaining and enthralling read. I would recommend it. Once started, I had a difficult time powering off my !
What Jean Kwok does best is to create a world which you never imagined existing.. Then she populates it with characters who are so far off your radar that their essential humanity surprises you. Then she gives those characters feelings you've never felt and voices you've never heard. Kwok is read best with an untethered mind. Give in. Let it happen. Trust her.
Writing 3 Plot 3 Characters 4

I’m sorry to say I didn’t like this novel very much. It started out well but rapidly devolved to a standard women’s fiction (borderline romance) revolving around an ugly duckling turning beautiful (ballroom dancer) swan. Mixed in was a fairly obvious sub plot about her little sister having what appeared to be a wasting illness but they were treating with obviously ineffective

Kind of disappointing. Pretty obvious "ugly duckling becomes beautiful dancing swan" plot and stereotype characters (simplistic Chinese immigrants, semi-slutty, neurotic, but super nice and supportive ballroom dancers). What started out as an obvious story told in a sweet way became just an obvious story told without a lot of grace. Writing was decent but the characters and story were just too simplistic for me.

There were some very nice Lao Tzu quotes, description of Tai Chi and Qigong, and descriptions of ballroom dancing in the first half. And I did enjoy the characters at the beginning when they had more individuality and less stereotype to them. Somehow it feels as though the second half was written more hurriedly and more focused on plot and less on the character and environment that made the first half so enjoyable.
POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING This novel briefly touches upon the themes of sexual assault and rape culture.

Cha Lan "Charlie" Wong, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, has never been outside the city limits of Chinatown in New York City. Now 22, she's spent years keeping mostly to herself, working as a dishwasher in the same restaurant where her father is employed as a skilled noodle maker.

Life has been a constant struggle for Charlie. She did poorly in school and even now in adulthood is described as homely, uncoordinated, no domestic skills to speak of, not tech savvy in the least... in short, nobody expects much of her. Knowing this, Charlie is stunned when her younger sister Lian Hua ("Lisa") urges her to apply for a receptionist position that just opened up at a local ballroom dance studio.

Charlie is awkward during the interview process but one of the co-owners sees something in her and decides to give her a chance. The reader is then given a front row seat to Charlie bumbling through this receptionist position. Still, she becomes fascinated with the world of dance -- the studio instructors, the different students and their backstories -- it undeniably leaves her feeling very much out of her element, yet she persists in making this job work so that she can keep her grasp on this new and beautiful world she's been brought into.

When one instructor is suddenly unable to teach a beginner's class, Charlie is shocked to hear she's been recommended to pose as the teacher. Just for that one class... but still! As it turns out, the students in this class interpret her uncertainty in her abilities as Charlie actually being very down-to-earth and relatable. Suddenly, Charlie is approached with requests to teach more classes! Though she accepts, she quietly starts taking dance lessons between classes so she can move from imposter to legit instructor. This move turns out to be empowering and life-changing. For one, in the past whenever tomboyish Charlie would make attempts to get all girly and pretty, someone in the family would immediately shoot down her efforts, so she would quickly go back to her old routine. NOW, after getting a little rhythm and soul in her bones, she finds the boldness to snap back and inform people that such "primping" as some might call it, makes her feel good... and it's her right. So, there.

Through Charlie's journey, author Jean Kwok explores not only the hard truth about the world of dance -- the discomfort that comes along with training your body to move a certain way; the surprisingly high cost of the proper shoes; ruined, blistered feet; certification exams, etc. -- but also family hardships. We see Charlie tackle emotions surrounding the process of emotionally letting go of familial or societal expectations (her family finds a multitude of ways to try to guilt her into staying the same rather than encouraging emotional growth or pursuing soul-fulfilling dreams), finding courage to forge her own path, discovering and embracing who she truly is. Kwok also weaves in themes not uncommon to many immigrant experience novels she, through her characters, asks "How does one blend old and new? How do we move with the tide of modernism while still properly honoring one's heritage... can it be done?". *Note Though Charlie is American-born, much of the immigrant story is told through the experiences of her immediate & extended family, as well as Charlie's own observations of what comes along with being the child of immigrants.

When a family member falls seriously ill with a mysterious illness that doctors can't seem to successfully diagnose, Charlie feels helpless as she watches her loved one fall victim to bouts of bed-wetting, nightmares, dizziness, and migraines. She wants to continue pursuing modern methods of medicine, even while fearing the expense. Conversely, her father prefers going to an old world style herbalist in Chinatown, simply known as The Vision. Charlie doesn't want to go against her father and leave him feeling disrespected, however due the seriousness of the symptoms of this illness, she (with a dash of guilt) admits that she's nervous to leave this matter to Eastern medicine.

While maybe not every reader will relate to the immigrant experience aspect of this novel, the familial themes will likely ring relevant to most that pick up this book. Who hasn't had to face the struggle of making our family proud versus following our own heart's passion? While the story wasn't always particularly gripping, there was something to Charlie's world that I felt comfortably, breezily invested in. Recommended for those always on the hunt for underdog / ugly duckling type stories.
I wanted to read this book because I absolutely loved Kwok's earlier novel, Girl in Translation. Ultimately I think Girl in Translation is a better book, but this was still an enjoyable read. This book follows Charlie, a young woman with few opportunities, whose life is dramatically changed when she becomes a ballroom dancer. We see many of the elements of the Chinese immigrant community that were central to Kwok's earlier work, and I loved the setting in the dance world. Charlie, much like the protagonist in Girl in Translation, rises from very little to prominence, though in this book we see more of the transformation, whereas Girl in Translation is more about the struggle. Overall, this is a fun read. The story and Charlie's character drew me in immediately. I look forward to more books from Kwok.