Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Pride and Prejudice
gets remixed in this smart, funny, gorgeous retelling of the classic,
starring all characters of color, from Ibi Zoboi, National Book Award
finalist and author of American Street.
Zuri
Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her
Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly
gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable.
When the
wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to
do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts
to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the
judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to
find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected
understanding.
But with four wild sisters pulling her in
different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and
college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her
place in Bushwick’s changing landscape, or lose it all.
In a timely update of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice,
critically acclaimed author Ibi Zoboi skillfully balances cultural
identity, class, and gentrification against the heady magic of first
love in her vibrant re-imagining of this beloved classic.
Review:
It is a fact, universally acknowledged, that if I hear of a book based on a Jane Austin novel, then I will obviously want to read it. When I heard about the book, Pride, by author Ibi Zoboi, I immediately jumped on the waitlist at my local library. Of course, this is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, but with a modern twist. Set in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwhick, this story of class, love, and misunderstanding is wildly entertaining.
What I Liked:
Narrator:
This book is narrated by none other than Elizabeth Acevedo, writer of the stunning prose book, The Poet X! Elizabeth is known as a powerful performer of poetry, and her narration is full of passion. She perfectly embodies Brooklyn Pride.
Setting:
Although I have never been to New York, and didn't know anything about the neighborhood the author was writing about, I could easily envision
Bushwhick. This is a neighborhood filled with people who look out for each other. But, as reassuring as this is, it also means that everybody knows your business. I love all the details of the block where Zuri lives. From people visiting on each others' stoops, to block parties, to the local Bodega, this seems like a vibrant place to live.
But the neighborhood is becoming gentrified. Wealthy people, both black and white, are buying up properties, spending serious money to renovate their new homes. This is deeply troubling to Zuri, who sees the character of her cherished neighborhood changing.
Characters:
As with the original, the main characters, Zuri Benitez and Darius Darcy, form the heart of the story. I think Darius is far more likable in this version. Where Darcy hides his shyness with a prideful demeanor, Darius is much more confident. But he walks a tightrope between being a private school student, and trying to remain authentic to his heritage. He doesn't really fit into either world. Among his peers at school, he will always be the token African-American. When he moves to Bushwhick, he's accused of not being "Black enough". The poor guy can't win.
As for Zuri, I love that she is so focused on getting into college. I also enjoy how much Zuri loves her neighborhood. Her plan is to go to Howard University and then return to Bushwhick. She is not out to find a boyfriend. But Darius and she just seem to click.
Aside from the two main characters, there are numerous characters that match up with the original Jane Austin piece. There is Zuri's loud mom, her reserved dad, and her four memorable sisters. Warren (the George Wickham character) remains a charming snake. The scandal that he is involved in is updated with a very realistic situation.
Story:
The story itself closely follows the main plot of Pride and Prejudice. There is a block party in place of the country dance, the instant attraction between Darius's brother Ainsley and Zuri's sister, Janae, the party where the family's actions cause so much embarrassment that Ainsley drops Janae, and even Darius's pompous grandmother makes an appearance.
But, what make this story really special is the added themes of neighborhood, and belonging to a group. Zuri's neighborhood is changing. Old homes are being bought out by rich outsiders and turned into McMansions. Longtime residents are being forced out as rents rise. This is a real problem facing many areas.
What happens to you when your family moves to a different area? Will you remain connected, or lose your sense of who you are? These are important themes for this contemporary book.
Rating:
Release Date: September 18th, 2018
Author: Ibi Zoboi
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Page Length: 304 Pages
Audio Book Publisher: Balzer + Bray and Harper Audio
Audio Book Length: 6 Hours, 7 Minutes
Genre: YA Fiction
Source: Public Library
Format: Audio Book
Recommendation: A highly entertaining retelling of Pride and Prejudice. The addition of modern issues such as gentrification, and trying to remain true to your heritage elevate this story beyond a simple rehashing of a classic.
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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Meet Stanley Huang:
father, husband, ex-husband, man of unpredictable tastes and temper,
aficionado of all-inclusive vacations and bargain luxury goods, newly
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For years, Stanley has claimed that
he’s worth a small fortune. But the time is now coming when the details
of his estate will finally be revealed, and Stanley’s family is nervous.
For
his son Fred, the inheritance Stanley has long alluded to would soothe
the pain caused by years of professional disappointment. By now, the
Harvard Business School graduate had expected to be a financial tech god
– not a minor investor at a middling corporate firm, where he isn’t
even allowed to fly business class.
Stanley’s daughter, Kate, is a
middle manager with one of Silicon Valley’s most prestigious tech
companies. She manages the capricious demands of her world-famous boss
and the needs of her two young children all while supporting her
would-be entrepreneur husband (just until his startup gets off the
ground, which will surely be soon). But lately, Kate has been sensing
something amiss; just because you say you have it all, it doesn’t mean
that you actually do.
Stanley’s second wife, Mary Zhu,
twenty-eight years his junior, has devoted herself to making her husband
comfortable in every way—rubbing his feet, cooking his favorite dishes,
massaging his ego. But lately, her commitment has waned; caring for a
dying old man is far more difficult than she expected.
Linda
Liang, Stanley’s first wife, knows her ex better than anyone. She worked
hard for decades to ensure their financial security, and is determined
to see her children get their due. Single for nearly a decade, she might
finally be ready for some romantic companionship. But where does a
seventy-two year old Chinese woman in California go to find an
appropriate boyfriend?
As Stanley’s death approaches, the Huangs
are faced with unexpected challenges that upend them and eventually lead
them to discover what they most value. A compelling tale of cultural
expectations, career ambitions and our relationships with the people who
know us best, Family Trust skewers the ambition and desires that drive
Silicon Valley and draws a sharply loving portrait of modern American
family life.
Review:
Set in Silicon Valley, Family Trust, by Kathy Wang, is reminiscent of Crazy Rich Asians in its portrayal of the ultra-wealthy. But it is also a family drama about the complications of second marriages, and the generational differences between parents and their adult children. This was a highly entertaining book.
What I Liked:
Setting:
The novel is set in Silicon Valley. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I could recognize many of the places in this book. The mix of various immigrant cultures, luxury shops that cater to new money, and people working themselves to death launching the latest tech start-up, are all part of the culture of the Bay Area. This book gets all the details right.
Narration:
Joy Osmanski does a wonderful job of voicing all the characters. From self-important Stanley to overworked Kate, Ms. Osmanski seamlessly juggled it all in this dialogue-heavy novel.
Characters:
The book focuses on two generations of the Huang family. Stanley has a younger second wife, and is coming to terms with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. When everyone starts asking about who he will leave his money to, Stanley is vague but reassuring that everyone will be "taken care of". But what does that mean? Will he leave everything to Mary, his second wife? What about his children? How much money does Stanley actually have?
Linda (the first wife) is chiefly concerned with making sure Stanley doesn't shut out their children in favor of Mary. But she is also considering dating again. I found it so realistic that Linda is ambivalent about Stanley's requests for her to attend "family" dinners. Why should she be forced to cater to any of his whims again? That's why they're divorced!
I really like their daughter, Kate. She is every super stressed working woman in the Bay Area. She works full time, but is still expected to manage the children, and a home by herself. Is it any wonder her marriage is in distress?
Story:
Each Huang family member has their own story-line, with alternating viewpoints for each chapter. This allows for events to be seen from multiple angles and adds layers of meaning that we couldn't receive in single voice narrative.
I really like how each story is told in a way that makes me empathize with each character. I came to care about the characters, even the ones I thought I despised. It came as a shock to me that I actually cried when Stanley died! This is a testament to the ability of the author to show me how complicated each person is.
This story shows how delicate and complex trusts, wills, and end of life decisions are in to a family. What do you do when you know someone has a terminal disease? Do you push for clarification of a will or trust? Will that help, or make you look greedy? Should people be forced to apologize for past wrongs, or should those issues be swept under the rug in order to make it easier on the dying? So many difficult issues are brought up.
But, lest you think this book is super serious, I would be remiss in not pointing out how funny this story is. The ridiculous spending, swagger, and name dropping of the characters was fun. And there were some truly funny situations, such as when one character is hiding in the bushes, spying on their spouse.
What I Was Mixed About:
Male Characters:
While I understand that the author wants to show the misogynistic culture of Silicon Valley, does every man in this book have to be a jerk? These guys are sexist, and appraise women based solely on how they can help them elevate their social status. Yes, many successful men want beautiful eye candy. But I think it would have been good to have at least one decent man to show that guys do have a choice of how to behave.
Fred, Stanley's son, is particularly awful. He sees his girlfriend, Erica, as a pushy social climber, out to ensnare Fred into marriage. But is he any better? He is more than happy to have her on his arm during a business trip because she is beautiful, and he feels this will elevate his status. But the moment she steps out of line, he sends her packing. He was the one character I couldn't sympathize with.
Rating:
Release Date: October 30, 2018
Author: Kathy Wang
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: General Fiction
Page Length: 400 Pages
Audio Publisher: Harper Audio
Audio Length: 13 Hours, 43 Minutes
Narrator: Joy Osmanski
Source: Public Library
Format: Audio Book
Recommendation: An entertaining choice for a book club.
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