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Everything I Never Told you

Ng, Celeste. Book - 2014 Fiction, Adult Book / Fiction / General / Ng, Celeste None on shelf 8 requests on 6 copies Community Rating: 4.2 out of 5

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Downtown 2nd Floor
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Adult Book / Fiction / General / Ng, Celeste 4-week checkout Due 03-09-2024
Westgate Adult Books
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Adult Book / Fiction / General / Ng, Celeste 4-week checkout Due 03-09-2024

" Lydia is dead. But they don't know this yet. So begins the story of this exquisite debut novel, about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee; their middle daughter, a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes and her father's jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue-in Marilyn's case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James's case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the center of every party. When Lydia's body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together tumbles into chaos, forcing them to confront the long-kept secrets that have been slowly pulling them apart. James, consumed by guilt, sets out on a reckless path that may destroy his marriage. Marilyn, devastated and vengeful, is determined to find a responsible party, no matter what the cost. Lydia's older brother, Nathan, is certain that the neighborhood bad boy Jack is somehow involved. But it's the youngest of the family-Hannah-who observes far more than anyone realizes and who may be the only one who knows the truth about what happened. A profoundly moving story of family, history, and the meaning of home, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, exploring the divisions between cultures and the rifts within a family, and uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another"-- Provided by publisher.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Good submitted by Lucy S on August 2, 2014, 4:37am A page turner about family secrets and the way grief takes hold of members of this family in different ways.

Everything submitted by hcf on August 26, 2014, 9:20pm Sad story but well done.

Beautiful submitted by Motomori on June 17, 2015, 11:46am I thought this was a beautifully written novel about a family in grieving.

Glad I read this submitted by bookher on July 9, 2015, 8:45am Normally, I am not a very fast reader but I checked this one out on a Zoom Lends and I'm so glad I did! Very good story and quite a page turner. I managed to read it all in one week.

Quick and Fascinating Read submitted by Beth Manuel on July 14, 2015, 7:13pm This book had me very intrigued. The plot was a compelling exploration of familial relationships, family secrets and other drama.

definitely engaging submitted by Sara W on August 29, 2015, 10:20pm I was immediately swept into this novel - Ng is a very compelling writer. Her characters felt realistic and relatable, even when they were doing things I completely disagreed with. This is a novel about people who need to communicate, people who are terribly selfish, especially when they think they aren't, and the sadness that comes with feeling alone in a group. Recommended.

A page turner. submitted by JoCeAn on June 19, 2016, 9:15pm What a beautifully written book. I read this pretty fast. Would highly recommend it .

Great book submitted by cinttery on June 19, 2016, 10:21pm This is a good read. A little sad, but good.

Engaging read submitted by Hades on June 28, 2017, 11:22am Very captivating story but sad.

So sad submitted by amandaberry on August 26, 2017, 2:02pm This was such a sad and lovely book. Part mystery, part young-adult, part family drama. Easy read.

Sad YA submitted by steveiew on June 22, 2018, 4:51pm You spend the book trying to figure out what happened to Lydia, but don't be confused this book is as much about the characters grief as it is about what actually happened. The family is torn apart and shaken.

Great first book for Celeste Ng submitted by jachi on July 11, 2018, 12:20am Well written with aspects of each character I could relate to, especially as an Asian-American growing up in suburban US.

Not a Townie, but Still One Of Us submitted by jenkha91 on August 1, 2018, 8:53pm Celest Ng proves that she is one of the leaders and the best through her writing. This poignant story broke my heart, described the presence of grief and most importantly: the beginning of healing. Ng is creative and brave to take on such a subject. She demonstrates that she clearly understands the teen mind, as well as what can make or break a family. I have vivid memories of reading this as I write this. Very profound read! I hope she is invited to our library!

** fun fact: she's a U of M grad! **

Well written but painful submitted by lballard on June 18, 2019, 6:04pm This is a well written book, but hard to read as a parent of teens. The missed opportunities for connection between different members of the family was sad, but realistic.

Just okay submitted by lostoria on July 15, 2019, 5:53pm I loved certain characters in this novel (ex. the mother) but others didn't make much sense to me (ex. the oddly hyper-aware 5th grade sister who appeared to be cognizant of the entire family drama despite never experiencing it). There were some thrills but it wasn't enough to make up for the lack of character building for certain figures in the novel.

Another excellent book by Ng submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on June 20, 2020, 3:26pm 4/5 stars. Another excellent book by Ng. She writes stories that are quick and easy to read, but dive deep on challenging social and relational issues. I appreciate an author who introduces me to lives and ideas that stretch me out of my usual world, bring me deep into the hearts and minds of the characters, and leave me with a new understanding of others’ perspectives.

Excellent Read submitted by Justin Shim on August 24, 2020, 2:27pm Beautifully written book and engages the reader.

Thrilling read submitted by comet on June 13, 2021, 11:18am A compelling and gripping read, Ng crafts a realistic and unfortunate story of youth, family, and love. Through simple but moving language, she captures the hearts of many readers, young and old.

Remarkably perceptive submitted by kkjammers on August 12, 2021, 4:24pm Celeste Ng's writing is why I occasionally read fluffy novels, akin to watching romantic comedies instead of dramas. Ng's descriptions of feelings are precise and insightful; I personally was reminded of some of my own failings and the pain was acute and exact. Another aspect I related to was the "no talk" rule in a dysfunctional family, which generally leaves those involved flailing in misunderstanding and ignorance. Facing things head on and truthfully is an all-around preferred way to live, though it certainly isn't always easy. I highly recommend this book.

Lydia submitted by Archit12 on August 19, 2021, 3:27pm Lydia is dead. But they don't know this yet. So begins the story of this exquisite debut novel, about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee; their middle daughter, a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes and her father's jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue-in Marilyn's case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James's case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the center of every party. When Lydia's body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together tumbles into chaos, forcing them to confront the long-kept secrets that have been slowly pulling them apart. James, consumed by guilt, sets out on a reckless path that may destroy his marriage. Marilyn, devastated and vengeful, is determined to find a responsible party, no matter what the cost. Lydia's older brother, Nathan, is certain that the neighborhood bad boy Jack is somehow involved. But it's the youngest of the family-Hannah-who observes far more than anyone realizes and who may be the only one who knows the truth about what happened. A profoundly moving story of family, history, and the meaning of home, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, exploring the divisions between cultures and the rifts within a family, and uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another

Incredible Read submitted by jennycai on July 10, 2022, 1:48pm a difficult but must read for me! had to put it down at times because its kind of heavy in content and can weigh you down from reading the whirlwind of problems surrounding this family and the impact of generational trauma on every single character. worth your time for sure!

Extremely compelling submitted by ellec on July 13, 2022, 5:46pm This book made me laugh and cry and reflect on my own family. It explores difficult topics like generational trauma and guilt in the wake of someone's death. I thought Ng did an outstanding job showing readers the conflict that Asian Americans feel

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PUBLISHED
New York : Penguin Press HC, 2014.
Year Published: 2014
Description: 297 p.
Language: English
Format: Book

ISBN/STANDARD NUMBER
9781594205712
159420571X

SUBJECTS
Daughter -- Death -- Fiction.
Drowning -- Fiction.
Grief -- Fiction.
Suspence fiction.
Mystery fiction.