My review of Eddie Huang's new book, Fresh Off the Boat.

    

     Just finnished reading a really funny book I'd like to recommend to all of you. It was written by a Chef named Eddie Huang, and is entitled Fresh Off the Boat. The book is a very funny, well written book about a loving and dysfunctional Chinese family trying to find their way in America.  Anyone who grew up in a third world home, and stepped out into first world America every morning, will appreciate this book - be they Chinese, Latino, Irish or Pakistani. His childhood is filled with love, confusion, sadness, irony and a lot of humor. This book clearly and lovingly conveys the struggles and hard earned successes of growing up in the states. It does a wonderful job at staying light and humorous with funny stories about his family. His Dad is hard working but mean. His mother is caring and strong but clueless. I loved the Chinese dialogue, and non-Chinese readers will appreciate his translations. The scenes with his parents are hilarious. Eddie and his family are both fascinated and appalled by America, especially the food. His descriptions of Asian and American food are delightful and it is obvious that food is a friend and refuge. Chief Huang’s love of the smells, textures and symbolism of food have even influenced his writing. He is also very adept at diving deeply and letting you see feel the pain and loneliness that permeated almost every day of his life, but he does not submerged for too long and laughs are frequent.

     The novel adroitly tells the story of the family’s immigration to Orlando Florida in the mid 1980’s. And while it may seem like a family’s story on the surface, it is really about a confused little boy who grows into a pissed off young man trying to survive in multiple worlds. I grew up in Bronx, New York. In our black and tan neighborhoods there were so many of us we were safe - we belonged - but that was not true for Asians. The book clearly relays the bigotry and prejudice Asians have endured in America, and it made me look at the immigrant experience through different eyes.

     Huang’s voice is casual and rough but capable of passionate and tight prose reminiscent of Junot Diaz, the Dominican-American writer. From their casual regional English to their mutual understanding of the hilarious irony of real life. Unfortunately, like Mr. Diaz, Mr. Huang uses street slang a little too often. Sometimes the vernacular language is unfamiliar and confusing. I would be happily reading and be jerked to a sudden stop by an awkward phrase. Luckily it did not happen often. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, and I will certainly be checking out this authors next book.