I adore this book. Like, LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It's one of the best books I've ever read. It's beautiful and insightful and vulnerable and heartbreaking and brave and poetic. It's so well written. Really, really well written.
I've read a lot of books in my life so far. All kinds of books. I adore books. I look back on the experience of reading some of the best books I've ever read like normal people look back on an amazing vacation or a summer love affair.
I've read Chaucer in the Middle English (took a class in graduate school on The Canterbury tales). I've read most of Shakespeare, all but one of Dostoevsky's novels, Tolkien, The Wind in the Willows, A Wrinkle in Time, Harry Potter, all of Isaac Dinesen, Rilke, T.S. Elliot, Hemingway, Joyce, Faulkner, so many YA novels, all the Phoebe and Her Unicorn books (soooo good), and everything in between. I'm not trying to brag--I don't think of it like that--I just mean to say that I've got a pretty wide experience of books at this point and a pretty high bar for what a good book is, and what the experience of reading a really really good book is like.
So when I say that this is one of the best books I've ever read, I hope you get a sense of what I mean by that, and that I don't say it lightly.
Constance Wu is a great writer, and I strongly suspect that but for her horrible experience of being wrongly accused of plagiarism in high school by one of her teachers, that she might have gone on to be one of the great writers of the 21st Century. Yes, I know. Over the top praise. But really, truly, that's what I think! And I wish I could give that teacher a piece of my mind. In fact, screw it, I think I will.
Mrs. Kantor, if you're reading this, I have to ask: what the hell were you thinking? Not only did you accuse a young kid of plagiarism without any actual proof, but you then got mad when she started crying, taking that as confirmation of your false accusation (!), and then you subsequently FOLLOWED HER AROUND to all of her classes and asked all of her teachers if they thought that Constance could have written the paper?!?! OH. MY. GOD. What is wrong with you?!? That was sadistic and cruel and wrong and hurtful. Didn't you have ANY idea of how cutting that was? How deep a psychic wound that would leave? What is wrong with you? You were supposed to be supportive and inspiring and instead you were the opposite. AND YOU WERE WRONG! Because Constance Wu is clearly a great and gifted writer. You were wrong. And you were wrong to do what you did. And it's horrible that you apparently have no regret or remorse over it. Just . . . incredible. Awful.
Anyway . . . OK, sorry, but oh my gosh. I was so upset reading that chapter! I'm upset now just thinking about it.
But this is the kind of book Making A Scene is. Immediate, brilliant, bright and vivid and indelible. If you're anything like me, you will never forget this book, like you had lived these things yourself. That's the kind of writing we're talking about here: crafted, evocative, magical, amazing and awe inspiring.
So much so that I think the only way for me to finish this review is to finish it as if I was addressing the author herself. I'm sure there's not a lot of chance that she will read my review. I hope she doesn't read reviews--people can be so casually cruel and cutting on the internet!
But, Constance Wu, if you're reading this, I want you to know how profoundly grateful I am that you wrote this book, that you shared these stories, that you shared these parts of yourself, even the embarrassing parts, even the unflattering bits. It was such a brave and beautiful and vulnerable and precious thing to do! It's such a gift to the world. You are amazing, and it's an honor to know you, as far as that goes, from reading your book. Thank you for sharing your stories, some of your life so far, with us. I loved hearing about your cars, Pisha and Masha. I loved hearing about your first job at the bakery. I loved hearing about acting school. I loved hearing about your father and your mother and your complicated and profound relationships with them. It helped me put my relationship with (and estrangement from) my own mother in context, in perspective. I loved it, all of it, every page. It was a joy to read. Thank you. Truly. Please write more! You. Are. A. Great. Writer. Of course you wrote this. Of course you could write a great book. And did. (And could write more--hint, hint)
Thank you, Constance! Thank you so much!
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Reviews with images
A poignant memoir that every woman of color needs to read
The very first sequence about Constance's initial experiences in acting and her family history hooked me. I first found this book at Barnes & Noble (pictured) but didn't have time to buy it there, so I purchased a copy on Amazon.Firstly: I think everyone, particularly the Asian community, has been extortionately unkind to Constance. Was her reaction on Twitter controversial? Yes. However, we did not know what was truly going on behind the scenes with how insidious the circumstances of that sitcom was for her. It's devastating that even with the news out in the open, nobody seems to be making any noise about it...hint, hint: like it never actually happened.This memoir genuinely brought me to tears with how much I felt for Constance, how resonant her writing was, and the way that women of color have fought so hard to be acknowledged in the slightest way, and the smallest gestures are things we should just swallow and be grateful for. Even though this is a memoir, I believe this is only the beginning for Constance. Major hits such as Crazy Rich Asians and her other sitcom benefitted her career greatly, but she is so much more than both.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2023
Firstly: I think everyone, particularly the Asian community, has been extortionately unkind to Constance. Was her reaction on Twitter controversial? Yes. However, we did not know what was truly going on behind the scenes with how insidious the circumstances of that sitcom was for her. It's devastating that even with the news out in the open, nobody seems to be making any noise about it...hint, hint: like it never actually happened.
This memoir genuinely brought me to tears with how much I felt for Constance, how resonant her writing was, and the way that women of color have fought so hard to be acknowledged in the slightest way, and the smallest gestures are things we should just swallow and be grateful for. Even though this is a memoir, I believe this is only the beginning for Constance. Major hits such as Crazy Rich Asians and her other sitcom benefitted her career greatly, but she is so much more than both.
A poignant memoir that every woman of color needs to read
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2023
The very first sequence about Constance's initial experiences in acting and her family history hooked me. I first found this book at Barnes & Noble (pictured) but didn't have time to buy it there, so I purchased a copy on Amazon.Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2023
Firstly: I think everyone, particularly the Asian community, has been extortionately unkind to Constance. Was her reaction on Twitter controversial? Yes. However, we did not know what was truly going on behind the scenes with how insidious the circumstances of that sitcom was for her. It's devastating that even with the news out in the open, nobody seems to be making any noise about it...hint, hint: like it never actually happened.
This memoir genuinely brought me to tears with how much I felt for Constance, how resonant her writing was, and the way that women of color have fought so hard to be acknowledged in the slightest way, and the smallest gestures are things we should just swallow and be grateful for. Even though this is a memoir, I believe this is only the beginning for Constance. Major hits such as Crazy Rich Asians and her other sitcom benefitted her career greatly, but she is so much more than both.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Monika2000
Read the whole book in one day, couldn't put it down.
Reviewed in Germany on June 19, 2024
Leon
I can not wait to read this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2023
Leon
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2023
Happy Days
Images in this review
Rodrigo Marcushi
Fast read, amazing essays.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2024