Mambo in Chinatown: A Novel
Jean Kwok
Language: English
Pages: 448
ISBN: 1594633800
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
From the bestselling author of Girl in Translation, an inspiring novel about a young woman torn between her family duties in Chinatown and her escape into a more Western world.
Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Wong grew up in New York’s Chinatown, the older daughter of a Beijing ballerina and a noodle maker. Though an ABC (American-born Chinese), Charlie’s entire life has been limited to this small area. Now grown, she lives in the same tiny apartment with her widower father and her eleven-year-old sister, and works—miserably—as a dishwasher.
But when she lands a job as a receptionist at a ballroom dance studio, Charlie gains access to a world she hardly knew existed, and everything she once took to be certain turns upside down. Gradually, at the dance studio, awkward Charlie’s natural talents begin to emerge. With them, her perspective, expectations, and sense of self are transformed—something she must take great pains to hide from her father and his suspicion of all things Western. As Charlie blossoms, though, her sister becomes chronically ill. As Pa insists on treating his ailing child exclusively with Eastern practices to no avail, Charlie is forced to try to reconcile her two selves and her two worlds—Eastern and Western, old world and new—to rescue her little sister without sacrificing her newfound confidence and identity.
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Anyway.” I said, “Maybe she’s tired since school’s just started again.” Pa shook his head. “You have to come, Lisa, we cannot disgrace ourselves this way. This is an important day for Aunt and Uncle and they have reserved a table at the restaurant. We are their only family. We cannot let them down. I promise we won’t stay too long.” But we both knew we would. Pa always forgot his promises once he was with Uncle Henry and they were chatting and laughing about old times. — I was surprised to.
Pincers, which were bound with thick rubber bands. The fishmonger wrapped them up for her in paper, then tossed them in a plastic bag. “Hold this,” she said to Todd. He took the bag by its handles. It looked quite heavy and its contents writhed whenever he set it down. Then the witch took us through the street of funeral parlors, which most people avoided because they thought it was bad luck, made a sudden turn onto an alley and went up to what seemed like an illegal gambling salon. It was.
Speak of it but I saw you were becoming different. Growing up. And I guess I was scared of losing you. That you’d become like my own grandchildren, who don’t even come to visit me.” I’d never heard Godmother Yuan admit that about her grandchildren before. “They love you. They’re just busy.” “Too busy for their own grandmother.” She sniffed. “It’s more than that. When their parents force them to visit me, I do not even recognize them. They are not the sweet children I knew.” I said carefully,.
Better than that guy?” “I would try, yes.” He sighed. “I hate it when people watch me. Especially when I’m dancing.” “I know. Me too.” He chuckled. “Some professional dancer you are.” I forced myself to try to make him understand. “But I’m learning to hone my body. I love using it to express myself, being strong and in control, and yet free at the same time.” He nodded. “Yes, I know that feeling.” He was on the verge of saying yes, but I wanted to be honest. It came out in a rush. “I have.
Dance floor, someone has to lift someone,” Dominic said. “Would you care to carry him, Charlie?” I eyed Ryan’s frame. “No. But I still don’t see why we need them. I’ve never seen a student doing lifts.” “That is precisely the point,” said Dominic. “Students don’t tend to do lifts. This will elevate your mambo to a professional level. In regular competition, lifts are not allowed because the floor is too crowded, but for this scholarship, you’ll be on the floor one couple at a time. Anything.