|
Lindsey Owyang is a Chinese-American who works in a politically correct Vegan magazine office where the management is determined to sniff out the meat eaters among them and fire them. She is in “like” with another closet meat-eater at the same office, Michael Cartier. But Michael seems elusive and her broad hints that she’s available get her no-where. So Lindsey endures endless blind-dates with her grandmother’s friends’ grandsons—all of which are dating disasters—in the effort to find true love.
A college graduate, Lindsey is the sole Asian employee at the office and is often sent to diversity seminars so her office can prove they are diverse in their hiring. She answers the telephone and does simple housecleaning chores around the office, giving her ample time to scope out Michael’s work space and learn his home address so she can watch his home after hours. She lives with her grandmother on the top floor of an old apartment complex the family owns.
When Michael and Lindsey meet beside the ocean one day, Michael accidentally falls into the water. Lindsey invites him home to shower and dry off—but now that Michael has finally noticed Lindsey, will her grandmother’s stinky ointments scare him away?
THE DIM SUM OF ALL THINGS is a chick lit with a different flair. It is full of Asian culture, banquets, cooking habits, and living styles. Readers will get a full education in the Chinese culture. Written in kind of a unique style, the reader is routinely pulled out of the story by comments such as pause tape then the author inserts some back story or other information and resume play before the story is continued. I kind of wish the story had been written without those interruptions because it made it easy to put the book down.
Lindsey is a character I easily could relate to. I can remember crushes I used to treat in almost the same manner in which Lindsey acts toward Michael. I’m also familiar with the differences she has to overcome with her peers since she lives with her grandmother, instead of on her own. Readers will identify with Lindsey and want her happiness.
Some parts of THE DIM SUM OF ALL THINGS I found really gross, and felt the
author gave me too much information but other than that, it was a good
story. Pick up THE DIM SUM OF ALL THINGS today for a read with an Asian
feel you won’t soon forget.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton
for The Road to Romance
May 22, 2004
|
