Oh I am here to tell you I just read the most WONDERFUL story.
The Surprising Power Of A Good Dumpling was absolutely incredible. I’m so full of emotions right now! You know a book is special when you (a) can’t put it down, and (b) cannot see a single flaw in it, and (c) just want to hug it to your chest and give all the love to the characters. It’s such a sweet but also heart-wrenching story that talks about the darkness of mental illness with such nuance and respect. I bawl softly. with love.
As always I have such a deep respect for #ownvoices stories
You can tell how much love and heart went into this! Anna is Chinese and has grown up in Australia to immigrant parents. She struggles with diaspora at times, feeling she’s not a “good” Chinese daughter since she speaks very basic Cantonese and doesn’t fit in with the other Chinese kids at school. Anna just wants to cook and she’s upset that her parents AND school dismiss her passion.
(Also side note: freaking LOVED how the book talked about how there was nothing wrong about aspiring to work, not go to uni. You aren’t less for not “aiming to your full potential”. I mean, who’s saying what “full potential” has to be anyway?!?)
discussion on mental health
As someone who struggles with depression, I get super emotional reading books where the rep is good. And this? This is GOOD. Anna’s mother has undiagnosed mental illness (possibly bipolar) — she can’t get out of bed, she goes into rages, she sometimes has psychotic episodes. She was hard to love, she could be unfair and cruel to her kids. Anna got the burnt of so much blame. And her dad just ignored what was going on. I think there was a lot of cultural perspective to be had here too, with how some Chinese families approach mental illness (ie: ignoring it).
We also have it contrasted with Rory’s (Anna’s boi) depression. UGH I LOVE RORY. He is slowly rebuilding himself after being in an excruciatingly dark place; and his sweetness but honesty that he’ll never be “normal” again, but he can be okay — I adore for those breadcrumbs of hope.
The fight is worth it. You are worth it.
can we talk about Anna??? I would fite for Anna
She is the absolute Softest™ and broke my heart with her dedication and desperation to be everything she “should” be. Keeping her siblings going. Filling in her mum’s shoes. Helping out at her dad’s restaurant (she wants to do this though!!! her passion). Lily is 13 and Michael is 5 and I adored them too.😭💛Lily is a fire and Anna is sweet and Michael is an angel and WILL PROTEC THEM.
Anna also carries a lot of invisible emotional trauma through the book. Just having to deal with it all, but silently…it’s a huge thing to bear. She gets snipey a few times though and omg I love her. Her arc? 100% perfection. She grew into herself so so much and I love that moment when she realises the stigma of pretending to be okay is harmful. It’s OKAY to NOT be okay.
please buckle up for the cutest romance
Rory + Anna = the ship I NEED. Anna meets Rory at her dad’s restaurant (he’s a delivery boy) and he is the Softest just like her. I loved how their relationship grew. It was just so so wholesome and tentative (and not angsty!!!).
and hi, i just couldn’t put it down
At all. I mean, I planned to do other things this afternoon, and I looked up and I’d just read 3/4 of a book and the afternoon was gone.😂SIGNS of an excellent novel. It was easy to read, addictive, and really well paced. I loved all the scenes: at the restaurant, at home with the siblings, anything with Rory… 🤗
look, this is just the kind of contemporary to put on your tbr immediately
I have read the most wonderful GEM and I want the whole world to know!! It made me feel warm and it filled my heart. The sibling strife was relatable (oops haha) and their love for each other was incredible too. The arcs! The loving discussion of harsher darknesses. The pain. The aching. Anna’s soft strength. All so so excellent.
thank you Allen & Unwin for the review-copy! The Surprising Power Of A Good Dumpling by Wai Chim came out in August 2019
Anna Chiu has her hands pretty full looking after her brother and sister and helping out at her dad’s restaurant, all while her mum stays in bed. Dad’s new delivery boy, Rory, is a welcome distraction and even though she knows that things aren’t right at home, she’s starting to feel like she could just be a normal teen.
But when Mum finally gets out of bed, things go from bad to worse. And as Mum’s condition worsens, Anna and her family question everything they understand about themselves and each other.
A nourishing tale about the crevices of culture, mental wellness and family, and the surprising power of a good dumpling.
Goodreads | Booktopia | Book Depository | Amazon | Allen & Unwin
| what do you think? |
what food always makes YOU feel better? 🤗 is this one on your TBR? tell me your thoughts if you’ve read it!
Oh, this sounds soooo good, I want to read it!
I hope you get a chance to try it 😍
OK. Am going to the bookstore tomorrow to buy this.
MY WORK HERE IS DONE 🎉🎉
This sounds like such a good read!
That’s because it is 🤗
This sounds so, so good. And the fact that it’s set in Australia is even better. I am definitely putting this on my TBR. I also love food and cooking (one of my biggest passions besides reading and writing) and since I know a lot of Asian people and have an undying love for all Asian food this sounds like it will fit right into my niche.
My favourite comfort food is definitely a Filipino chicken sotanghon soup recipe which I found on the website of a Filipino cook. Really good 🙂
I hope you get a chance to try it soon!!!
So glad you enjoyed this one Cait! I beta-read its earlier version and am in the acknowledgements hehe xD I’m so glad to see more of this kind of intersectionality being published and appreciated, especially in Australia where I still feel like we’re behind in that respect
omgggg 😍I’m so excited that you beta’d it! THAT IS AMAZING. I can’t even contain my full love for this…it’s so heartfelt and incredible, both sad and warming. 😭💛
I’ve never heard of this one before, but I’ll definitely have to check it out! It sounds like such an important novel.
It’s super amazing!! 😍 Definitely on my favourite list for this year!
This sounds awesome! The cover reminds me of a book I read when I was younger, The Year of the Fortune Cookie by Andrea Cheng. But the plots are very different, lol.
For foods that cheer me up, maybe blueberries? But they’ve gotta be sweet; sour fruit just ruins my mood 😖 🤢.
Ooh I haven’t had a blueberry in a while, but fresh ones are super delicious. 😍
Mmm, I’m intrigued! The plot, characters, and promise of dumplings all sound like something I’d enjoy.
I just polished off a slice of cheesecake– now that’s one dish that’s bound to cheer me up.
It is so so good. So much heart in this one!! (Also I’m totally jealous of the cheesecake…)
Wonderful review, Cait! <3 Ah, this one sounds so sweet! Also, YES to the part you mentioned about uni and this whole "not reaching your full potential" ideology. I have honestly received so much grief from my family over my decision to work towards an Associate's Degree rather than a BA or Masters. It's so frustrating, because they fail to see that this is what I want to do. *sigh* Anywho, it's so nice to see that Anna is the absolute sweetest in the Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling, and I can't wait to experience this rollercoaster of emotion! <3
I’m sorry you have to go through that too with your family 😫 it’s tough how much elitism is in the world; I even catch myself having to stop thinking I’m a failure because I didn’t go onto uni. There are endless ways to have a good and fulfilled life!
This book sounds pretty awesome 😃 *stands on tiptoes* *grunts*. *reaches super high* *adds to the teetering pile that is my TBR* THERE. PERFECT.
Your tbr will surely not collapse on you 🤗 it definitely needs more books on it
OKAY OKAY THIS IS ADORABLE!!! <3 sounds exactly like the kind of book I need in between the furious fantasies I keep reading lately. Also Wai chim discussing her book in the video is soooo cute! My favourite comfort food has got to be pasta; the one I make with lots of cheese, spices and chicken and veggies. OKAY NOW I'M HUNGRYYYY
Right?!? I love her so much ahhhh!!! and also pasta absolutely yes. Best comfort food too.
CAIT. This wasn’t even on my radar before I saw your review on GR and now I MUST HAVE IT IMMEDIATELY?? Like, I am quite sure I need it in my life or else I might die???
omg I’m just so happy I was convincing here 😭💛 I absolutely need everyone to read it!
Hi I’ve been really wanting to read this ever since I read your wonderful review (I live in the US btw) and I can’t find it anywhere?? And it’s out of stock on every website that I’ve checked and so maybe it hasn’t come out here yet? Anyways, so excited for when I do get to read this!!