When Celeste Ng's debut novel, Everything I Never Told You, came out in 2014, it had a bit of a slow start (debuts often do). And then, just like that, word spread. This book was unique -- it had the suspense of a mystery, the depth and complexity of quality literary fiction, and a story line that brought readers to their own neighborhoods and families. More importantly, it was a book that people remembered, one that sparked discussion from some and introspection from others, but nevertheless, a book that stayed with readers long after it had been completed.
For those of you who have yet to read Celeste Ng's debut, (do yourself a favor and place it on hold --it is worth every page) the book is about a Chinese American family in a small Ohio town in the 1970s. When 16-year-old Lydia Lee's body is discovered in an area lake, Ng brings us back to the beginning, examining the many things left unsaid between family members, the many secrets kept hidden, and how they led to the unraveling of a seemingly normal family.
This week, Celeste Ng's sophomore novel, Little Fires Everywhere, which takes place in the author's hometown of Shaker Heights, Ohio, was released, and I'm relieved to see that this time, people are paying attention. Award buzz is everywhere for Ng, and all that we can say is, it's about time.
Looking for titles by Celeste Ng? Check out her novels below, available in print, book on CD, e-book and e-audio on the Cloud Library:
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