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The Chinese Groove
The Chinese Groove: A Novel | Kathryn Ma
7 posts | 2 read | 2 to read
Anne Tyler meets Jade Chang in this buoyant, good-hearted, and sharply written novel about a blithely optimistic immigrant with big dreams, dire prospects, and a fractured extended family in need of his helpeven if they don't know it yet Eighteen-year-old Shelley, born into a much-despised branch of the Zheng family in Yunnan Province and living in the shadow of his widowed fathers grief, dreams of bigger things. Buoyed by an exuberant heart and his cousin Dengs tall tales about the United States, Shelley heads to San Francisco to claim his destiny, confident that any hurdles will be easily overcome by the awesome powers of the Chinese groove, a belief in the unspoken bonds between countrymen that transcend time and borders. Upon arrival, Shelley is dismayed to find that his rich uncle is in fact his unemployed second cousin once removed and that the grand guest room hed envisioned is but a scratchy sofa. The indefinite stay hed planned for? That has a firm two-week expiration date. Even worse, the loving family he hoped would embrace him is in shambles, shattered by a senseless tragedy that has cleaved the family in two. They want nothing to do with this youthful bounder whos barged into their lives. Ever the optimist, Shelley concocts a plan to resuscitate his American dream by insinuating himself into the family. And, who knows, maybe hell even manage to bring them back together in the process.
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lilpumpkin2.0
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October 2, 2024 Still reading The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma but decided to visit one of my favorite bookstores, Green Apple, on Clement St because I wanted to see what they had. Came across these two gems and will be reading them soon...One of the books is a gift for my mom 🤪🧐🥳

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lilpumpkin2.0
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August 10, 2024 Started this TBR today. Not sure if I like it yet. Also not sure whether I am going to have enough time to read it as the school year is approaching around the corner...

review
Blueberry
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Pickpick

3⭐
Very good characterizations. Read for my f2f bookclub.

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Blueberry
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36 likes1 stack add
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Blueberry
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Starting next for my f2f
bookclub.

39 likes1 stack add
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Blueberry
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1. Books for bookclub I always make sure I read in time. Otherwise it's whatever genre I feel like reading. Then I look at my tbr on Goodreads and choose one that fits my mood.
2. The Chinese Groove and Before I Go to Sleep are the next books in line for bookclubs.

#Two4Tuesday
@TheSpineView

TheSpineView Sounds good! Thanks for playing 5mo
28 likes1 comment
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Erynecki
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Pickpick

What a delightful story of youthful bravado, family, immigration, and place. 18 year old Shelley has big dreams and not a lot of great prospects. We fall in love with him for his clever outlook, optimism, and belief that the Chinese Groove will be good to him.