Face

Aimee Liu

And yet another first, by a Chinese American from LA. The title is a reference to the work of the main character and her father, both of whom photograph faces, and to the Chinese cultural need to 'save face.' Doreen didn't much like this book, or its Chinese American woman looking back on her upbringing in LA's Chinatown, trying to sort out her many problems. Why does she have such dreadful nightmares? Why does she sleep with lots of men, who are all the same type? Why has her photo-journalist father destroyed all his work? Doreen found the answer to be "completely over the top, far too dreadful." The book was nicely written, interesting on Chinese culture and details and feelings of not belonging. But "I won't be in the queue for her second novel."
Doreen 15/3/98