AUDIO

Rental House

Books on Tape. Dec. 2024. 5:48 hrs. ISBN 9780593942680. $57. F
COPY ISBN
Keru and Nate defy many of the assumptions people make about their interracial, dual-income, childless relationship, and yet, these preconceptions persist, even among their closest friends and family. Over the years, they attempt to bridge the gaps between Keru’s Chinese immigrant parents and Nate’s white parents, occasionally inviting them to vacation together. From Cape Cod to the Catskills, however, the clash of cultures, expectations, and familial histories strain their relationship to the breaking point, and it seems that what initially taught them to lean on each other might eventually drive them apart. Wang (Joan Is Okay) crafts a dramatic relationship fiction filled with heartache and humor. Narrator Jen Zhao gives a flat, no-frills performance that enhances the banality of the stereotypes and strain that Keru and Nate endure. Her engaging portrayal of the sympathetic characters and their family discord, both everyday and extreme, creates an engaging listening experience.
VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an emotionally intense drama about immigrant identity, class, and family dyamics. Recommended for fans of Ann Napolitano, Karin Lin-Greenberg, and Terah Shelton Harris.
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