Review: The End of East by Jen Sookfong Lee

Today, in January Magazine’s fiction section, contributing editor Cherie Thiessen examines The End of East by Jen Sookfong Lee. Says Thiessen:

Happiness and dreams are not part of life’s plan for this immigrant family, and that’s part of the problem. If one looks continually backward when in a new place, how can she see where she is? The End of East should naturally become the beginning of West, but in the Chan family, this is never allowed to happen.

Lee is a sketch artist. ... I was frustrated because, without the details, I could never see the picture. It’s a measure of this young writer’s skill, however, that I wanted to. Because the mood and sense of place in this work are so strong, you feel the tragedy strongly.

The full review is here.