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This “vivid, moving, funny, and heartfelt” memoir tells the story of Curtis Chin’s time growing up as a gay Chinese American kid in 1980’s Detroit (Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers).

Nineteen eighties Detroit was a volatile place to live, but above the fray stood a safe haven: Chung’s Cantonese Cuisine, where anyone—from the city’s first Black mayor to the local drag queens, from a big-time Hollywood star to elderly Jewish couples—could sit down for a warm, home-cooked meal. Here was where, beneath a bright-red awning and surrounded by his multigenerational family, filmmaker and activist Curtis Chin came of age; where he learned to embrace his identity as a gay ABC, or American-born Chinese; where he navigated the divided city’s spiraling misfortunes; and where—between helpings of almond boneless chicken, sweet-and-sour pork, and some of his own, less-savory culinary concoctions—he realized just how much he had to offer to the world, to his beloved family, and to himself.

Served up by the cofounder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and structured around the very menu that graced the tables of Chung’s, Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant is both a memoir and an invitation: to step inside one boy’s childhood oasis, scoot into a vinyl booth, and grow up with him—and perhaps even share something off the secret menu.

An American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book—Israel Fishman Nonfiction Award
A 2024 Michigan Notable Book
Best Nonfiction Books of the Year—Kirkus Reviews
Best Books of the Year—Apple Books
 
TIME’s Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2023 • San Francisco Chronicle’s Highly Anticipated Books to Put on Your Radar This Fall 2023 • Washington Post’s Books to Read This Fall 2023 • Eater’s Best Food Books to Read 2023 • Lambda Literary Review’s October’s Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Literature

From the Publisher

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BWY654X1
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company (October 17, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 17, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1022 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 305 pages
Reviewer: Glen L. Loveland
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Deliciously Honest Memoir
Review: I had the pleasure of meeting Curtis Chin at a speaking engagement in Tempe, and his charisma is undeniable. His book, "Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant," is a testament to his storytelling prowess, weaving a narrative that feels like a warm conversation with an old friend.As a gay white man who spent 13 years in China, I found myself drawn to Chin's experiences as an American-born Chinese (ABC) individual. His stories are a poignant exploration of the ABC experience, tackling racism, gay rights, and social justice issues with a gentle yet impactful touch.Chin's writing style is as inviting as a welcoming restaurant server, serving up anecdotes in bite-sized portions, categorized by menu sections like "appetizers and soups" and "main entrees." These stories are not only a reflection of his childhood in Detroit but also a commentary on the city's and the country's tumultuous times.What sets Chin apart from other memoirists is his refreshing honesty. He shares his less-than-glamorous moments, including his childhood resentment towards his grandmother and his experiences with sexual frustration. These candid reflections make his story all the more relatable and human.Chin's memoir is a love letter to his family's Chinese restaurant, Chung's, which stood as a beacon of hope in 1980s Detroit. The restaurant's diverse clientele, from the city's first Black mayor to local drag queens, is a testament to the power of food and community."Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant" is a must-read for anyone looking for a heartfelt and engaging memoir. With its unique structure, witty humor, and Motown-infused narrative, this book is an invitation to step into Chin's childhood oasis and grow up with him. So, take a seat at the table, and get ready to savor the stories of a life well-lived.

Reviewer: Anmol B.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Hardcover book arrived with damaged corners
Review: Minus one star because it arrived with the bottom two corners dented.I really enjoyed the book. The author has had a very interesting life and I loved reading those stories. The book itself is quite an easy read. I can't wait for a sequel.

Reviewer: Chen George
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: the best
Review: I read this memoir twice, first for the narrative, and second for the emotions. Growing up in the same era, albeit in different continent, experiencing the same circumstances, this memoir has given voice to many, regardless of race, gender, and orientation.Thank you for helping us/me to make sense of all the cacophony of adolescence and young adult life.

Reviewer: Dwight O.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Evolution of a Secret Asian Man
Review: [Potential spoilers.]In many ways, Chin’s book is a classic memoir. Rather than telling of his whole life, the book tells of a particular time in his life – his younger years K-12 and college – as he juggles his sexual and political orientations with familial duties working at the family’s restaurant. The author’s first twenty years are the formative years after all. (Evolving from a Republican to a Democrat in itself is unique.)Of particular enjoyment are the set pieces in the book. When he encounters a seductive patron at the restaurant, when the mayor or a drag queen or movie star drop in for a meal. Or when he is calculating when is the best moment to come out to his family. These scenes are full of risk and drama. These are moments when we see the protagonist at his most heroic and empathetic. There are times in the book that I wish there was less summarization and more dramatizing, but that’s my own preference.By the end of the memoir, I like that I can feel the sweep of the years. The maturing of Chin's voice, the evolution of a worldview. He has finally started to come out with some people, started to stand up to his father. The book ends with Chin on the verge of the next chapter in his life (perhaps where he will become a documentary maker, find a partner). Which is the ideal point for the sequel to begin.-- Dwight Okita, The Invention of Fireflies: A memoir of the magical & the monstrous

Reviewer: Don
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: iNTERESTING
Review: I felt this story dragged on to slowly and did not encourage me to read more.

Reviewer: GiGi Ropp
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Relatable
Review: I knew the second I started reading this that I would want the audio instead and I’m so glad I made the switch! Curtis is relatable and raw and honest while still presenting his harrowing tales hilariously! As a child to immigrants, I could relate so much but also lear ed about his culture’s unique challenges. A great memoir!

Reviewer: KKT
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great Read
Review: Was a great read. Loved the history tidbits on Detroit and the life lessons. Would highly recommend.

Reviewer: Bufster3
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Heart warming, heart breaking, funny, thought provoking
Review: Curtis Chin's powerful memoir is an instant classic, and a very important book. Curtis is a masterful storyteller, weaving the tale of his childhood, adolescence, and university years.He grew up at his family's business, the iconic Chung's Cantonese restaurant in now defunct New Chinatown in Detroit. Chin tells of growing up an American Born Chinese, closeted gay young man in Detroit's most notorious neighborhood in the 1970s and 1980s. He grew up a working member of the family business, contributing to his family's livelyhood, as well as saving up for his own university education. This is the story of a hard working, intelligent, loving son, his family, the end of an important ethnic community, and an ode to the City of Detroit.