Lan Samantha Chang

“chang’s third novel, an absorbing dark comedy about ‘the brothers karamazov,’ tells a focused and highly entertaining tale of the fortunes of a dysfunctional, divided Chinese immigrant family for the murder of the patriarch” —miguel salazar, new york times book review

“a hilarious mystery that’s also a scathing take on assimilation and the American dream.” —people magazine, book of the week

“[b]antique…clever and entertaining…a depiction of the late American experience that is measurably different from the multiple, yet monochromatic, dysfunctions of jonathan franzen’s fiction, and various novels of immigrants over-trafficking in the trauma of displacement.”—randy boyagoda, the financial times

“the family chao is a riveting character-focused novel that delves wonderfully into human psychology; Dostoevsky himself would surely approve.”—ilana masad, npr

“[i]mmensely satisfying… extensive and ambitious and yet wonderfully contained.”—moira macdonald, seattle times

“a playful literary romp with a serious heart. ostensibly it’s a murder mystery, a whodunit with a large cast of possible themes, but it’s also an exploration of genre, of literary types and stereotypes, and the impact of these types on the hopes and dreams of their characters.”—may-lee chai, minneapolis star tribune

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“chang’s entertaining portrait of a…Chinese-American family, torn apart by their own jealousies and secrets, is alsoa memorable exposition of the dark undercurrents of small-town morality >”. —the independent (a book of the month)

lan samantha chang’s book is a mix of literary mystery, social commentary and romantic comedy… she is an insightful and witty writer who revels in the mess of the dysfunctional family.” — sarah gilmartin, the irish times

“lan samantha chang redefines the ‘immigrant novel.‘” —the boston globe

“Split radishes in hot oil aren’t all that sizzling in this bravely unsentimental murder mystery about a Chinese-American family in a small town in Wisconsin….lan samantha chang She is the first female director of the Iowa Writers Workshop. She clearly has a lot to teach about the art of fiction.” —richard lipez, the washington post

“The author turns the outdated truism that every town has a Chinese restaurant in its head into a new novel set in haven, wisconsin, after leo chao, the owner and patriarch of fine chao, is found dead, the locals refer to his three sons as ‘the karamahjong brothers’, and since chang knows his dostoyevsky, this is not only an insult, but also the solid scaffolding of a beautifully executed plot.” —the times of the angels

“If you’ve read chang, and I strongly suggest you do, you know that she lives and writes to push the boundaries of her craft and her world…her new novel is a bender of genres: a murder tale whose prose sings, laughs, and soars as endearingly as Chang’s literary fiction.” —meredith maran, the washington post

“In this timely, biting and thoroughly entertaining book, an immigrant family’s dreams are paid for in blood. For chang, this marks a triumphant return.” —weekly publisher (featured review)

“As in a thousand acres of jane smiley and beauty by zadie smith, chang looks back to go forward, borrowing the plot of a revered classic to explore something entirely new about the american dream. funny, thought-provoking , and with the pace of a thriller, family chaos radically redefines the immigrant novel while balancing entertainment and delight.” —bookpage (featured review)

“chang’s well-accomplished third novel perfectly balances two substantial themes. one is the blast radius of family dysfunction… the second is the way anti-immigrant attitudes distort the truth and put additional pressure on a family too stressed… as with dostoevsky’s original, the story culminates in a trial that becomes a stage for larger discussions about obligation, morality and family.but chang is also excellent for explore this on a more intimate level. a subsequent plot twist deepens the tension and concludes a story that cleverly offers only gray areas in response to society’s demands for simplicity and safety… a disturbing and sardonic take on the assimilation story.” —kirkus ( featured review)

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“At times biting and hilarious, the humorous story considers the thorny issues of assimilation, identity, pride, filial piety, transracial adoption and interracial relationships. it’s good chaos really; never look at Chinese restaurant families the same way.” —fashion

“family drama, murder mystery, love story, family chaos is a sometimes funny, sometimes sad portrait of a Chinese-American family that runs the most ubiquitous institution: the Chinese restaurant. with nuance and cunning, wit and empathy, chang turns the wishes and deceptions of an unhappy family into a moving and captivating saga of that classic American disease: ambition.” —viet thanh nguyen, author of the book committed

“both an homage to the karamazov brothers and the gripping story of three brothers, their tyrannical father and the family restaurant set in the American Midwest… a wonderful and wonderfully entertaining novel.” ” —Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in the Country

“the family chao is riveting, delightful, full of love and danger, an intricate look at the so-called American dream and a small-town American family trying and failing to save themselves. Lan Samantha Chang’s characters are unforgettable: lovable, maddening, funny, cruel. the family chao is an up-to-the-minute look at what it means to be indicted and visible in America, and an old-fashioned old-fashioned one too. a book to read late and then dream.” —elizabeth mccracken, author of the museum of remembrance

“a Dickensian drama of family conflict and intrigue; an insightful comedy about the American immigrant experience and about the inner workings of a small town. chang’s creation of characters through dialogue is worthy of a great playwright”. —John Irving, author of Avenue of Mysteries

“in this symphonic novel, chang offers us a multitude of lost and found souls: the gregarious are isolated, the ruthless are persecuted, the voiceless plot hidden power, the innocent suffer from murderous desire. This is one of the best and most ambitious novels about America I’ve read in recent years.”—yiyun li, author of Must Go and Where Reasons End

“The family chao, an intoxicatingly bold and spacious wonder, is a compelling murder mystery, a love story, a legal drama, a meditation on internalized racism, an examination of the ties fraternal and filial charges. , and a harrowing vivisection of the race. This provocatively honest novel illuminates the inextricable ties between family and society, exposes the pain of being an eternal stranger, explores the myriad ways in which intolerance stifles the spirit, and squanders the polite lie that human experience is universal in a country with such a particular history.” —t. geronimo johnson, author of welcome to braggsville

“I loved the family chao by lan samantha chang, both a brilliant reinvention of dostoevsky’s brothers karamazov and a completely original and gripping story about the passions, rivalries and searing pressures that shake an immigrant family singular.” —jess walter, author of the cold millions and the beautiful ruins

“The Family Chao” by Lan Samantha Chang is a magnificent and gripping literary mystery that takes the reader into a hall of mirrors, reflecting with its kaleidoscopic vision themes of family, betrayal, passion, race, culture and the American dream. devastating and searing, laugh-out-loud funny and profound, chang’s latest novel is infused with beautiful, evocative writing that will make your heart and mind race. a masterpiece.” —Jean Kwok, author of Finding Sylvie Lee

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