A Quitter's Paradise

April 17, 2023
Chang debuts with the understated and quietly devastating story of a grieving 20-something woman. In 2013 New York City, Eleanor Liu is on track to fulfill her late mother Rita’s low expectations, having dropped out of a neuroscience graduate program to work in her classmate-turned-husband’s lab. But, bored and unfulfilled both matrimonially and professionally, Eleanor soon has an affair with a colleague. In the months following her mother’s death, Eleanor makes increasingly risky and bizarre choices, such as spending unsanctioned time with a primate from the lab, before decamping for her childhood home in New Jersey, where she goes through Rita’s belongings and begins to grasp a greater sense of her life. Eleanor’s narration alternates with flashbacks to her childhood and adolescence—notably her relationship with her troubled older sister—and of her parents’ emigration from Taipei in the late 1970s. The somewhat pensive tone is broken up by moments of levity, but always returns to questions of family history and the impossibility of understanding someone else’s story when one’s own memories are so unreliable. Chang is off to a promising start.

Starred review from October 1, 2023

Chang debuts with a poignant coming-of-age tale revolving around Eleanor, who's overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions as she contends with a strained marriage, a failing career, and the loss of her mother. Eleanor's life is falling apart, despite outward appearances to the contrary. Trying to cope with her mother's death, she abandons her doctoral program and starts working as a lab tech for her husband. She is determined to avoid her feelings, but this approach leads her to make unexpectedly bold and often comical decisions. As the story unfolds, Chang provides glimpses into Eleanor's childhood, her parents' relationship, and her family history in Taiwan, all of which shed light on family secrets. Soon, Eleanor is forced to confront both her grief and the complexities of family dynamics. Chang's artfully subtle style, sprinkled with grim humor, allows listeners to draw their own conclusions about the difficulties of navigating the future while facing the weight of the past. Throughout the novel, Angela Lin's sublime narration captivates, skillfully conveying the work's thoughtful tone and expertly drawing listeners into Eleanor's world. VERDICT Chang's delicate writing, enhanced by Lin's expert narration, breathes life into Eleanor's character, allowing listeners to connect deeply with her journey of self-discovery and healing.--Jigisha Patel

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