Chemistry

Chemistry is the book to read if you want to scare yourself out of going to grad school. Wang's debut follows an unnamed narrator struggling to commit to both her PhD program and boyfriend Eric, who keeps asking her to marry him. Her personal and professional difficulties are shaped by her upbringing as an only child of Chinese immigrants.It's kind of a stream of consciousness, sloshing narrative. I can see some not having the patience for so much ennui, but I think the tone is appropriate for the story being told, and the person telling it. Chemistry reminds me of [b:We Are Okay 28243032 We Are Okay Nina LaCour https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471899036l/28243032.SY75.jpg 48277368], in terms of everything feeling a bit numb and distant. It reminds me more of [b:Severance 36348525 Severance Ling Ma https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507060524l/36348525.SY75.jpg 58029884], both novels with stark covers about women borne to Chinese immigrants, with white boyfriends who don't get it. And in some ways, Chemistry feels like the converse to [b:Convenience Store Woman 36739755 Convenience Store Woman Sayaka Murata https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528893875l/36739755.SX50.jpg 51852264]. Both protagonists are Asian women, and both stories consider life stages, work, and relationships. But while Convenience Store Woman features a protagonist content with making the “wrong” choices, Chemistry features a protagonist discontent with making the “right” choices.