Customer Reviews

Happy Birthday or Whatever: Track Suits, Kim Chee, and Other Family Disasters

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great memoir and really hilarious! Its just as good writing as Augusten Burroughs or David Sedaris, and written in a similar witty and sarcastic tone. But Choi's stories are much more accessible and way easier to relate to, yet the author and her family are still quite crazy in their own way. She has an incredible voice and the dialogue is very funny. My girlfriend read it and she really liked it too. I recently saw her read from the book at Barnes and Noble and it was one of the best readings I've ever been too...very entertaining and she had us all laughing.

If you were ever born, you can probably relate to something in this book! The only problem I had with it is that it wasn't longer. Ms. Choi's writing made me see and hear all the family members in her book, and also made me giggle a lot. Unfortunately, as these things go, I finished it in 4 short, giggly hours. I would recommend it to anyone though, because most people have families, and if you have one, you can certainly sympathize with some of the situations in the book. I can't wait to read something else from her!

What a delightful read! Annie Choi writes with warmth and wit as she shares her experience growing up as a Korean-American in Los Angeles. It is a personal story told with self-deprecating humor focusing on her relationship with her mother. Though her Korean-American experience is central to her memoir, it is also the story of many immigrant families attempting to blend traditional customs with the new in a land where so many describe themselves as hyphenated Americans. Annie shows herself to be a rebellious child endlessly arguing with her mother over wearing hand-me-down clothes and being pressured to be the perfect straight "A" student, but as she matures, she develops a deep affection for her mother, her family, and her cultural heritage. I anxiously await her next book!

Let me just start out by saying that Happy Birthday or Whatever was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The author, Annie Choi, writes about her family with wit and sarcasm and you just can't help but laugh at her somewhat tense relationship with her mother.

The thing that I loved most about this book was that it was heartwarming and humorous. There are a lot of memoirs out there written about a dysfunctional family that are depressing. "My mom was a bitch to me. My dad left and didn't care that we had no income. My brothers and sisters were homeless." Yes some of those types of memoirs tug at my heart strings, but it was refreshing to read one in where the family is dysfunctional but love each other while not really standing one another.

Even if you aren't Korean, you'll love this novel. It's relateable to anyone who has felt embarrased or annoyed at their family members or felt that they wouldn't live up to the expectations that were set by them by their family. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a memoir about a slighly dysfunctional family, yet want to laugh out loud. I read this book in about four hours and had to stay up late to finish it. I just couldn't put it down.

Choi has a sharp contemporary wit. It's a good and entertaining read about the awkward moments growing up as a cultural hybrid (which there are few good books of). Choi has a definitive and unique voice peppered wtih sarcasm, but also shows moments of vulnerability and self criticism.

I had bought this book from a recommendation from my gf. (FYI, I bought the Kindle edition of the book. Not that it changes anything...)

This is a really great read. Refreshing to read a book from my generation (sorta... I'm 25 male Korean American). I can relate to a lot of the stories because some Korean families are very similar.

I think Annie Choi will be a great writer!!! Keep up the awesome work Annie! Let us know on Amazon when you release your next book! You did a great job with this one... I couldn't stop reading!

Choi describes growing up Korean American, dealing with her parents cultural expectations and trying to be herself. She describes honestly some of the cultural mismatches that happen to her, her frustrations with her mother, and the love that keeps them all united as family.

This was quick, humorous read. Choi has a voice not dissimilar to David Sedaris -- ironic, self-deprecating, and filled with insider jokes. I especially like that Choi is from "my generation" -- really makes the scenarios come alive with references to '80s pop culture and modern digital culture. I hope she writes more!

I thought this book was great. Like being told stories by a wry girl friend. It's pretty rare that I laugh out loud while reading, but I couldn't stop laughing with this. Makes a great gift for anyone, including someone that's hard to buy for. Well-written, so people that are avid reader will enjoy it, and light enough for people that don't like reading so much.

Writing about your life can be a very difficult task. On the one hand, authors are inclined to portray themselves in the best of light and on the other they have a duty to their readers to be honest and insightful into human relations. Similar to musicians in concerts who are torn between performing their new songs (for either promotion or to be less bored) versus what their fans like. For example, I am impressed that the Rolling Stones invariably cater to their fans' desires compared to numerous other bands who are self indulgent. Choi does an outstanding job in portraying her life honestly with minimal bias. I imagine this can be even more challenging in the Korean culture since being respectful to your elders and family is emphasized more than it is in the Western culture. She manages to walk a fine line effectively. Her vignettes of her life make readers understand the challenges of growing up Korean-American which of course also applies to numerous other immigrant cultures in The USA. Choi is delightful and funny and an excellent writer. So why only 4 stars? Well, for one thing, I am a stingy rater and also I wished that Choi had included more stories about her father and brother. The book overwhelmingly is about her relationship with her mother. Furthermore there was little mention of more sensitive topics such as sex and drugs.

Overall, excellent book for this young author. She has a very promising writing career ahead of her. She should be happy that her mother emphasized academics and hard work which I am sure has contributed greatly to her talents as a writer.