Chemistry by Weike Wang
Chemistry is the first novel by Weike Wang and she's off to a promising start.
The narrator is a Chinese-American girl (first generation American) whose parents wanted her to major in chemistry, physics, or the like. As she's working on her PhD in chemistry, she realizes she doesn't really want to devote her life to Chemistry. So she has to figure out what to do instead--and how the heck she is going to tell her parents. I thought the most ironic part of the story is that while she doesn't want to be a scientist, she views the world totally through the lens of science. When she starts tutoring, her explanations often revolve around scientific phenomena and how they impact everyday things.
The other plot line of Chemistry involves romantic chemistry between the narrator and her long-time American boyfriend, fellow chemistry student Eric. He thinks they should get married, she's reluctant. He asks if she'll come with him when he gets a job, she's unsure. She keeps pushing him away till he finally does get a job and leaves. Then she starts to remember all the thoughtful things he used to do for her and wonders if she has made a mistake.
Though it's not a heavily plot-driven story, Chemistry is a beautifully written book. If you're in the mood for something a little different, give it a look.
The narrator is a Chinese-American girl (first generation American) whose parents wanted her to major in chemistry, physics, or the like. As she's working on her PhD in chemistry, she realizes she doesn't really want to devote her life to Chemistry. So she has to figure out what to do instead--and how the heck she is going to tell her parents. I thought the most ironic part of the story is that while she doesn't want to be a scientist, she views the world totally through the lens of science. When she starts tutoring, her explanations often revolve around scientific phenomena and how they impact everyday things.
The other plot line of Chemistry involves romantic chemistry between the narrator and her long-time American boyfriend, fellow chemistry student Eric. He thinks they should get married, she's reluctant. He asks if she'll come with him when he gets a job, she's unsure. She keeps pushing him away till he finally does get a job and leaves. Then she starts to remember all the thoughtful things he used to do for her and wonders if she has made a mistake.
Though it's not a heavily plot-driven story, Chemistry is a beautifully written book. If you're in the mood for something a little different, give it a look.
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