Dial A for Aunties
(Sprache: Englisch)
A hilariously quirky novel that is equal parts murder mystery, rom-com, and a celebration of mothers and daughters as well as a deep dive into Chinese-Indonesian culture, by debut author Jesse Q Sutanto.
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A hilariously quirky novel that is equal parts murder mystery, rom-com, and a celebration of mothers and daughters as well as a deep dive into Chinese-Indonesian culture, by debut author Jesse Q Sutanto.
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1Present Day
I take a deep breath before pushing open the swing doors. Noise spills out, a cacophony of Mandarin and Cantonese, and I step aside so Ma can walk inside before me. It's not that I'm being nice-I mean, I am, but I'm also being sensible. Ma grew up in Jakarta's Chinatown, a place heaving with people, and she knows how to make her way through a crowd. Any crowd. If I'm the one leading the way, I'd be squeaking, "Excuse me-oh, sorry, Ah Yi-um, could I just-I have a reservation-" My voice would never be heard above the din, and we'd be stuck outside the restaurant forever. Or at least until the dim sum rush died down, sometime around 2 p.m.
As it is, people surge behind Ma as she scythes a path through the throng of families waiting for their tables, and I would've lost her if I wasn't keeping a death grip on her arm as if I'm all of three years old. She doesn't bother stopping at the front desk. She strides in as if she owns the place, eagle eyes scanning the large dining hall.
How can I describe the chaos that is a dim sum restaurant in the heart of San Gabriel Valley at 11 a.m.? The place is filled with close to a hundred round tables, each one occupied by a different family, many of them with three to four generations of people present-there are gray-haired, prune-faced Ah Mas holding chubby babies on their laps. Steaming carts are pushed by the waitresses, though if you called them "Waitress" they'd never stop for you. You must call them Ah Yi-Auntie-and wave frantically as they walk by to get them to stop. And once they do, customers descend like vultures and fight over the bamboo steamers inside the cart. People shout, asking if they've got siu mai, or har gow, or lo mai gai, and the Ah Yis locate the right dishes somewhere in the depths of their carts.
My Mandarin is awful, and my Cantonese nonexistent. Ma and the aunts often try to help me improve by
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speaking to me in either Mandarin or Indonesian, but then give up and switch to English because I only get about 50 percent of what they're saying. Their grasp of the English language is a bit wobbly, but it's a heck of a lot better than my Mandarin or Indonesian. It's yet another reason why I find it extra hard to order food at dim sum. More often than not, everything good is gone by the time the Ah Yi notices me and understands my order. Then all that's left is the lame stuff, like the doughy vegetarian dumplings or the steamed bok choy.
But today, ah, today is a good day. I manage to get my hands on two lots of har gow, something that Big Aunt will certainly appreciate, and I even get hold of lop cheung bao-Chinese sausage rolls. Almost makes the whole ordeal of coming to weekly dim sum worth my while.
Big Aunt nods her approval when the Ah Yi puts the bamboo steamers down in the center of our table, and I feel an almost overwhelming need to beat my chest and crow. I got those shrimp dumplings! Me!
"Eat more, Meddy. You should keep your strength up for tomorrow," Big Aunt says in Mandarin, plopping two pieces of braised pork ribs on my plate while I carefully place dumplings on everyone else's plates and pour them tea. Second Aunt cuts the char siu baos into two each and places one half on everyone's plate. The table being round means all the dishes are equally within reach of everyone, but Chinese family meals aren't complete without everyone serving food to everyone else, because doing so shows love and respect, which means we all need to do it in the most attention-seeking way possible. What's the point of giving Big Aunt the biggest siu mai if nobody else notices?
"Thank you, Big Aunt," I say dutifully, placing a fat har gow on her plate. I always reply in English no matter which language my family is speaking because Second Aunt says listening to me struggle through Indonesian or Mandarin makes her blood pressure rise. "You eat more too
But today, ah, today is a good day. I manage to get my hands on two lots of har gow, something that Big Aunt will certainly appreciate, and I even get hold of lop cheung bao-Chinese sausage rolls. Almost makes the whole ordeal of coming to weekly dim sum worth my while.
Big Aunt nods her approval when the Ah Yi puts the bamboo steamers down in the center of our table, and I feel an almost overwhelming need to beat my chest and crow. I got those shrimp dumplings! Me!
"Eat more, Meddy. You should keep your strength up for tomorrow," Big Aunt says in Mandarin, plopping two pieces of braised pork ribs on my plate while I carefully place dumplings on everyone else's plates and pour them tea. Second Aunt cuts the char siu baos into two each and places one half on everyone's plate. The table being round means all the dishes are equally within reach of everyone, but Chinese family meals aren't complete without everyone serving food to everyone else, because doing so shows love and respect, which means we all need to do it in the most attention-seeking way possible. What's the point of giving Big Aunt the biggest siu mai if nobody else notices?
"Thank you, Big Aunt," I say dutifully, placing a fat har gow on her plate. I always reply in English no matter which language my family is speaking because Second Aunt says listening to me struggle through Indonesian or Mandarin makes her blood pressure rise. "You eat more too
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Autoren-Porträt von Jesse Sutanto
Jesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Indonesia, Singapore, and Oxford, and considers all three places her home. She has a Masters from Oxford University, but she has yet to figure out how to say that without sounding obnoxious. Jesse has forty-two first cousins and thirty aunties and uncles, many of whom live just down the road. When she's not writing, she's gaming with her husband (mostly FPS), or making a mess in the kitchen with her two daughters.
Bibliographische Angaben
- Autor: Jesse Sutanto
- 2021, 320 Seiten, Masse: 13,7 x 20,1 cm, Kartoniert (TB), Englisch
- Verlag: Berkley
- ISBN-10: 0593333039
- ISBN-13: 9780593333037
- Erscheinungsdatum: 19.04.2021
Sprache:
Englisch
Pressezitat
One of PopSugar s "42 Books Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2021" and "Best New Books of April 2021"!Jesse Q. Sutanto s Dial A for Aunties is a hilarious, heartfelt romp of a novel about what else? accidental murder and the bond of family. This book had me laughing aloud within its first five pages, and kept me bouncing between anxiety and delight until its very last. Utterly clever, deeply funny, and altogether charming, this book is sure to be one of the best of the year! Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
"Sutanto brilliantly infuses comedy and culture into the unpredictable rom-com/murder mystery mashup as Meddy navigates familial duty, possible arrest and a groomzilla. I laughed out loud and you will too. USA Today (four-star review)
"I LOVED it. Whip-smart, original and so funny. I found it impossible to put down and lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud." Beth O Leary, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Switch
"It's a high-wire act of comic timing, misunderstandings, romantic foibles and possibly foiled heists The glue is Meddeline, endearing, capable and in full thrall to her elders, who are all absolute hoots to keep company with." The New York Times Book Review
"If you loved Crazy Rich Asians and all the comedic family drama, you'll definitely get a kick out of this story." PopSugar
"Part thriller, part rom-com, Jesse Q. Sutanto's Dial A for Aunties will give you the good laugh we could all use these days." Marie Claire
Comparisons to Crazy Rich Asians are apt, as the author details the wild spending and luxurious lifestyles of the superrich. But this story is filled with mistaken identity, a gaggle of intoxicated groomsmen, five lovably hilarious sisters, and slapstick humor that leans more toward the film Clue. Readers will die for the delightfully absurd hijinks in this dark comedy. Kirkus Reviews
Wrap a romcom with a crime novel, sprinkle in Weekend At Bernie
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s, and you get this deliciously fun, big-hearted book . If you love romcoms (this is PERFECT for adaptation) do not miss this 2021 gem of a release. BookRiot
Dial A for Aunties is a hilariously quirky novel that is equal parts murder mystery, rom-com, and a celebration of mothers and daughters as well as a deep dive into Chinese-Indonesian culture. Library Journal
The best parts are Sutanto's portrayal of the bantering, interfering aunties (" 'How could you set Meddy up with such a douchebag?' Fourth Aunt snaps at Ma"), who excel at wreaking havoc. There's plenty of light entertainment here..." Publishers Weekly
Murder is never funny, except when it is. In Sutanto s rollicking debut, which she describes in a Dear reader foreword as a love letter to my family a ridiculously large bunch with a long history of immigration, a fatal accident begets family reconciliation, true love at second sight, and happy beginnings all around. Booklist
A tightly-plotted, highly comic romp, Dial A for Aunties keeps you guessing till the very last twist. A+! Lauren Ho, author of Last Tang Standing
This laugh-out-loud tale is part crime novel, part romantic comedy, part immigration story, and full of heart. BookBub
"Dial A for Aunties has redefined what 'page-turner' means to me...If you're in the mood for laugh-out-loud humor, unprecedented mayhem (involving meddlesome family members and over-the-top drama), and delightful twists and turns at every corner, I highly recommend Dial A for Aunties." Buzzfeed
A tantalizing blend of romantic mishaps, quirky relatives, and a behind-the-scenes look at the wedding industry, Dial A for Aunties is proof of a promising new writer. Mystery Scene Magazine
"A delicious and devourable read." E! Online
"Dial A for Aunties is a warm, hilarious book that deftly straddles genres to tell a story of romance, murder, and the joys of having a family full of strong women." PopSugar
"Meddy Chan didn't mean to kill her terrible blind date. And she definitely didn't mean for the body to end up at the island resort where she and her aunties are working as planners for a billionaire's wedding...the same resort her college boyfriend apparently owns. To say that hilarious hijinks ensue would be an understatement." Good Housekeeping
"You know when you just want to read a hilarious, murder mystery, romcom? Well, here it is! Sutanto is serving wedding weirdness, ex exigence and Auntie antics for the win. " Ms. Magazine
"A quirky novel that s as fun as a rom-com and as nail-biting as a murder mystery." The Tempest
"If you re looking for something uplifting with dark humor, spontaneity, and a bit of romance sprinkled in, this may be a good choice for your next read. The Young Folks
"Genuinely hilarious, romantic and sweet, Dial A for Aunties is brilliantly crafted and compulsively fun to read." BookReporter.com
Dial A for Aunties is a hilariously quirky novel that is equal parts murder mystery, rom-com, and a celebration of mothers and daughters as well as a deep dive into Chinese-Indonesian culture. Library Journal
The best parts are Sutanto's portrayal of the bantering, interfering aunties (" 'How could you set Meddy up with such a douchebag?' Fourth Aunt snaps at Ma"), who excel at wreaking havoc. There's plenty of light entertainment here..." Publishers Weekly
Murder is never funny, except when it is. In Sutanto s rollicking debut, which she describes in a Dear reader foreword as a love letter to my family a ridiculously large bunch with a long history of immigration, a fatal accident begets family reconciliation, true love at second sight, and happy beginnings all around. Booklist
A tightly-plotted, highly comic romp, Dial A for Aunties keeps you guessing till the very last twist. A+! Lauren Ho, author of Last Tang Standing
This laugh-out-loud tale is part crime novel, part romantic comedy, part immigration story, and full of heart. BookBub
"Dial A for Aunties has redefined what 'page-turner' means to me...If you're in the mood for laugh-out-loud humor, unprecedented mayhem (involving meddlesome family members and over-the-top drama), and delightful twists and turns at every corner, I highly recommend Dial A for Aunties." Buzzfeed
A tantalizing blend of romantic mishaps, quirky relatives, and a behind-the-scenes look at the wedding industry, Dial A for Aunties is proof of a promising new writer. Mystery Scene Magazine
"A delicious and devourable read." E! Online
"Dial A for Aunties is a warm, hilarious book that deftly straddles genres to tell a story of romance, murder, and the joys of having a family full of strong women." PopSugar
"Meddy Chan didn't mean to kill her terrible blind date. And she definitely didn't mean for the body to end up at the island resort where she and her aunties are working as planners for a billionaire's wedding...the same resort her college boyfriend apparently owns. To say that hilarious hijinks ensue would be an understatement." Good Housekeeping
"You know when you just want to read a hilarious, murder mystery, romcom? Well, here it is! Sutanto is serving wedding weirdness, ex exigence and Auntie antics for the win. " Ms. Magazine
"A quirky novel that s as fun as a rom-com and as nail-biting as a murder mystery." The Tempest
"If you re looking for something uplifting with dark humor, spontaneity, and a bit of romance sprinkled in, this may be a good choice for your next read. The Young Folks
"Genuinely hilarious, romantic and sweet, Dial A for Aunties is brilliantly crafted and compulsively fun to read." BookReporter.com
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