We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story by Simu Liu
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Web ID: 14462480One of the BEST memoirs I've read!
I totally picked up WE WERE DREAMERS: AN IMMIGRANT SUPERHERO ORIGIN STORY by Simu Liu because I had just watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and wanted to get my hands on anything more of Liu. I expected to be immersed in Marvel stories, but what I actually got was one of the most profound memoirs I have ever read. And to hear it read in Liu’s own words elevates to a level beyond anything you will ever listen to. His journey is intense, but it is 1000% worth the ride! The best thing about this memoir is that Liu makes it relatable. I felt like I was having a conversation with a friend. Again, I want to emphasize how much I adored the audiobook of this - there is just something special when the author is the narrator of their own book. His emotions flourished and really got me that I was crying by the end of the book, too. I didn’t know what to expect with this memoir. As I said, I hoped to have Marvel stories since I’m a Marvel super fan, but it ended up being Liu’s family history, Chinese history, the importance of Asian representation in the media (something he is pretty passionate about), and his personal history from birth to print which is quite the journey. They intertwine to make WE WERE DREAMERS an incredible and poignant story that I feel is an essential read, not just for memoir readers and Marvel fans, but for all readers because it’s an important read to educate us all. I listened to this, loved it, and cried my way through the end. I feel like me and Simu are friends now after that experience - that’s cool, right? Content Warnings: child abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, racism, abandonment, su*c*dal thoughts, xenophobia
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A true delight of a memoir
A charming, heartfelt, and well-written memoir, Simu Liu's WE WERE DREAMERS is a true delight. Spanning from before he was born (with a focus on his parents' lives and how they toiled to fulfill their dreams) to the moment where he found out that he earned the role of Shang-Chi, this book really lays bare the immigrant experience in a way that I've never read before. He's not shy when talking about his complicated relationship with his parents, or all the ways in which he failed along his journey. I'm not generally a nonfiction reader, but I would read this one again in a heartbeat. (Or perhaps listen to the audiobook version I've heard so many wonderful things about!) The only quibble I have is the focus on work and career in the later chapters. Yes, that's important and all-consuming for everyone, especially Simu. But the thing that really connected me to this book was Simu's openness and deep dives on his relationships with others (especially his grandparents). People who were close to him or integral in his early years (even through college) are never mentioned again. In fact, it almost sounds like he's a completely solitary figure from 22 to about 29, with only small asides about a dog or a girlfriend as a reminder that he's not living in a vacuum. I would've been really interested to see how his career struggles and triumphs impacted his relationships with others. The lack of a throughline or even a continued focus on his relationship with his parents, because it's such an integral part of the first 2/3 of the book, is really disappointing. Even if it's too recent and there hasn't been much of a reconciliation, certain asides point toward their relationship improving, but we never get to learn why or how in the same way we bear witness to the complete deterioration during his childhood. It's not distracting that these elements weren't there, but just a little distracting as someone who deeply invests in interpersonal relationships. And so, the book kind of ran out of steam a bit for me by the end. That being said, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone, regardless of if you consider yourself a non-fiction reader or not. It's a great read and provides fascinating insight into someone I knew very little about as a person.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
You'll cry, laugh, and feel all the feels!
To read a memoir of an Asian Canadian actor who is about the same age as me is crazy to think about. Never would a young version of me think that I would see someone who was just like me on a front cover sharing a story that is similar to mine (mine the becoming a Marvel superhero bit but hey, Marvel, call me!) There was just so much heart on each and every page. There were moments I would cry and others I would laugh. But after each and every twist and turn in the story, I'm reminded of how important stories like this are meant to be read and told. It's now 200+ pages of confirmation to me that I'm on the creative path I'm meant to be on. And for that, I'm truly grateful.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
An Unexpectedly Fun Read!
I am not generally a fan of Auto-Biographies. Not everyone is capable of engaging and conversational story telling. Simu Liu MOST DEFINITELY is. The stories he shares are as emotional as they are entertaining and his style and brand of humor makes the read feel effortless. This is my favorite book of the year so far!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Funny, touching, and inspirational
Simu Liu wonderfully captures the experience of immigrant families in North America and their complexity. It was deeply relatable, hilarious, and well written.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com