I’m punching myself for not reading this book earlier AND for goofing off (aka knitting and Minecrafting) while reading it instead of blazing through it as it deserved. I’ve been sitting on this since November of LAST YEAR when someone in marketing at the publisher reached out with it.* I forced myself to wait until late March/early April to read it because I had a feeling I would really enjoy it and that barely covers my enthusiasm for it.
The premise was fascinating to me even if I was a bit wary of the Boston setting (I have bad experience with books being set where I live/have lived), but international art theft by college students, critiques on colonialism, BIPOC author, and characters, discussion of diaspora, ummm obviously I was going to say yes to it. I found out while reading the acknowledgments, that this has already been optioned by Netflix and I cannot tell you how much I’m ready for that!
Throw in that this is a debut novel and I’m still reeling from reading it. Li’s writing truly felt like something from someone 4-5 books in with one of the large international publishers. It was well written, had well-developed characters (primary and minor), and was just so polished.
‘We’re children of the diaspora,’ Will said. He had grown up in the US, knew that no matter how much he wanted it to be, China would never be home to him. ‘All we’ve ever known is loss.’ (Chapter 37)
The story centers around Will (the mastermind) who is in his final year as an art history student at Harvard and witnesses a theft at the Harvard Sackler museum and receives a business card from one of the robbers that kicks off the entire story. The other protagonists are his sister Irene (con artist), their childhood best friend Daniel (the safecracker/burglar), Irene’s roommate Lily (getaway driver) who races cars illicitly in Durham, NC, and last but not least Alex (the hacker) an MIT student who left before graduating with an obscene offer from Silicone Valley.
For me, the book wasn’t about the heists even though they’re so well written and fascinating, especially when they run into another crew while in the middle of a heist and the ending of the book where I know I was 100% left with a “holy shit was this the plan the entire time” mindset. For me, the book was about the critique of museums and colonial inheritance, and the diaspora experience.
Li did a wonderful job of writing these Chinese American characters and the troubles they face as first and second-generation Americans AND she balanced it with their interactions between each other, Chinese nationals, and their parents who originally immigrated from China. There were a couple of conversations throughout the book where people asked Will or others of the team WHY they were doing this when they weren’t from China, and they were just so well written and heart baring that they really overshadowed the thriller/action and adventure aspect of the book.
When you add in that I was playing catch up on podcasts and listened to this podcast, not two weeks before starting this, it really put these conversations into perspective.
12 Heads from the Garden of Perfect Brightness https://t.co/5NBSZLq9KJ
— 99 Percent Invisible (@99piorg) February 16, 2021
The critiques of museums and western colonialism were interesting to read while everything else was happening at such a fast pace:
This was how it always went. Museums overlooked colonialism, conquest, a history of blood, until it was laid in front of them, until violence was met with violence. (Chapter 50)
Stolen art always took the same path. A smuggler in a foreign country, art that was shipped across oceans. Forged papers, a curator who was willing to look the other way. From a private collection in Europe, the documents would say, and there would be no questions after that. He had seen it in the art at the Drottningholm. History did not change. Thieves just got better at hiding. (Chapter 60)
There were times when Will (whose chapter both of these appeared in) seemed to run the edge between willing naivete and forceful optimism/idealism. This really came across when he spoke specifically about the summer palace and the looted goods, but other conversations showed this wasn’t just about the Chinese art and artifacts that had been looted, but all art and artifacts. It reminded me of many conversations I had in undergrad with art history major friends about whether things should be repatriated or fees should be paid to continue to show famous pieces from other countries. It’s such a huge decision that has moral and ethical complications and is never an easy yes or no (even though personally more often than not it should be more clear cut).
My final note is to say that I was so happy with the end of the book. I’m still a little shell-shocked and wonder whether it was the plan from the beginning. But all of that aside, I am HERE FOR Irene and Alex (and to a lesser extent Will and Lily). I loved that their sexuality wasn’t the main driver in the story, but that it happened naturally and that there was never a big deal made out of Irene’s past girlfriends or the unrequited love of Daniel. The scene between Alex and Daniel was heartbreaking and I really hope Daniel finds his true love because he definitely deserves it.
Recommendation: There were so many facets of this novel that I could read this a dozen times and find something new to write about. Li’s writing about art history and provenance and the Chinese diaspora really drew me in and kept me engaged. When tied together with locations I knew or was familiar with she really hit it out of the park and kept me engaged the entire time. Li is an author to keep an eye on as I can only imagine her future works will be that much more engaging and fun to read.
*I received a copy of Portrait of a Thief via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.
Opening Line: “State your name for the record, please.”
Closing Line: “For the first time, it felt like enough.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
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