Listen To The Squawking Chicken: When Mother Knows Best, What's A Daughter To Do? A Memoir (Sort Of) (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
My husband brought me this book thinking that I would like it and I did. I like getting inside other people's heads and lives and Lui has had a very different life than I. It was at times fun and silly and at others cringey and horrible. I had never heard of Lui or her blog but the book made we want to read it. I definitely think that the blog better suits her writing style. It seemed like she was trying to write in a more literary style for the book but threw in slang and curse words rather haphazardly. They seemed out of place. My main objection to the book is that it is true. While Lui obviously loves her mother she has done an excellent job of creating a crazy and very personal portrait of her family that made me feel a bit like a peeping tom. Anyone who is not familiar with Elaine Lui, (aka Lainey gossip) do yourselves a favour, and get familiar. This woman is a firecracker! And although her main claim to fame is celebrity gossip, she is so much more than that... for further proof, tune in to the Social (a Canadian "The View") and just listen to one of her classic rants. When she has an opinion about something, she's going to tell you exactly what it is. Her "memoir" of sorts is mostly about her relationship with her mother, otherwise known as the Squawking Chicken. It's a very brave thing to write about her, because I can see that a lot of people are going to take this the wrong way and think that Lainey has been bullied and brainwashed her whole life. But I really don't think that is the case here. Her mother is a survivor, first and foremost, and with an iron fist of determination, does her best to provide her daughter with all the things in life she never had, all the while making sure not to spoil her. The stories that Lainey has of her mother are hilarious and chilling. There was some dark stuff going on early in the Squawking Chicken's life. The fact that she remains who she is to this day is a miracle. So many others would have buckled at this point. It was an interesting insight to what its like to be a Chinese immigrant in Canada, to have to learn a new language, to have to make new friends and find several new jobs. It proves that if you have enough guff, you sure can get whatever you want out of life.I would have really liked to have learned a bit more about Lainey strange and fascinating life. Sure the book is mostly about her mother, but Lainey has had some crazy opportunities in her short time on earth and it would have been cool to hear her talk about them... perhaps that's for book two though. Either way, I think that the relationship of mother and daughter in this book is really something special and I'm glad I read about it. It made me appreciate my mother, and my relationship with her and her family. (My mother also immigrated to Canada when she was young - although coming from England, there wasn't that language barrier, it still had its own trials and tribulations) Its worth a read for anyone who needs a fresh perspective to appreciate what they have. Its worth a read for anyone who has immigrant parents. Its worth a read if all your simply looking for is a bit of a laugh. And some positivity.
What do You think about Listen To The Squawking Chicken: When Mother Knows Best, What's A Daughter To Do? A Memoir (Sort Of) (2014)?
If you have an Asian mom who is very domineering you will identify with this book.
—bama123
This book was a light read and I much enjoyed how relatable and funny it was!
—Janica
Wouldn't have survived a mother like that.
—eas212
