The Chinese Groove

A Novel

By: Kathryn Ma

Narrated by: James Chen

Anne Tyler meets Jade Chang in this buoyant, good-hearted, and sharply written novel about a blithely optimistic immigrant with big dreams, dire prospects, and a fractured extended family in need of his help—even if they don't know it yet

Eighteen-year-old Shelley, born into a much-despised branch of the Zheng family in Yunnan Province and living in the shadow of his widowed father’s grief, dreams of bigger things. Buoyed by an exuberant heart and his cousin Deng’s tall tales about the United States, Shelley heads to San Francisco to claim his destiny, confident that any hurdles will be easily overcome by the awesome powers of the “Chinese groove,” a belief in the unspoken bonds between countrymen that transcend time and borders.

Upon arrival, Shelley is dismayed to find that his “rich uncle” is in fact his unemployed second cousin once removed and that the grand guest room he’d envisioned is but a scratchy sofa. The indefinite stay he’d planned for? That has a firm two-week expiration date. Even worse, the loving family he hoped would embrace him is in shambles, shattered by a senseless tragedy that has cleaved the family in two. They want nothing to do with this youthful bounder who’s barged into their lives. Ever the optimist, Shelley concocts a plan to resuscitate his American dream by insinuating himself into the family. And, who knows, maybe he’ll even manage to bring them back together in the process.

A delightful surprise

The narrator really helped enhance this lovely, amusing and touching story. I highly recommend it.

Truly Groovy

I absolutely found listening to this book easy. The juxtaposition between the Chinese & Jewish cultures along with the inner turmoil of Shelly made the experience groovy!

This was just ok for me

I kept waiting for a big plot point, but it never really happened for me. A good book. A sweet story overall. A fine listen, but not a book I’ll probably read again.

ticked all the boxes for me

as a former resident of San Francisco I found this a particularly enjoyable listen. A topical, current, engaging, hopeful story deftly delivered by an appropriate and skilled narrator

Terrific immigrant and family story

I loved this book and all of its complexities. It’s funny and heartbreaking, and kept me telling my dog we had to go on another walk so I could listen to it. Kudos to the author and the narrator for giving us a story worth knowing.