Listen To The Squawking Chicken: When Mother Knows Best, What's a Daughter to Do

(Paperback)

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Description

Meet Elaine Lui's mother. She's a movie, an Amy Tan novel, and a sitcom all rolled into one.' Or as her daughter sums it up: 'She's Chinese, she squawks like a chicken, she is totally nuts, and I am totally dependent on her.' With tales of brutal mah-jong competitions, all-cap texts ('YOUR BAD SKIN NEED SOUP'); public shaming and pearls of occasionally-bizarre wisdom; Lui not only paints a portrait of a challenging, frustrating, fascinating woman that will make you laugh and cry, she eloquently describes exactly what it's like to love someone who drives you crazy.'

Reviews

Authentic, heartbreaking, and funny. Lui writes with the truest form of humor, grounded in pain, honesty, and insight, and despite everything, Luis love for her mother shines true. This is a book that will challenge and resonate with mothers and daughters everywhere.Jean Kwok,New York Timesbestselling author ofGirl in TranslationandMambo in Chinatown

Elaine Lui has written one remarkable and dangerous book. It had me laughing till I rolled off the bed, rearranging my living room furniture in a panic at three a.m. to achieve proper feng shui, and calling my mother out of pure guilt. The Squawking Chicken could eat any Tiger Mom for lunch. Kevin Kwan, author ofCrazy Rich Asians
Luis ma is a caustic, brashly charismatic, take-no-prisoners, larger-than-life figurea lovely read about a woman whose force of personality refuses to be ignored.Chicago Tribune

Bold and fresh, Elaine Luis writing took me on a journey filled with bittersweet verve and breathtaking grace. Forget what you think you know about life, and enter the world of the Squawking Chicken. This is a love story you wont soon forget. Ami McKay, author ofThe Birth HouseandThe Virgin Cure

Im an avid reader of Elaine Luis blog because of her intelligent, funny and distinctive voice. So of course, her memoir was a must-read. By turns hilarious and moving, it tells the story of her charismatic mother her difficult childhood in Hong Kong, immigration to Canada and tiger-mom style of raising her daughter Lainey to be the outspoken success she is today. Along the way we learn a lot about Mah Jong and Feng Shui (two of her mothers obsessions), but most of all about the intense love between mother and daughter. I was spellbound from start to finish! Jennifer Ross, People.com

What an incredible character is the Squawking Chickenshes a movie, an Amy Tan novel, and a sitcom all rolled into one. By turns deeply moving, shocking, and hilarious, this is a story of atypical parenting, cultural complexities, and one daughters capacity for forgiveness, compassion, and love. I didnt want it to end. Lisa Gabriele, author ofSECRETand TV producer

Once I started reading, I couldnt stop. I read it compulsively, wide-eyed, and devouring: Luis writing is sharp, humorous, and deliciously readable, like a long, insightful letter from your best friend. Listen to the Squawking Chicken asks you to reflect on what you think about loyalty, shame, pride and lovethemes that all mothers and daughters know deeply. This book made me rethink what it means to be a daughter. I loved it. I can't wait to give it to my mother. Sarah Seleky, author ofThis Cake Is for the Party

Author Bio

Elaine Luiis the voice behind the wildly popular and successful blog LaineyGossip.com, which gets nearly 1.5 million unique visitors monthly. She lives in Toronto with her husband and beagles. Listen to the Squawking Chicken is her first book.