A Long Stay in a Distant Land

Chieng, Chieh

ISBN 10: 0786182369 ISBN 13: 9780786182367

Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks, 2005

Synopsis

In this funny and inventive novel, the Lums are a death-stalked Chinese American family living in Orange County, California. Ever since Grandpa Melvin was inspired to join the US Army after watching a Popeye movie and--as family lore has it--unleashed a "relentless rain of steel death" upon the Nazis, Lum after Lum has been doomed to an untimely demise, be it by tainted cheeseburger or speeding ice-cream truck. Now young Louis must move back home with his father, Sonny, to prevent him from enacting the revenge he promises. But soon Louis finds himself searching for his long-lost uncle Bo Lum in Hong Kong. As Louis' search progresses, the tragicomic story of three generations of Lums in America is revealed through the eyes of Louis, Sonny, and Grandma Esther.

About this title

About the Authors

Chieh Chieng was born in Hong Kong and moved to Orange County, California, at the age of seven. He graduated from the creative writing program at the University of California, Irvine, and has been published in several literary magazines.

James Yaegashi has appeared in numerous Broadway and off-Broadway productions, film, and television roles. He was also a popular radio disc jockey in Japan. He is a four-time winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award for audiobook narration, and his voice-over credits include a featured role in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Reviews

Count your blessings--you could be a Lum, the death-stalked family of this intriguing novel. Lums don't die in conventional ways either. Their ends come at the hands of ice cream trucks, cheeseburgers, and Nazis. Narrator James Yaegashi lovingly renders this story in an understated tone that fits the novel. His methodical pace and easy style nudge the action along and keep the book interesting. His deep voice is soothing and cool, and he makes dialogue sound as though it comes from real people. He runs into trouble only while trying to evoke convincing female characters. Unfortunately, he misses the mark, with one of the elderly females sounding like Marge Simpson. This is a minor issue though. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Edition details

• Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0786182369
• ISBN 13: 9780786182367
• Binding: Audio CD