‘We Were Dreamers’ Is So Relatable For Every Asian Immigrant Kid
May 31, 2022
What hasn't already been said about Simu Liu’s memoir?
We Were Dreamers has received high praise, and rightly so. The memoir centers around being a child of immigrants and the stories Liu tells are so full of heart, humour, and honesty that it’s hard to put this book down.
What really took me by surprise was Liu's vulnerability. From talking about his often-strained relationship with his parents to his struggles to pursue his acting career, Liu's self-reflection often made me think of my own childhood memories and experiences growing up with immigrant parents.
There was one particular story he told that stuck with me. Liu explained that the first time his mother ever yelled at him was because he wasn’t able to memorize “eight easy words” after sitting at his desk for an hour. Reading this from Liu’s perspective immediately brought up a similar childhood memory where my mom yelled at me for not knowing the difference between there, their, and they’re. (I grew up to be a writer, so obviously I got it eventually 😅).
Although the incident had a less serious impact on me than it did on Liu, it did make me think about my mother’s perspective in that instance and how she just wanted me to learn and be set up for success. I thought about my parents a lot while reading this book, and it's likely one of the reasons I loved it so much.
My view from Simu Liu’s author talk at Toronto’s Hot Docs.
I was lucky enough to attend an author talk with Liu at Toronto’s Hot Docs earlier this month where he emphasized the importance of learning your parents' stories while you can. He also explained that he wanted his memoir to show an imperfect family because that’s what they were. Liu’s raw honesty is what makes him and his book so relatable, especially for Asian immigrant kids.
💥𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑: This is a moving and inspiring memoir that emphasizes the importance of knowing (and understanding) your family story. Those who grew up in the ‘90s and/or in Toronto will love the pop culture and local references. 5/5
Read more about We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu:
