The title of this book caught me and drove me to request it from NetGalley. It's not my typical book, but I enjoyed learning about Chinese American history and life in a restaurant, as well as Curtis's coming of age/coming out. I liked how the book's chapters were titled like items on the Chinese menu! There was a lot of repetitive language and strange similes and comparisons along the way. I feel this could have used another round of edits before putting out an ARC. I am not sure if there were improvements before it was published.

This book was highly enjoyable and made me miss easy access to an H-Mart. It was a relatively quick read that was a little educational but always entertaining. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC copy.

This was really great and thoroughly enjoyable. I'll admit, I didn't know who Curtis Chin was before reading this but the premise was interesting enough that I still wanted to check it out. It was so well written and Chin has such an interesting voice and story.

I really enjoyed this memoir by Curtis Chin. Loved how it was laid out like a Chinese restaurant menu.

Chin writes about his experience as an American born Chinese gay man in the 80s and 90s. He grew up in his family’s decades-old Chinese restaurant in Detroit. It was interesting to see his take on his surroundings and how he grew up in a time where people were not as kind to Asian or queer people. (I won’t comment on how not much has changed for either demographic in today’s world, because sadly we have not come as far as we should have by now.) Through his stories, we can see that life was tough for him and others back then.

I loved his style of writing, he was open and honest, shared many stories about growing up and I would recommend it to anyone. I appreciated his love of food, family, and his journey to loving and being his most authentic self. It was a love letter to Detroit, to Chinese food, his family, and most of all, to himself.

I share many other reviewers' opinions that the book isn't bad, necessarily, just oddly paced. There were times when I could not put it down, and times when I thought about DNFing it. More than the stories of self-awareness and exploration, I enjoyed the historical context of many of Chin's stories. I also found the family dynamics quite interesting and how his grandmother was the matriarch yet his mother gave up so much to come to the United States, get married, and have a family. I would recommend this book, not for it being a riveting memoir, but more for it being a pretty good story.

This is the Chinese-American history I've been missing! I love how Curtis Chin takes us inside the restaurant. The is not a stuffy history textbook - hear "he had Motown swag" and "Our cheap-cheap prices? That was for everyone" (during an era of intense discrimination/segregation/ and repression). Everything I Learned is wonderfully inviting as a memoir and larger social history that moves Chinese-Americans from the margins to center stage.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was really great and thoroughly enjoyable. I'll admit, I didn't know who Curtis Chin was before reading this but the premise was interesting enough that I still wanted to check it out. It was so well written and Chin has such an interesting voice and story.

I love a memoir that hits on important topics but doesn't take the whole of itself too seriously, meaning it makes room not only for things of import but also for humor and silly stories. I loved hearing about Chin's growth and transformation, not only with his sexuality and political beliefs but also in his self=confidence and his place in his family. I laughed, I teared up, and I was deeply moved as certain topics really hit home. I am a white, straight, female (so I don't get much more opposite than Chin) - but the way he wrote about his struggles, lessons, and triumphs made them accessible in a way that many authors try but don't quite achieve.

This was a really great memoir that I am really glad I read - I highly recommend it!

Wonderful memoir about growing up queer, working class and chinese in the midwest. It's not often you hear people talk about their midwest upbringing and it's both refreshing and fascinating to read a memoir that focuses solely only on childhood to college years. So many memoirs just skip to right to meat of someone's career, but instead Chin keeps you in his childhood and those exploratory years so you can really get to know his hometown, his family and their history. I thoroughly enjoyed this title and as my library has already purchased it, I will be recommending it to anyone looking to read a memoir!

The layout, with chapters arranged like a Chinese restaurant menu was so fun and unique. Curtis Chin has an easy writing style that makes you feel like you’re listening to him talk over dinner. This was an easy, enjoyable read that feels calmly personal, like a small inside joke we share.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Discovering and accepting one's identity can be a challenging journey, whether you are an adult or a child. Curtis Chin, in his memoir, shares his experience of coming to terms with who he is and embracing it with open arms. His story is an inspiring one that teaches us the importance of being true to ourselves and loving what we see in the mirror. Chin's memoir is a captivating read, as he shares his insights on his father's outgoing personality, his mother's sacrifices, and the most significant revelation of his life - his homosexuality. Through the various experiences he went through, Curtis Chin evolved into the person he is today, and his memoir, "Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant," is a must-read for anyone looking for a heartwarming, humorous, and uplifting life lesson. Don't wait any longer - order your copy of this remarkable memoir now!

I knew the second I started reading this that I would want the audio instead and I’m so glad I made the switch! Curtis is relatable and raw and honest while still presenting his harrowing tales hilariously! As a child to immigrants, I could relate so much but also lear ed about his culture’s unique challenges. A great memoir!

This was an interesting look into the life of Curtis Chin, from his childhood in Detroit to his life as a published author. I enjoyed following along and learning more about him as he struggled with is identity, be it with his race or sexual orientation, to find his place in the world. I admired his courage to stand up for his beliefs, even if it was to his detriment at times. Overall, a fascinating read that always comes back to his family’s restaurant.

I was totally interested in the premise of this book, I love memoirs and I also born and raised around Detroit. I enjoyed reading all the Detroit references such as when he mentioned going to Cobo hall. However, I found myself constantly getting bored while I read this and kept putting it off to pick up something else. I think this book had a more observant perspective instead of an introspective one that I prefer when reading memoirs. I ended up not finishing this one, sorry.

So cute, so fun. I'd heard lots about how great this book is, and it surpassed my expectations. I love books that use a formula like this title. It's a great, focused idea, and it had me reading longer than I'd planned. This is a good one. Get it for your holiday grab bag gifts.

I enjoyed this memoir a lot! I haven’t heard of Curtis Chin before this book but saw the title on Netgalley and knew I needed to read it. I think the pacing slowed considerably in the middle and could have picked up or shortened a little? Maybe less about the college deets? Either way, it did take me a bit to get through the book despite my enthusiasm. I loved hearing about Chin’s life at Chung’s and growing up in Detroit during Vincent Chin murder and economic downturn. I also really appreciated Chin’s awareness of the AIDS epidemic while he was also becoming aware of his sexuality and queerness. Overall, this was a very thoughtful memoir and also I have been following AAWW NYC for the past couple years and just realized that Chin is a co-founder — how wonderful.

Curtis Chin's memoir Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant is equal parts endearing and hilarious. Chin weaves humor into the story of his family's immigration to the United States and the history of the family restaurant. With anecdotes from his life growing up as one of the only Asian kids (apart from his siblings) in Detroit, Chin makes readers laugh and cry while experiencing his memorable coming-of-age story.

Living in the Midwest, I saw Detroit as both fascinating and dangerous, even as it declined economically and socially when it lost the auto industry and economic power, and became a literal war zone, with riots and fires, a city soon abandoned by many long time residents.

I was delighted to read of this Chinese family that stayed and thrived even in dangerous conditions, because of their well-known restaurant with customers from all classes, races and religions, the common ground being love of Chinese cuisine.

The memoir describes a volatile Detroit during those changing times and the lives of the Chinese family, the Chins, as seen by third son, Curtice, a second generation son. Curtice's book covers his life there until he left after graduating from the University of Michigan to find his own way, as a film maker in NYC.

The heady topics of his sexuality, his position in the family as the middle child of five, plus racism and discrimination, and the dangers of Detroit are offset by the humor with which Curtice Chin tackles his own personal life there. The memoir is entertaining as well as informative and very considerate regarding many of the people he came in contact with in school, at work, in daily life. This, in spite of the fact that the Chinese community there could not forget the murder of a family friend, Vincent Chin, considered an act of discrimination that was never fully punished.

Kudos to the author for writing with so much insight and honesty, and presenting himself with delightful humor in between the very serious topics.

This memoir was pretty good. I enjoyed hearing about the authors experiences and his battle with fitting in, growing up queer, battling common place racism and anti-Asian sentiments and the complex family dynamics. I also appreciate the respect the author used when speaking about community members that others might easily shame or talk down about.

While I wish certain sections divulged more of Curtis Chin's experiences and feelings, I appreciate his vulnerability in the events of his life that he does share with his readers. He effectively captures his family dynamics and explores his discovery of his sexuality and cultural identity with bemusement, creating some laugh-out-loud moments. I honestly could have kept reading about his family's restaurant because of the atmosphere Chin creates.

This was such a great memoir, and I LOVED the title!! I really loved hearing about Curtis Chin’s parents, btw-they are true heroes in so many ways.

Notable lines:

“Just because you’re accused of a crime does not mean you’re guilty. It was important to stand your ground.”

“Before [Vincent’s] killing, I had felt secure as an Asian American. Sure, we encountered some discrimination, but for the most part, I thought we had been accepted . . . but the incident clarified any misunderstandings. We were outsiders.”