A review by daniellekat
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story, by Simu Liu
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Overall I was a little disappointed by this. The first Act of the book was by far my favourite. It was beautifully written and touching, but still maintained a lighthearted humour.
The beginning of Act 2 was incredible and raw. The reader really got insight at how Simu’s formative years and experiences shaped him as a person (for better or worse). But by the end of Act 2, I was disengaged. Simu’s university days were described in so much detail and as a Canadian, I was annoyed by the constant use of words like “freshman, sophomore, etc.” Canadians don’t use that terminology and the “Americanization” of some of the language in the book just left it feeling inauthentic.
I have very mixed feelings about Act 3. I loved reading about Simu’s struggle and ownership of his identity as a minority, and I think that narrative could resonate with many readers (myself included). BUT the entire 3rd Act was just “I worked hard and this thing happened or I worked hard and I failed so I worked even harder.” Honestly it was just boring to get through. I missed reading the rawness of his relationship with his parents and how they worked on healing their relationship.
Ultimately the writing was entertaining (I think it would have been even better in audio format) and if you’re a fan of Simu Liu I would recommend.
The beginning of Act 2 was incredible and raw. The reader really got insight at how Simu’s formative years and experiences shaped him as a person (for better or worse). But by the end of Act 2, I was disengaged. Simu’s university days were described in so much detail and as a Canadian, I was annoyed by the constant use of words like “freshman, sophomore, etc.” Canadians don’t use that terminology and the “Americanization” of some of the language in the book just left it feeling inauthentic.
I have very mixed feelings about Act 3. I loved reading about Simu’s struggle and ownership of his identity as a minority, and I think that narrative could resonate with many readers (myself included). BUT the entire 3rd Act was just “I worked hard and this thing happened or I worked hard and I failed so I worked even harder.” Honestly it was just boring to get through. I missed reading the rawness of his relationship with his parents and how they worked on healing their relationship.
Ultimately the writing was entertaining (I think it would have been even better in audio format) and if you’re a fan of Simu Liu I would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs