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A review by maybak
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story by Simu Liu
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
I haven’t watched any of his films yet but I added this memoir to my TBR list a while ago. I listened to the audiobook version which he brilliantly narrated. The pace, the emotion, the tone… it’s well executed.
I didn’t know much about his personal story and I wasn’t expecting so much transparency in how he depicted his relationship with his parents. I’m not Chinese nor Asian but I’m also the daughter of immigrants. There was so much I could relate to despite us having completely different lives and roots. I like that he dedicated part of his memoir to setting the scene for us so we could understand what it was like growing up in China, being raised by his grandparents and how he ended up in Canada. It really helps paint a clear and informative picture about his cultural background, his parents’ work ethic, the challenges they faced throughout their lives and how that affected their relationship when he was a child, a teen, and a young adult.
I also enjoyed the parts where he discussed the importance of representation, of the celebration of his Chinese culture, the challenges faced by kids of Asian descent and how they rekindle with their motherland’s culture. It’s very interesting as I ponder the similarities with growing up as a diaspora kid with roots in Africa.
He seemed obnoxious and self-centered, at times, but I feel he has done his best to let us in into his world—qualities, flaws and all. In my book, that’s what a good memoir does. It helps you connect and understand who the author really is, and what experiences shaped their life.
I didn’t know much about his personal story and I wasn’t expecting so much transparency in how he depicted his relationship with his parents. I’m not Chinese nor Asian but I’m also the daughter of immigrants. There was so much I could relate to despite us having completely different lives and roots. I like that he dedicated part of his memoir to setting the scene for us so we could understand what it was like growing up in China, being raised by his grandparents and how he ended up in Canada. It really helps paint a clear and informative picture about his cultural background, his parents’ work ethic, the challenges they faced throughout their lives and how that affected their relationship when he was a child, a teen, and a young adult.
I also enjoyed the parts where he discussed the importance of representation, of the celebration of his Chinese culture, the challenges faced by kids of Asian descent and how they rekindle with their motherland’s culture. It’s very interesting as I ponder the similarities with growing up as a diaspora kid with roots in Africa.
He seemed obnoxious and self-centered, at times, but I feel he has done his best to let us in into his world—qualities, flaws and all. In my book, that’s what a good memoir does. It helps you connect and understand who the author really is, and what experiences shaped their life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Racism