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Morgan and Riley Brighton are joint heirs to Kaleidoscope: a glittering, ‘global bohemian’ shopping empire—created in sleepy Oregon and catapulted into haute New York—sourcing luxury goods from around the world. Morgan, statuesque beauty and Kaleidoscope’s talented designer, is adored by all, especially by the Brighton parents. Yet no one loves her more than Riley, whose shy and adventurous spirit is exalted by her sister.
When a catastrophic event dismantles the Brightons’ world, Riley must stand in the spotlight for the first time in her life, with questions about her family that challenge her memory, identity, and loyalty. Restless and heartbroken, she sets off across the globe with the person she least expects, to seek truths about those she thought she knew best—herself included.
Kaleidoscope is at once an examination of the precious bond between sisters as well as a vibrant story of exploration and surprising love. Moving and funny, warm and wise, Cecily Wong delivers a transporting, addictive page-turner that will tempt your appetite for food and travel and change the way you imagine your place in the world.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
July 5, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593585405
- File size: 246879 KB
- Duration: 08:34:19
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Starred review from May 2, 2022
Wong (Diamond Head) captures the fierce bond and stark differences between two mixed-race Chinese American sisters, one of whom dies in a freak accident, in her penetrating latest. After a family vacation in India, Hank and Karen Liu Brighton open an import and textiles boutique called Kaleidoscope in Eugene, Ore., to cash in on Americans’ interest in Eastern aesthetics. Soon, they move to New York City to open a new Kaleidoscope branch, just as their older daughter, Morgan, begins studying at the Parsons School of Design in the city. Morgan becomes the company’s main designer, shaping vibrant Indian-inspired textiles into a panoply of culturally appropriated styles such as kimonos and Mexican embroidery, while her sister Riley, ever the observer, studies anthropology at Barnard. Then, Morgan is killed by a collapsed construction crane. Hank and Karen find refuge in sleeping pills and alcohol while Kaleidoscope wanes; Riley blindly wanders Manhattan collecting newspaper articles detailing Morgan’s death; and Morgan’s boyfriend, James, quits his job and plans a whirlwind monthslong trip abroad accompanied by Riley. After Karen reveals secrets that undermine Riley’s impression of her seemingly perfect sister, she wishes she’d been more help to Morgan. The author balances her characters’ palpable emotions with whip-smart commentary on cultural commodification, as the sisters joke about their parents’ “Doors of the World” fundraiser, in which doors procured from various countries are auctioned off to wealthy donors. It’s a smash. Agent: Meredith Kaffel Simonoff, Gernert Company. -
Narrator Courtney Lin conjures a portrait of two sisters who are leading intertwined lives while keeping vital secrets from each other. Riley's world has always revolved around her charismatic older sister, Morgan. After tragedy strikes, timid and insecure Riley must seek her own path and face certain truths about her sister. Lin deftly navigates the complicated structure of this audiobook, moving backward and forward through fragments of time in imitation of the titular kaleidoscope. She voices Riley with a mixture of teenage frustration and familial tenderness as Riley recounts aspects of her relationship to Morgan and their parents. Most noteworthy, Lin brings a shattering rawness to the scenes of Riley's emotional revelations. Dan Bittner makes a brief appearance as the enigmatic love interest of both sisters. N.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
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