Euphoria by Lily King, 2014

Poetically and sparsely written, Euphoria is the story of three anthropologists living amongst the natives along the banks of the Sepik River in New Guinea.

Nell Stone, her husband Schuyler Fenwick, or Fen, and Andrew Bankson have been in New Guinea conducting research in attempts to achieve recognition in the field so that they are able to support their research.

Fen is a ruthless and brutal man who flourishes in the Mumbanyo tribe.  In Nell's shadow due to her successful anthropology book, Fen lashes out against her.

Bankson is the opposite of Fen and in Nell, finds a reason to live after years living with the Konia and feeling lost in his career.

With Bankson's help, Fen and Nell find the Tam tribe to live with and study.

Months later, the three anthropologists re-unite with the Tam where the story climaxes with Nell, Bankson and Fen collaborating together, while Fen plots out his devious and selfish plans to obtain fame and wealth.

Based on Margaret Mead's life, Euphoria is a compelling story of a world that I'm not familiar with - anthropologists living with remote tropical tribes.  The novel is a fascinating read and provides a glimpse into the fascinating world of primitive tribes that still exist today.

(This is a belated post from January 2015)

Fresh Off The Boat by Eddie Huang, 2013

Eddie Huang definitely has a voice.  A funny, fast-paced and enjoyable read, Fresh Off The Boat is an insightful and entertaining autobiography.

The eldest son of Taiwanese immigrants, Huang grew up an outsider in the predominately white suburb of Orlando.

Lacking ethnic diversity or culture - although, to be fair, Huang notes that he is often told to go back to China in New York City as well - Huang is called names and picked on by not only his classmates, but also his parents.

Huang ends up in a bad crowd and actively resents the assimilation Asian-Americans strive for - to be doctors, lawyers or accountants.

Throughout his childhood, he is always able to relate to food.  The love and appreciation of food from Taiwan to the 'mystery' food he is served at a Caucasian friend's house - macaroni and cheese.

Despite being a self-acclaimed rotten banana, Huang excels in school and although too short and slow to be a star athlete, commits and gives it his all to the football team he joins in high school.

After a few hiccups, including an arrest, record and interview with the Orlando Sentinel that was cut short because of his 'face,' Huang does take the 'traditional' path and enters law school.  His decision to attend law school is to prove something, to gain respect that he never had as a Asian-American.

His career as an attorney is short-lived as he eventually follows his passion and opens a restaurant, Baohaus, in New York City to rave reviews.

Huang's autobiography has inspired the ABC sitcom of the same name.  Clearly, the rotten banana has hit his stride and disrupting the stereotypical way that Asian-Americans are perceived.