This book was not what I expected. I mostly don’t like magical realism and have avoided Gabriel Garcia Marquez and have struggled when reading Haruki Murakami, both of whom are known for their magical realism. It is a bit strange, since I like fantasy books a lot and science fiction as well, but the combination of reality and magic seems to be a sticking point for me.

What drew me into Gold Diggers, however, was the powerful story of second generation Asian immigrants to the US, shouldering the huge expectations of their families. These young people, who have been acculturated with the American values of self fulfillment and self determination, are expected to fulfill their parents dreams thus justifying the costly sacrifices their parents made. Sathian has captured the dissonance of the younger generation so well- the need for self fulfillment and at the same time struggling to honor their parents expectations.

Neil Narayan has grown up in a Asian American enclave in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, Most of the neighbors on their street are Asian. Everyone knows everyone and the competition and gossip mill keeps everyone posted on what child is excelling in school and who is having trouble getting into an Ivy League college. The pressure to succeed is enormous, and Neil is not handling the pressure very well. His parents want him to be a doctor or a lawyer but he is not sure hat he wants to be ” successful” in that way. Mostly, instead of working on debate or studying for the SAT, he wants to hang out with his friend Anita who lives across the street.

Neil knows that Anita is also struggling with her own pressures to succeed. She has entered the Teen Miss Asia contest and has been doing charitable work to enhance her academic resume  to get into an Ivy League school. But Neil soon discovers that she and her mother have found something else to help Anita achieve her ambitions. An alchemic potion using gold stolen from others that “harvests” their ambition and makes it your own. Convinced that this will help him as well, Neil persuades Anita and her mother to let him drink this gold cocktail, too. But magic and alchemy have unforeseen costs and when a tragic event occurs its repercussions split their community apart.

Years later, Anita and Neil meet again. Neil is still trying to find his own path, while Anita is taking time to reevaluate her life. This time will the power of the gold cocktail fulfill their dreams or bring them answers that they need in order to be set free?

Insightful and intelligent, Sathian captures the struggles of Neil and Anita as well as their parents who are trying their best to raise them. Sometimes bitterly funny and at times profoundly sad and moving, this book provides a look behind the myth of Asian-American success and show us what it takes to make it in America.

Brenda’s Rating: ***** (5 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Sharon, Marian, Lauren, Keith and Ken.

Book Study Worthy? Yes

Read in e-library format.