Home Remedies

A dozen narrators perform this collection of stories about Chinese 20-somethings who are navigating the road to adulthood. All the narrators underscore the central drama of the stories, such as the clash of generations, the difficulties and joys of immigration, and the complexities of friendship. The characters are primarily the children of immigrants, university students abroad, or young adults, rich or poor, who are trying to find a future in today's China. Standout performances are Annie Q's smooth, soft portrayal of a woman who unwittingly finds social media fame in Paris, David Shih's interpretation of the emotional torment of a young, gay athlete who is in love with his heterosexual diving partner, and James Chen's characterizations of a factory manager who negotiates a marriage of convenience to gain a new country and wealth. C.B.L. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine