ALIBRARYREADSPICKANDBESTBOOKCLUBPICKOF2023“Awriterofastonishinggrace,delicacy,andfeeling.“--MichaelChabon,PulitzerPrize-winningauthorofTheAmazingAdventuresofKavalierandClay“Abeautiful,hauntingbook.“--KarenJoyFowler,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofBoothandWeAreAllCompletelyBesideOurselvesThebelovedbestsellingauthorofTheColorofAir,WomenoftheSilk,andTheSamurai’sGardenreturnswiththismagnificenthistoricalnovelbasedonthelifeoftheluminous,groundbreakingactressAnnaMayWong--thefirstandonlyAsianAmericanwomantogainmoviestardomintheearlydaysofHollywood.Atthedawnofanewcentury,Americaisfallinginlovewithsilentmovies,includingyoungWongLiuTsong.ThedaughterofChineseimmigrantswhoownalaundry,WongLiuandheroldersisterLewYing(Lulu)aretauntedandbulliedfortheirChineseheritage.ButwhileLuludiligentlyobeysherparentsandlearnstospeakChinese,WongLiusneaksawaytothelocalnickelodeons,buyingaticketwithherlunchmoneyandtipssavedfromlaundrydeliveries.ByelevenWongLiuisdeterminedtobecomeanactressandhasalreadychosenastagename:AnnaMayWong.Atsixteen,AnnaMayleaveshighschooltopursueherHollywooddreams,defyingherdisapprovingfatherandherChinesetraditionalupbringing--achoicethatwillholdemotionalandphysicalconsequences.Afteraseriesofnothingparts,nineteen-year-oldAnnaMaygetsherbigbreak--andherfirsttasteofHollywoodfame--starringoppositeDouglasFairbanksinTheThiefofBagdad.Yetherbeautyandtalentisn’tenoughtoovercometheracismthatrelegateshertosupportingrolesasahelpless,exoticbutterflyoravicious,murderousdragonladywhileCaucasianactressesinyellowface“aregivenstarringrolesportrayingAsianwomen.Thoughshesuffersprofessionallyandpersonally,AnnaMayfightstowinleadroles,acceptrisqu矇parts,financiallysupportherfamily,andkeepherillicitloveaffairshidden--evenasshefindsfreedomandglitteringstardomabroad,andreceivesglowingreviewsacrosstheglobe.Powerful,poignant,andimbuedwithGailTsukiyama’swarmthandempathy,TheBrightestStarreimaginesthelifeofthefirstAsianAmericanscreenstarwhoselegacyendures--aremarkableandinspiringwomanwhobrokebarriersandbecameashininglightinHollywoodhistory.
