A Thoughtful Exploration of Family and Identity: A Review of ‘Everything I Never Told You’ by Celeste Ng

Celeste Ng’s debut novel, Everything I Never Told You, is a powerful exploration of family and identity set in 1970s Ohio. The story follows the Lee family as they grapple with the mysterious death of their daughter and sister, Lydia. Through the lens of this tragedy, Ng examines the complexities of family dynamics, cultural identity, and the search for self-definition.

Background Information on the Author

Celeste Ng is an American writer from Cleveland, Ohio. She has written two novels and one short story collection. Everything I Never Told You won the Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction, was a finalist for the National Book Award, and was named an Amazon Book of the Year.

Synopsis of the Book

The story follows the Lee family as they grapple with the mysterious death of their daughter and sister, Lydia. Her death reveals the secrets and lies that have been festering within the family, including parental expectations, communication breakdowns, and cultural identity issues. Lydia’s siblings, Nath and Hannah, search for answers while her parents, Marilyn and James, struggle to come to terms with their own grief and guilt.

Family Dynamics

Ng explores the complexities of family dynamics through the interconnected stories of the Lee family.

The Lee Family

The Lee family is a mix of Chinese and white backgrounds. James is a Chinese-American professor and Marilyn is a white stay-at-home mom. They have three children: Nath, Lydia, and Hannah. Both Nath and Lydia struggle with their identity and the expectations of their parents.

Parental Expectations

The Lee parents have very different expectations of their children. James has always wanted Nath to follow in his footsteps and become a doctor, but Nath is more interested in becoming an astronaut. Marilyn is the opposite, pushing Lydia to excel academically but neglecting her other interests. These expectations lead to tension between the parents and their children, which is only exacerbated by their communication breakdowns.

Communication Breakdown

The Lee family is plagued by a lack of communication. Each family member keeps secrets and avoids discussing their feelings, leading to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. This lack of communication ultimately leads to Lydia’s death, as the family is unable to see the warning signs and intervene.

Identity

Ng uses the story of the Lee family to explore the complexities of identity.

Search for Self-Definition

Both Nath and Lydia struggle with their identity and the expectations of their parents. Nath is torn between his father’s expectations and his own dreams of becoming an astronaut. Lydia is trying to find her place in her family and in the world, and is desperate to be accepted and loved.

Cultural Identity

The Lee family is a mix of Chinese and white backgrounds, and Ng explores the difficulties of fitting into this cultural mix. James and Marilyn have different expectations for their children, and the children struggle to reconcile their two different backgrounds.

Struggle to be Understood

The Lee family is unable to understand each other, which leads to a feeling of alienation for both Nath and Lydia. They struggle to be understood by their parents, siblings, and peers, and this struggle is at the heart of their search for identity.

Ng uses a variety of literary devices to tell the story of the Lee family.

Characterization

Ng uses characterization to explore the complexities of the Lee family.

Nathaniel Lee

Nath is a sensitive and thoughtful boy who is struggling to reconcile his dream of becoming an astronaut with his father’s expectations. He is also trying to make sense of Lydia’s death and come to terms with his own guilt.

Lydia Lee

Lydia is a complex and troubled character who is desperately searching for acceptance and love. She is struggling with her identity and her place in her family, and her death is a tragic exploration of the themes of family and identity.

James Lee

James is a professor who is struggling to connect with his children. He has high expectations for them, which leads to tension between him and his children.

Marilyn Lee

Marilyn is a stay-at-home mom who is struggling to come to terms with Lydia’s death. She neglects her own interests in favor of her children, and her grief is a powerful exploration of parental love and loss.

Point of View

Ng uses multiple points of view to tell the story of the Lee family. The story is told from the perspectives of Nath, Lydia, Marilyn, and James, allowing the reader to experience the story from each of their perspectives.

Symbolism

Ng uses symbolism to explore the themes of family and identity. Lydia’s death is a symbol of the struggle to be understood and accepted, and the search for self-definition. The moon is a recurring symbol of the search for identity, and the lake is a symbol of tragedy and grief.

Setting

The novel is set in 1970s Ohio, and Ng uses the setting to explore the themes of identity and family. The time period provides an interesting backdrop for the story, and the rural setting is an effective contrast to the Lee family’s urban lives.

Plot Structure

Ng uses a non-linear structure to tell the story of the Lee family. The story jumps back and forth in time, allowing the reader to experience the events of the past and the present. This structure allows Ng to explore the themes of family and identity in an effective way.

Nathaniel’s Character Arc

Nath’s character arc is an exploration of his search for identity and his struggle to reconcile his father’s expectations with his own dreams. He is a sympathetic character who is trying to make sense of Lydia’s death and come to terms with his own guilt.

Marilyn’s Character Arc

Marilyn’s character arc is an exploration of parental love and loss. She is struggling to come to terms with Lydia’s death and her own guilt, and her grief is a powerful exploration of the themes of family and identity.

Thematic Significance

The themes of family and identity are explored in a thoughtful and realistic way. Ng uses the Lee family to explore the complexities of family dynamics, cultural identity, and the search for self-definition.

Realistic Portrayal

Ng’s portrayal of the Lee family is realistic and powerful. She effectively conveys the complexities of family dynamics, cultural identity, and the search for self-definition.

Summary

Celeste Ng’s debut novel, Everything I Never Told You, is a powerful exploration of family and identity set in 1970s Ohio. The story follows the Lee family as they grapple with the mysterious death of their daughter and sister, Lydia. Through the lens of this tragedy, Ng examines the complexities of family dynamics, cultural identity, and the search for self-definition.

Themes Revisited

Ng uses a variety of literary devices to explore the themes of family and identity. She uses characterization to explore the complexities of the Lee family, and symbolism to explore the search for identity and the struggle to be understood.

Overall Impression

Everything I Never Told You is an engrossing and thought-provoking exploration of family and identity. Ng’s portrayal of the Lee family is realistic and powerful, and her use of literary devices is effective in conveying the themes of the story.

References

Ng, C. (2014). Everything I Never Told You. Penguin.

“Celeste Ng.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Apr. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celeste_Ng.