Private Equity

Many of my kid’s graphic novels tell the story of immigrant kids trying to navigate their parents (extremely high) expectations and try to find themselves somewhere inside of that. This is that, but for adults.

Some of Carrie’s stories about those conversations with her parents were heartbreaking, yet at the end she somehow manages to end on a redeeming note, understanding what they went through while also acknowledging how it’s shaped her.

It’s also very much a story of the perfectionist, workaholic drive some of us have, and an honest look at the repercussions. I found her ability to run with anything and do it with excellence, a success that resulted in more work combined with an inability to ask for help, especially relatable.

She shows respect for her boss while laying out the issues underneath, slowly, as she started seeing them. It’s so hard to describe this book… but we’ve been on a Miyazaki kick lately, and it makes me think of the villains-not-villains, the fluidness with which he shows the flaws in both people and systems.

If you’re the child of (Asian) immigrants, or a workaholic, or someone who works in finance, or someone who keeps putting your dreams aside, or simply someone who enjoys reading about self-discovery or memoirs in general, you will enjoy this book.