Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2020Format: Paperback
“The Escape to Candyland” is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
The various vignettes of people trying to get by come together into a magnificent panorama of what a person will do to protect themselves and what they attain. Characters chase their dream at any cost, in order to protect themselves from the possibility of what could be worse. As the lives of each character crisscross and zig zag in Takahashi’s Atlanta, even the smallest action bears the utmost significance, as its effect is felt across generations, cultures, and families.
Takahashi artfully weaves together the stories, eventually culminating into a haunting idea of the significance of every action. I thought I’d put the book down after a story or two, but I ended up reading the book cover to cover, and then revisiting my favorite vignettes again and again. This book is a must read.
Yong Takahashi 