We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story

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Finally settling there and being a family more so than anything he was doing in the early years of his life. I had goosebumps during about 70% of the book (the other 30% I was laughing and/or had a goofy smile plastered on my face). I had planned to take them to the premiere of the movie, to hold their hands on either side of me as they watched their grandson on the big screen for the first time. Particularly when it comes to Liu’s innermost thoughts, he makes sure that readers don’t just see him as the superhero he is and will continue to be for the next generation, but as the human whose powers stem from his family — and his ability to dream.

We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu | CBC Books

As Simu grows up, he plays the part of the pious son well; he gets A's, crushes national math competitions, and makes his parents proud. I am appreciative of him sharing this story that resonates with so many, but never got told, because as immigrants and children of immigrants, we don't pursue a life of fame and land book deals.When Simu Liu's parents move from China to America and then Canada, they leave him in the care of his grandparents.

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You don’t know if opinions are coming from real people, or if it’s a targeted attempt to bring you down,” Liu says. As Simu grows up, he plays the part of the pious child flawlessly – he gets straight As, performs exceptionally in national math competitions and makes his parents proud. In his memoir, We Were Dreamers Simu Liu shares an inspiring story about overcoming expectations to find and pursue his passion: acting, and ultimately, gain a life changing role.As the child of Vietnamese immigrants myself, I liked reading about Simu’s parents’ journey and Simu’s raw honesty about the difficult and abusive parts of his childhood. Liu’s compassionate treatment of his abusive parents and his younger self results in a tender, nuanced narrative that is refreshing in its frankness. Liu doesn’t discredit these feelings, and it’s part of what makes We Were Dreamers so profound as a sort of letter to young Simu.

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Finally, the book ended when he landed the role of Shang-Chi and it did not at all dive into what it was like to film and release the blockbuster, and to be arguably one of most important new additions to the MCU. I know in September 2022 he tweeted about going to therapy (not sure if that’s when he first started) so I wonder if there will be even more self-insight into that part of his life later on, whether he wants to share about it publicly or not. However, I found it a well-written, down-to-earth portrayal of his parents’ immigration from China to Canada as well as his childhood upbringing and his subsequent foray into business and then acting. But I loved listening to his story, and it’s super inspiring to hear a success story from someone who doubted themselves and wander sure if they could ever make their dreams a reality. It doesn’t excuse the way he was treated in his childhood but it helps explain it, and you can feel the forgiveness.Our stories are one and the same, our destinies forever intertwined and defined by our sweat, our sacrifice and our unyielding dedication to defying the odds and achieving the impossible. Charming, smart, thoughtful, relatable, emotional and at times laugh out loud hilarious, I adored this book. In her hotly anticipated memoir, the author traces the challenges and triumphs of her upbringing in New Jersey and the work (including a stint as an intern with Sen. His experiences, his anger, the weight of his parents' expectations was all too relatable, but I enjoyed seeing his growth, his passion, and his fervor for chasing his dreams. Unemployed, riddled with shame and with nothing left to lose, Simu finds an ad on Craigslist that will send him on a wildly unexpected journey, into the mysterious world of show business.