888 Love and the Divine Burden of Num..., Abraham Chang
888 Love and the Divine Burden of Num..., Abraham Chang
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888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers
A Novel

Author: Abraham Chang

Narrator: Eunice Wong

Unabridged: 13 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/30/2024


Synopsis

"Narrator Eunice Wong breathes life into the diverse cast of characters with an energetic precision that gives this audiobook the feeling of a lively radio drama."—AudioFile

“Abraham Chang’s novel, packed with pop culture, is wonderfully alive. This is a beautifully tender and funny examination of love, of identity, of making your way in a world that is getting bigger and smaller at the same time.” —Kevin Wilson, bestselling author of Nothing To See Here

Young Wang has received plenty of wisdom from his beloved uncle: don’t take life too seriously, get out on the road when you can, and everyone gets just seven great loves in their life—so don’t blow it. This last one sticks with Young as he is an obsessive cataloger of his life: movies watched, favorite albums . . . all filtered through Chinese numerology and superstition. He finds meaning in almost everything, for which his two best friends endlessly tease him. But then, at the end of 1995, when Young is at New York University, he meets Erena. She’s brilliant, charismatic, quick-witted, and crassly funny. They fall in love and, for Young, it feels so real that he’s thrilled and terrified. As Young and Erena’s relationship blossoms, we get flashbacks to Young’s first five loves. That means Erena is “number six.” Was his uncle wrong—is she the one and only? Or are they fated for failure to make room for Young’s final, seventh love?

A love letter to Western pop culture, Eastern traditions, and being a first-generation New Yorker, Abraham Chang’s dazzling debut reminds us that luck only gets us so far when it comes to matters of the heart.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

About Abraham Chang

Abraham Yu-Young Chang is an award-winning, published poet with an MFA in creative writing from New York University. He has worked in the publishing industry since 2000 and currently manages Special Sales for Simon & Schuster. He lives in Forest Hills, Queens, with his wife.

About Eunice Wong

Eunice Wong is a Juilliard-trained actor, listed among Audible's Best Women Narrators, who has recorded over 150 books, for publishers like Macmillan, Penguin Random House, & Simon & Schuster. She is the winner of 2 Audie Awards (Mystery, Multi-Voiced), 14 AudioFile Earphones Awards (8 for solo performances), and the American Library Association's RUSA Listen List: Outstanding Audiobook Narration. Eunice was also an Audie Finalist for "Audiobook of the Year" [lost to Ms. Streisand!], "Best Fiction Narrator" [against Meryl Streep & Ethan Hawke], "Nonfiction" & "Short Stories."Her theater awards include the Helen Hayes Award for Lead Actress, the My Boston Theatre Award for Best Actress, and a Barrymore nomination for Lead Actress. As a writer, she won the L.A. Press Club Award (1st Place), and the Maggie Award.Flipping to 1st person now (hi!): The job is not to read the words; the job is to transport the listener. I aim always to inhabit characters, emotions, and journeys honestly, spontaneously, and with psychological depth, while staying true to the book's unique voice. My narration styles range from intimate and intuitive, channeling emotions from beneath the surface of the text, to wacky and comic, with distinct and laugh-out-loud character creations.EuniceWong.actor


Reviews

“It’s comforting to think that God, the universe, has a divine plan. But would you ever really know? The way set before you - every possible turn, every door? Not in this lifetime! All you have for certain is you. Hope and faith are what you shape from it. Hope and faith without action is useless! D......more

Goodreads review by Donna

Not at all what was expecting when started reading this book on all the good, bad and magical meaning of numbers throughout the story. Plus having flashbacks to all things 90s including music, movies and pager codes...agh!......more

Goodreads review by Trevor

***EDIT*** Bumped up after discussion with my wife I got major ick at beginning of the chapters with Erena, but then because chapters are so long I forgot about the ick. But then it turned kind of endearing 🤔 good ending. I think I’m confused on how I feel…......more

Goodreads review by Clara

This book is tchotchke; it is a tsunami of nostalgia. Golly I love a “busy” book- page breaks, music highlights, lists, emails, pager code & parentheses- all of it. The entire novel was very me coded! I haven’t had someone perfectly verbalize my relationship with numbers & my love for 8s. I was smit......more


Quotes

“Abraham Chang’s debut crackles with energy and verve—a heartfelt tale about life, love, and the challenges we stumble into along the way. His thoughtful prose and sharp dialogue make his debut the kind of exploration of identity that will linger with you long after you’ve turned the final page.” —Alex Segura, bestselling author of Secret Identity

"An ecstatically written, sensory feast with a depth, range and inventiveness that perfectly encapsulates that period of your life where every time you look up your name is written in the stars. Expect to fall in love with this vibrant, powerful and memorable debut that will bowl you over—and leave your heart full." —Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and I'm the Girl

"Abraham Chang has created a novel that is packed with pop culture, a dizzying collection of movies and music and moments that capture the 90s in a way that doesn't feel nostalgic but wonderfully alive. This is a beautifully tender and funny examination of love, of identity, of making your way in a world that is getting bigger and smaller at the same time." Kevin Wilson, bestselling author of Nothing to See Here