Review: Accidental Heroes, Accidental Villains

Author: Ed Chung

ISBN: 978-0-576-02448-7

From the very first chapter, this fictional account of one family´s life in China, Hong Kong, USA and Canada grabs you, and over the course of 309 pages, it hardly ever lets up.

Ed Chung´s debut novel Accidental Heroes, Accidental Villains intertwines the story of five generations of the Lee family with a shady organization known as the Triads. Initially, the objective of the predecessors to the Triads was to overthrow the Manchu Ch´ing Dynasty and to restore the native Ming dynasty. These groups eventually grew in size necessitating a greater need for money, and thus they branched out into illegal activities including extortion, gambling, murder, and anything else that could provide financing. In time, they evolved into what became known as the Triads or the criminal underground societies. When you package all the intimate and incredible historical details of the Lee family´s saga with that of the Triads, you have quite a yarn that is not only entertaining but also educational.

The principal narrator of the story is Hayden Lee, who begins by telling us about his parents, Martin and Beverly Lee. The couple met at a Barnes & Noble store in New York City in the fall of 1976 and after a very brief courtship were married. What is quite bewildering is that neither knew too much about the other´s family history and when the subject was brought up, their replies were very elusive. Moreover, Hayden´s parents deliberately avoided discussing with him anything relating to his ancestors. It was left to Hayden´s grandfather to reveal to him some of the family´s secrets. When his mother discovers that Hayden is now acquainted with the family´s intimate details, she tells him that it is best not to talk about it. She states further: "Your father finds the entire Lee family history disagreeable with the way he sees himself. And I guess he never forgave his father for not disassociating himself from that history."

As the saga unfolds, Chung through the voice of Hayden's guides us through the shocking events concerning the Lee family as well as the repugnant bitterness that developed between Martin and his father. Chung plays out the family´s interactions and complex emotions with great finesse as we observe each member struggle with one another as well as with their past. No doubt, you will be astounded as what is revealed!

Chung´s storytelling talent is amazing thanks to this expertly voiced tale and to his skilful evocation of time and place. Moreover, he skillfully blends fact with fiction with enough details to please those who prefer a quick lesson in history. His characters combined with their realistic dialogue duped me into believing that they actually existed. Above all, it was curiosity and perhaps even a tinge of irresistible voyeurism that swiftly carried me through this novel as I digested all the astonishing details.

Chung is an award-winning academic who has published widely in applied anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, among others. Originally from Hong Kong, he moved to Canada when he was 17, and has lived and worked in different cultures since. He currently holds a tenured faculty position in a liberal arts college in Pennsylvania and lives in Maryland with his family.

CLICK HERE TO READ NORM'S INTERVIEW WITH ED CHUNG