Viewfinder

Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen by Jon M. Chu (2024) 304 pages

I've seen the movies Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights that were directed by Jon M. Chu. And I'm very excited for the musical film of Wicked, the first part of which will be released this year with the second part next year. Jon is now in his 40s and the memoir covers his life so far with clear introspective eyes. He grew up in Silicon Valley with his parents running a local Chinese restaurant. He got into being an entertainer and maker of videos in his teen years. He studied film at USC. He talks a lot about his heroes Spielberg and Steve Jobs and the relationship between tech in Silicon Valley with Hollywood's long history. Straight out of college he has a lot of potential, but his film career seems to stall. He ends up making several sequels and a couple music documentary projects. It is through exploring his parents' story of coming to America that he decides he should be more selective in the stories he brings to movie screens. He offers tips and lessons for others considering a career in filmmaking. Despite the rise of Netflix disrupting Hollywood and the pandemic he finds beauty and hope to continue forward.
 

Sophia of Silicon Valley

 Sophia of Silicon Valley by Anna Yen (2018) 349 pages

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. During my reading of it, I stopped to read another book or two. At 200 pages in, I was still not sure if I would finish it or cut-and-run. What was keeping me reading? Sophia, a young Chinese-American woman with a history of diabetes is pursuing a career in investor relations with tech companies in Silicon Valley. She still lives with her parents, immigrants who have succeeded in their adopted country, but who coddle their daughter because of her health condition. Family dynamics play a large role in Sophia's personality. Sophia seems to excel at her career, but opposing forces battle it out in her head: Self-sufficiency versus traditional life with marriage, husband taking care of her, and children. Sophia wasn't that likable to me, but the story line worked and the writing flowed. I did complete the book, and it both does AND does not resonate with me. Perhaps that's a mark of a talented writer?