Arts & Literature
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Making a Scene
Named a Most Anticipated Book by Time and Associated Press!
A powerful and poignant new book by Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh off the Boat star Constance Wu about family, romance, sex, shame, trauma, and how she found her voice on the stage.
Growing up in the friendly suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, Constance Wu was often scolded for having big feelings or strong reactions. "Good girls don't make scenes," people warned her. And while she spent most of her childhood suppressing her bold, emotional nature, she found an early outlet in local community theater-it was the one place where big feelings were okay-were good, even. Acting became her refuge, her touchstone, and eventually her vocation. At eighteen she moved to New York, where she'd spend the next ten years of her life auditioning, waiting tables, and struggling to make rent before her two big breaks: the TV sitcom Fresh Off the Boat and the hit film Crazy Rich Asians.
Through raw and relatable essays, Constance shares private memories of childhood, young love and heartbreak, sexual assault and harassment, and how she "made it" in Hollywood. Her stories offer a behind-the-scenes look at being Asian American in the entertainment industry and the continuing evolution of her identity and influence in the public eye. Making a Scene is an intimate portrait of pressures and pleasures of existing in today's world.
A powerful and poignant new book by Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh off the Boat star Constance Wu about family, romance, sex, shame, trauma, and how she found her voice on the stage.
Growing up in the friendly suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, Constance Wu was often scolded for having big feelings or strong reactions. "Good girls don't make scenes," people warned her. And while she spent most of her childhood suppressing her bold, emotional nature, she found an early outlet in local community theater-it was the one place where big feelings were okay-were good, even. Acting became her refuge, her touchstone, and eventually her vocation. At eighteen she moved to New York, where she'd spend the next ten years of her life auditioning, waiting tables, and struggling to make rent before her two big breaks: the TV sitcom Fresh Off the Boat and the hit film Crazy Rich Asians.
Through raw and relatable essays, Constance shares private memories of childhood, young love and heartbreak, sexual assault and harassment, and how she "made it" in Hollywood. Her stories offer a behind-the-scenes look at being Asian American in the entertainment industry and the continuing evolution of her identity and influence in the public eye. Making a Scene is an intimate portrait of pressures and pleasures of existing in today's world.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for Making a Scene
"Illuminating... enthralling... her willingness to not just address her faults but grapple with them makes Wu's memoir all the richer. Throw in her talent for vivid scene setting, plus an understanding that reflections are nothing without introspection, and the ‘Crazy Rich Asians' star delivers a page-turner that amounts to much more than its headline-grabbing revelations."
-The Washington Post
"A portrait of a young woman's life and of a young artist, struggling to find her way... poignant... frank and intimate."
-The New York Times
"Candid and relatable... Her voice is forthright and clear."
-Time
"A frank, powerful story told with a strong voice-but would you expect any less from a performer as bold as Wu?"
-Town & Country
"So captivatingly immediate. It has something to say about both the inner life of an artist and the perils of public attention that I've never seen expressed before, and it's adorably funny."
-Lena Dunham, The Skimm
"Wu wisely aligns poignant childhood anecdotes with new adult lessons… Generously sharing experiences of love, family, harassment, discrimination, and growth, Wu writes about others and her past self with the utmost respect. Her memoir is a gorgeously relatable portrait of a life guided by passion and art."
-Booklist, *starred review*
"Constance Wu writes with originality, ferocity, and unsparing honesty that doesn't let anyone - especially herself - off the hook. Making A Scene is as much about acting as it is about heartbreak, forgiveness, and being messily human. It made me laugh and it made my heart hurt; it reminded me of how necessary - and life giving - art is. This is a vital book by a singular talent."
-Rachel Khong, author of Goodbye, Vitamin
"There were times when I wa...
"Illuminating... enthralling... her willingness to not just address her faults but grapple with them makes Wu's memoir all the richer. Throw in her talent for vivid scene setting, plus an understanding that reflections are nothing without introspection, and the ‘Crazy Rich Asians' star delivers a page-turner that amounts to much more than its headline-grabbing revelations."
-The Washington Post
"A portrait of a young woman's life and of a young artist, struggling to find her way... poignant... frank and intimate."
-The New York Times
"Candid and relatable... Her voice is forthright and clear."
-Time
"A frank, powerful story told with a strong voice-but would you expect any less from a performer as bold as Wu?"
-Town & Country
"So captivatingly immediate. It has something to say about both the inner life of an artist and the perils of public attention that I've never seen expressed before, and it's adorably funny."
-Lena Dunham, The Skimm
"Wu wisely aligns poignant childhood anecdotes with new adult lessons… Generously sharing experiences of love, family, harassment, discrimination, and growth, Wu writes about others and her past self with the utmost respect. Her memoir is a gorgeously relatable portrait of a life guided by passion and art."
-Booklist, *starred review*
"Constance Wu writes with originality, ferocity, and unsparing honesty that doesn't let anyone - especially herself - off the hook. Making A Scene is as much about acting as it is about heartbreak, forgiveness, and being messily human. It made me laugh and it made my heart hurt; it reminded me of how necessary - and life giving - art is. This is a vital book by a singular talent."
-Rachel Khong, author of Goodbye, Vitamin
"There were times when I wa...
Readers Top Reviews
gammyjill
Memoirs are tricky things for both the author and the reader. How much should an author include and how much should a reader expect to be included? How much honesty should the author give the reader? Constance Wu is an actor famous for starring in the TV series, “Fresh Off the Boat” and the movie “Crazy Rich Asians”. Daughter of Taiwanese parents, Wu grew up in Richmond, VA one of four daughters. She was a good student and discovered acting as a child. After college she began working her way in her craft. Wu writes engagingly about her various loves - including her bunny - and the people important in her life. Okay, here comes the bit of the problem with the memoir. It seems that a few years ago, during her time after “Crazy” and along with the success of “Fresh”, Constance Wu became involved in a dust-up on social media. She was accused of insulting other actors on “Fresh”, as well as show directors. People piled on, and Wu was left in a muddle. She had some suicidal thoughts but thankfully found help and things in her life improved. I’m being a bit murky here because I truly didn’t understand what happened. Wu went from clear writing to not explaining this part of her life. Maybe she didn’t understand what happened, either… I really enjoyed Wu’s book.
Cari E Zuckerman
Making a Scene by Constance Wu Constance Wu, star of Fresh Off the Boat and Crazy Rich Asians, brings an enjoyable memoir in essays in Making a Scene. While the writing is mostly mediocre, Wu showcases a great sense of humor and is highly relatable throughout. The child of immigrant parents from Taiwan, Wu had a suburban upbringing in Richmond, Virginia, getting involved with theater because of her own passion for it at an early age, which her parents supported. She reached her fame through hard work and talent, working waitressing jobs, falling in and out of love, moving from apartment to apartment, and auditioning relentlessly. Wu speaks candidly about rape and sexual harrassment and addresses her public Twitter breakdown and subsequent mental health issues with grace and self-awareness. Wu apologizes for mistakes she's made that have hurt others and stands up for herself against those who have used their power to hurt her. The book takes some time to hit its stride, with stronger essays like Making a Scene and Unfinished Mansions appearing in the second half of the book. There are some essays that didn't really land with me and didn't quite connect to the life lesson it purported to have taught her. But the stronger essays are really strong, and with those, I couldn't stop turning the pages. More writing experience or increased editing could have tightened up the feel of this memoir, in which there wasn't always a through thread tying the essays together and there were moments of telling, not showing. Overall, I think fans will definitely enjoy this memoir, and those who haven't heard of Wu will still find a lot to enjoy and relate to here. Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC!
Cindy Barnard
I read this on two plane flights. I enjoyed her honest writing style like a autobiography but much much more
