I have a soft spot in my heart for books written during the Covid-19 pandemic. As an author who published books during this teachable moment, I greatly empathize with the enterprising authors who chose to write their narratives during this period of uncertainty. White Mocha Americano by Anthony Shieh is no exception. It is a masterpiece written and published during the time of the pandemic. Incidentally, this is the second book published by Shieh during the pandemic. I appreciate his resilience and creativity during the pandemic.
The novel is a love letter to the LGBTQᐩ community. There are various gay slang words peppered across the novel. I appreciate Shieh’s efforts in including the definition of these terms for everyone’s information. I also enjoyed listening to the author’s playlist, which is included in the novel via a Spotify code. It was like listening to Shieh’s creative musical influences while reading his book, and this gave it another layer of artistry.
I love coffee, so this book resonated with me as it is full of references to my favorite drink. In fact, the title itself needs no introduction. It is a beverage that was made popular by millennials, which incidentally is the generation which Shieh belongs to. And while there is no note in the novel indicating that it is partly autobiographical, I have a feeling that Shieh shares some personal experiences in this book, which adds a personal touch to the whole narrative and plot. I admire his courage for putting personal elements in the novel, such as the year he was born and the industry he belongs to. It takes chutzpah to write a deeply personal novel, and I admire the author for that.
Some metaphors may be uncomfortable to some readers though. As a woman, I was offended by a reference made to a woman who resembles a monkey. I feel that the novel could have done without a sexist reference. Other than that, I found the novel ethereal and lyrical. It deserves to be read, whether you belong to the rainbow or not.