Audacity Book Club: December Read

By Nic Daniels

Welcome back, audacious readers!

It’s the last call for 2022 and our books have had some highs, lows, thrills, chills, and everything in between. Last month, we explored love and self-worth with How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland. This month, we’re rounding out the year with heist story, Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li.

The world’s most open secret is that history is written by the conquerors, who do their best to tell the most compelling story yet. It’s how one culture is made more desirable than another. It’s also how precious art from all over the world wind up in European and American art museums, spoils of war, conquest, and colonialism to revel in, without a thought of whether it truly belongs there. Will Chen faces this reality every day as an art history major at Harvard. But when Will witnesses a robbery at the museum he works at, an opportunity he could never imagine arises.

Approached by a mysterious Chinese benefactor, Will is offered the deal of a lifetime: 50 million dollars to steal 5 artifacts looted from Beijing centuries ago, now trapped in prestigious museums around the world. He seizes the opportunity and quicky rounds up a crew—childhood friends, his genius little sister and her speedster roommate—each with their own ties to China. However, stealing from world-class museums is no easy feat and with the Feds watching, the job is next to impossible. But as they say, fortune favors the bold, right?

Thrilling and honest, Portrait of a Thief is a great way to end your year on a high. This book is available wherever books are sold as well as your local library. I hope you enjoy it, and you will see my full review as well as my yearly roundup later this month during the 2nd annual Drunk Book Review!

Until next time, don’t forget to read audaciously and I can’t wait to see you in 2023.