Nonfiction: Never Say Die by Ke Huy Quan

For many people around my age who grew up in the U.S, the face on the cover of this book will be instantly recognizable. Even if you could not recall his name without looking it up, you probably knew he was in The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I was beyond excited to pick up Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan's new book, Never Say Die. I knew very little of his story and background beyond the movies I saw, so whatever I found on the pages was going to be enlightening in some way.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a memoir in which Quan goes over his life in detail, from his first time in jail at seven years old (you read that right), to getting the role in the movie that would win him the highest and most coveted award in Hollywood, along with many others, for Everything Everywhere All at Once. Quan begins his story as a confused little boy being woken up in the middle of the night in his bedroom in Vietnam. What follows is an adventure that will bring the family to Hong Kong, and ultimately to Los Angeles. Of course he details just how he ended up in a role in not one, but two of the biggest movies of the early 80s, and the unsettling quiet that came over his career afterwards. But Quan also talks extensively about his family, and how every moment and decision, both small and big, led him back to acting.

My Verdict: This book is an absolute delight. As Quan himself admits, his story is something that is found in the movies, and yet, here he is, having lived it. There is the perilous journey from Vietnam to Hong Kong, and eventually settling to Los Angeles, to being dubbed the "selfie king" as he takes advantage of every opportunity to take a picture with other big names in the industry, of which he is now one. Quan admits that his life and career have been riddled with self-doubt, anxiety, even feelings of despair, and credits his wife, family, and friends with helping keeping him focused and faithful. It is an honest story full of hope, the reality of failure, and the possibility of unimagined success, from a man who decided to not give up.

Favorite Moment: There are so many...but I will choose when Quan reunites with fellow The Goonies co-star Jeff Cohen, who played 'Chunk.' 

Recommended Reading: Steve Martin's Born Standing Up remains one of my favorite memoirs of all time.