November 2018

In FAMILY TRUST by Kathy Wang, Stanley Huang is dying of pancreatic cancer. He has an ex-wife, Linda; a new wife, Mary; a son, Fred; and a daughter, Kate. All of them are wondering, What’s in the trust? Stanley has talked about his wealth for years, but these days he is being so vague. The entire family is dancing around the topic, plotting their lives as millionaires, but Stanley is so tight-lipped. Why is he not talking more about his fortune?

Stanley and Linda emigrated from Taiwan to the Bay area. From there they built a very successful life, and they have children who have admirable careers. On the surface their lives look fabulous, but there are many hidden fractures. When Stanley’s diagnosis becomes known, the family dances around the subject of the trust in very comedic ways. Mary, the “new wife,” is seen as a gold digger only after Stanley’s money, but she is also his caretaker, a role that no one else really wants. Linda would like her children to be taken care of by Stanley. And what about those kids? Well, let’s just say that they have made a number of unwise decisions that are haunting them. Everyone appears to be grasping at straws that are just beyond their reach until Stanley comes through. But will he?

FAMILY TRUST is at once a Chinese-American story, a Silicon Valley story, and a family saga with great characters and robust storytelling. It's smart and wickedly funny, too, which is a winning combination.