Vivien Chien > Quotes

“Instead of finding a boyfriend, like Esther had instructed, I decided I would hit up the next best thing. The bookstore.”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling

“It is my firm belief that every once in a while, the universe will present you with a gift. It could be something very small and seemingly insignificant, but it will lead you down the right path. And usually, it’s when you least expect it.”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling

“receptionists were the bartenders of the corporate world.”
― Vivien Chien, Hot and Sour Suspects

“It’s not every day the universe conspires to bring you face-to-face with someone who makes you think, Yes, you are my human.”
― Vivien Chien, Killer Kung Pao

“Books were my solace, my escape. There was nothing like that feeling of holding a book in your hand and traveling to another place, another time … another life. I was called a nerd a lot because of it, but I didn’t care. I wear that hat with pride.”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling

“Instead of finding a boyfriend, like Esther had instructed, I decided I would hit up the next best thing. The bookstore.”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling

“Things to know about me: I'm half English, half Taiwanese, and no, I don't know karate. I'm definitely not good at math and I don't know how to spell your name in Chinese.”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling

“People will surprise you, Lana. When they are hurt, they will blame anybody for anything. Remember that.”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling

“Nothing like a little fictional drama to take you away from the real stuff.”
― Vivien Chien, Dim Sum of All Fears

“But with my anxiety at optimum performance, sleep was a passing stranger.”
― Vivien Chien, Misfortune Cookie

“I tried to read his face for some type of emotion, but he had his detective hat on and that meant he was damn near emotionless.”
― Vivien Chien, Murder Lo Mein

“Kikko wasn’t very happy with Lana’s absence and had been leaving land mines of poop bombs all over our apartment. I’ve never seen a little dog poop with such resentment.”
― Vivien Chien, Gone to Hot Pot

“Okay”
― Vivien Chien, Egg Drop Dead

“Adam may not be on board right now”
― Vivien Chien, Fatal Fried Rice

“(In the wake of emotional disaster, there is nothing I find more comforting than pastries and retail therapy.)”
― Vivien Chien, Dim Sum of All Fears

“I was definitely an extra sauce type of gal.”
― Vivien Chien, The Chow Maniac: A Noodle Shop Mystery

“You’re not going to talk with him”
― Vivien Chien, Egg Drop Dead

“Okay, go,” she said, shooing me out of the car. “Your anxiety is leaking onto me.”
― Vivien Chien, The Chow Maniac: A Noodle Shop Mystery

“I often didn’t know my next step and I don’t think that people—my family included—knew that I winged life more than my eyeliner.”
― Vivien Chien, Misfortune Cookie

“It was the worst idea since fax machines.”
― Vivien Chien, Misfortune Cookie

“If there’s anyone who knows how to hole themselves up, it’s a writer.”
― Vivien Chien, Misfortune Cookie

“My eyes rolled so far into my head, I thought I might flip over the back of the couch.”
― Vivien Chien, Murder Lo Mein

“man with many secrets will have many enemies. Enemies will always find you, even when you think you are free.”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling

“If anything, you’re going through a quarter-life crisis … and if that’s the case, join the club.”
― Vivien Chien, Dim Sum of All Fears

“Life is short; we hear it all the time. So, instead of moping around, let’s both take life by the proverbial horns. Let’s live and appreciate each other and what we have in our lives. Maybe the loss of Thomas can help shape a new outlook on life.” I knew she was right, but I didn’t have it in me”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling

“Life can be tough. You have to be tougher.”
― Vivien Chien, Hot and Sour Suspects

“On both of the desks sat those small banker’s lamps with the plastic green lampshades and gold chains. Did anybody even really use those anymore? I’m pretty sure that Mr. Feng owned the last two in existence.”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling

“Nearly everything that happened in the plaza was common knowledge. Trying to keep a secret in this place was like trying to keep a millennial off social media.”
― Vivien Chien, Dim Sum of All Fears

“Since then, I’ve decided to stop putting things off until the elusive “tomorrow.” Procrastination is nobody’s friend.”
― Vivien Chien, Dim Sum of All Fears

“I thought again about their two daughters and couldn’t imagine what this whole ordeal was like for them. It made me think about my own life and what it would have been like had one of my parents not been there.”
― Vivien Chien, Death by Dumpling