My Nemesis

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From the acclaimed author of Miss Burma comes a tense exploration of an intellectual affair and its impact on two couples. Tessa, a successful white writer, forms a friendship with Charlie, a handsome philosopher in Los Angeles, initially through correspondence and later in person. Their exchanges about Camus and masculine desire ignite a strong intellectual connection, but obstacles arise. While Tessa’s husband Milton enjoys Charlie’s visits, Charlie’s mixed-race Asian wife, Wah, becomes a complex adversary for Tessa. Tessa perceives Wah’s traditional femininity and sacrifices as weaknesses, particularly regarding Wah's role as an adoptive mother to a Burmese girl, Htet. This leads Tessa to declare, in a martini-fueled moment, that Wah is “an insult to womankind.” As Tessa confronts the fallout from her outburst, she begins to question her own perceptions and whether Wah possesses a different kind of strength. This narrative delves into themes of empathy, betrayal, and the thrill of connection, while also examining the perils of feminine rivalry. It is a brilliantly dramatic story that showcases the author’s keen observations and graceful prose.