Following Foo: (The Electronic Adventures of the Chestnut Man)

by B.D. Wong

Book Overview

Every now and then there comes along a literary voice so strong, so originally sincere, and so uniquely distinct that the words on the page seem to sing and to scream and to dance -- all at once and all on their own. Such is the wonderful writing debut of acclaimed actor B.D. Wong.

With a remarkable mixture of upbeat optimism, unexpected hilarity, and heart-wrenching sadness, Wong takes the reader deep inside both his psyche and the neonatal...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060529539
• ISBN13: 9780060529536
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: HarperEntertainment
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

From the Point of View of a Preemie Mom

When I saw this book, I just had to read it. Not because of who the author was or that he was gay, but because he LIVED what I was LIVING. Mr. Wong's book is the ONLY book about NICU babies that I would suggest as a MUST READ for critically premature parents! It doesn't help you understand the medical terms, it helps you understand YOU, as a parent of a tiny ray of life in a plastic box.I lost a premature daughter (Mary) at 23 weeks, eleven months after that my second premature baby (Julia)was born at a whopping 28 weeks. I still was grieving Mary's death while trying to stay "upbeat" and "positive" about my Julia in the NICU. I joked, I laughed, but I hid A LOT of emotions. Everybody tells you how strong you are, what a brave person you are, while inside you are screaming "WHY MY CHILDREN!?!". You feel like you are the ONLY person in the world who feels that way. Well, Mr. Wong's book is the ONLY book I have read that made me feel like I wasn't going crazy. He not only addressed the issues of being a parent of a NICU baby, but losing a child, and the realities of coping with that loss while being exatically happy your child has made a huge accomplishment (She either pooped, or ate half a teaspoon of breastmilk... major things in a NICU).His humor at the most critical of times is very similar to how I dealt with things when the dr.s would say... "Well, Julia had a good day today, she only stopped breathing twice, and oh, by the way, her blood levels show she may need a transfustion, etc." Life in the NICU is like constantly waiting for the shoe to drop! And when it does, it is usually a size 15 triple E! I would love for Mr. Wong to do a follow up to his book, maybe "Following Foo, The Early Years". Julia is now 18 months old, and we are dealing with Early Intervention, Boston Children's Hospital, Weight issues, and Mom (or Dad) going nuts trying to keep it all in check. I would dearly love to hear some advice. Plus, I fell in love with his adorable son in this book and would love to know how he is doing!

The Chestnut man makes people smile.

What strikes me most about Following Foo is the amazingly creative writing style of Mr. Wong. Through his words I was immersed into the emotions, minds, and lives of he and his family. Not only did I get to learn what happened in this incredible true story but I actually felt some aspects of the pain and joy that these brave people experienced. This is an incredible feat of writing. Mr. Wong communicates his feelings in words to totally move me. There I was on a plane reading the book, one minute crying, next laughing out loud. Those around me, each in their own time, all inquired as to the nature of the book, having watched me for several hours. Mr. Wong captivates the emotions of the reader through his moments of happiness and grieve, laughter and pain, all within the snap of a finger. Sure the book is a tribute to parenthood and Gay life, but it is far more than that. Through words he captures the dream of life. I really felt as though I was living through parts of the story! I was so moved by the book and the atmosphere that Mr. Wong creates that I can only but jump up and down with joy and gratitude that he choose to share with the world this story. He really opens his heart and mind to the world through this book. I wait with baited breath for the next written work by the author (although I would be most thankful if it were not such a difficult true story for the author to write about). Mr. Wong may have long been a noted as an accomplished and acclaimed actor. Through his book he certainly has earned the title of author extraordinary. It is rare indeed for an author's first book to be so excellent. Finally, much of the book is a compilation of e-mails written by the author to his loved one as updates during the events of his life. Much to my surprise the web site is actually real and a most delightful accent to the book. Buy it, read it, laugh and cry through and with it. You will not be disappointed. I would not be surprised if someday it is required reading for college courses. What an awesome experience that would be for students!

B.D. Wong touches the heart and soul

Following Foo is actor and writer B.D. Wong's account of the saga of his and his partner Richie's decision to have a child through surrogacy, and how that choice came to beautiful and heart wrenching fruition through the premature birth of twin boys Jackson (Foo) and Boaz. Oh, but it is so much more than a chronological recap of events in the process of pregnancy, birth and nurturing. It is a window into the daily and hourly emotional upheavals that attend the impending birth of a child (in this case, children)as well as the joys and sorrows experienced by loving parents and dedicated medical professionals as they join in the struggle to nurture new life. Moreover, this exceptional work is a moving tribute to the human spirit exemplified in the courage of two beautiful souls, Jackson and Boaz. Mr. Wong captures the very essence of the human capacity and need for love in this warm, often times humorous, always compelling work. A significant portion of the book is composed of supportive e-mails from friends and family. While at first glance, this might seem a distraction, it is actually an integral and enjoyable part of the journey, which serves not only to lighten the tension that is so ever present in the struggle for survival that all premature infants undergo and so effectively communicated to the reader by Mr. Wong, but it also serves to show a beautiful community of love and concern that was empowering and life-affirming. This superbly paced narrative is intelligent , whimsical and keenly observant of the human condition. It is highly recommended.

an awe inspiring memoir

I've long been a fan of B. D. Wong (Tony Award winner for his performance in "M. Butterfly"), but was totally unprepared for this deeply moving account of the trial and tribulations he and his partner Richard Jackson faced when their twin sons were born prematurely. An extended collection of e-mails, "Following Foo" documents in heart wrenching detail the loss of one child and the harrowing fight to save the other. This is an unforgettable book about the triumph of the human spirit and the healing force of love.

I don't like roller coasters, but i sure do like this book

...It was on this evening that the actor/singer B.D. Wong and his talent agent partner, Richard Jackson, became fathers in Modesto, CA. Their twin sons were born woefully, dangerously, nearly 3 months premature. Over the next several months, Wong kept his ever increasing list of friends informed of the roller coaster progress, the ups and downs, through a series of emailed updates. These introspective, mesmerizing, hopeful, honest emails got passed around, and have been compiled to create this book. At times it elicits chuckles, sometimes you will thank god for unsung heroic healthcare workers, and at other times your eyes will well up with tears. The book is an adventurous journey into fatherhood, Jewish and Chinese American families, medical miracles, social work, gynecology, as well as sprinkling asides into life in television and film acting, food, and parenting. The words are presented in a variety of fonts and styles to add drama to the reading. Graphics from the Milton Bradley games of Operation and Ka-boom also drive home some messages. Wong also includes some of the songs he wrote, such as his ode to Poop. The book is impossible to put down, as you hunger to learn whether first-born Boaz Dov Wong (Boaz: the swift, strong, hospitable, giving biblical character who rescues Ruth and fathers the line of King David; Dov: the quiet strength of a peaceful bear) and younger Jackson Foo Wong (Jackson/Yohanan: for his father's surname, graciousness of god; Foo: wealth, for his grandfather) will survive and thrive. At the end of each update, Wong includes snippets of the emails responses he received from friends, family, nurses, and doctors, including other famous celebrity/parents, such as Joel Gray, Jane Kazmarek, Barbara Barry, Margaret Cho, Michelle Kwan, and John Lithgow. David Hirson, a playwright, wrote it best when he repsonded in an email to Wong, that each bulletin [was] "...melancholy, funny, spirited, rallying, sometimes buoyant, sometimes exhausting..." For readers who need linear stories, start with Update 8; all other can begin with the Preface.