Scan barcode
A review by asourceoffiction
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think this book is one of the rare times where I preferred the film. The endings differ and I like that the book has set up its conclusion for the rest of the trilogy to follow, but while I enjoyed both I do think the world of the insanely rich worked better on screen.
I liked the central characters and their story, and I absolutely loved the settings and learning more about tradition and cuisine in Singapore and the surrounding areas. But while the film made me oddly fascinated by the mega rich, their opulent lifestyles and their fabulous clothes, when reading it felt like that level of awe was lost. I struggled to get through the passages describing the endless designer fashion and decor, and would glaze over a bit at those long sections; even if they were intended to be a little mocking. I also struggled to keep all the characters straight, though I suspect that was partly intentional to try and highlight the huge, sprawling and interconnected families that made up Singapore's elite.
That said, as the drama ramped up from about half way through, I found I was much more engaged. I couldn't stand many of the characters (and I don't think I was supposed to), but I loved the contrast with people like Astrid and Peik Lin - who were so easy to love by comparison, despite their vast wealth. It was an interesting read and I'd like to finish the series, but it seemed to translate better to film for me.
I liked the central characters and their story, and I absolutely loved the settings and learning more about tradition and cuisine in Singapore and the surrounding areas. But while the film made me oddly fascinated by the mega rich, their opulent lifestyles and their fabulous clothes, when reading it felt like that level of awe was lost. I struggled to get through the passages describing the endless designer fashion and decor, and would glaze over a bit at those long sections; even if they were intended to be a little mocking. I also struggled to keep all the characters straight, though I suspect that was partly intentional to try and highlight the huge, sprawling and interconnected families that made up Singapore's elite.
That said, as the drama ramped up from about half way through, I found I was much more engaged. I couldn't stand many of the characters (and I don't think I was supposed to), but I loved the contrast with people like Astrid and Peik Lin - who were so easy to love by comparison, despite their vast wealth. It was an interesting read and I'd like to finish the series, but it seemed to translate better to film for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence