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A review by lalyee
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
2.0
I'm asian american and ever since this book has been out I've been having trouble getting through the book. It is one of those books in which I pick up, attempt to read, get barely 20%, have the loan expire (I mostly read library books), and I put it in hold again cuz Asians gotta support Asians right?? and put myself through the entire cycle again.
I'm so sad to say that it took me years to get force myself through this book and the ending was deeply disappointing- it did not make it worth it. I gave it two stars because it was the first book I've ever picked up that featured my language which touched my heart forever and had footnotes to help me learn other phrases.
After the movie I decided to give it one final go. My list of "movies that are better than the books" is very short, I can count on one hand with fingerS left over, and Crazy Rich Asians is one of them. While the movie focuses on identity and belonging with the backdrop of being crazy rich, the book mainly focuses on crazy rich.
Given my stance of "Asians gotta support Asians," I'm sad to say I really don't care for the book. I totally understand that this book and author are under absolutely no obligation to talk about identity and all that, cause a ton of other books written by other authors have focused on that. However, for its entertainment value in terms of comedy, in chick lit, in rich and famous voyeurism, anything else- it missed the mark for me as all the book ever does is drop brand name over brand name as the shallow, one-dimensional characters trip over themselves out-riching each other.
I just hope the publishing community continues to diversify their talent and authors so that there is a wider breadth of Asians (and other underrepresented identities) so that there is something for everyone (even if it is having disappointing books here or there, a privilege we don't even yet have)
I'm so sad to say that it took me years to get force myself through this book and the ending was deeply disappointing- it did not make it worth it. I gave it two stars because it was the first book I've ever picked up that featured my language which touched my heart forever and had footnotes to help me learn other phrases.
After the movie I decided to give it one final go. My list of "movies that are better than the books" is very short, I can count on one hand with fingerS left over, and Crazy Rich Asians is one of them. While the movie focuses on identity and belonging with the backdrop of being crazy rich, the book mainly focuses on crazy rich.
Given my stance of "Asians gotta support Asians," I'm sad to say I really don't care for the book. I totally understand that this book and author are under absolutely no obligation to talk about identity and all that, cause a ton of other books written by other authors have focused on that. However, for its entertainment value in terms of comedy, in chick lit, in rich and famous voyeurism, anything else- it missed the mark for me as all the book ever does is drop brand name over brand name as the shallow, one-dimensional characters trip over themselves out-riching each other.
I just hope the publishing community continues to diversify their talent and authors so that there is a wider breadth of Asians (and other underrepresented identities) so that there is something for everyone (even if it is having disappointing books here or there, a privilege we don't even yet have)