“When Rachel Chu agrees to
spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions
a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with
the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family
home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes
than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm,
Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of
dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of
Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the
Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman
who has very strong feelings about who her son should--and should not--marry.”
Kevin Kwan’s Crazy
Rich Asians can be funny, and is pretty well written for a debut novel, but
it did take me an awful long time to slug through this E! Channel Fashion
Police mixed with those horrible Kardashian’s and Housewives franchise come to
life. It's about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip,
backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive
fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the
wedding of the season. Most of the characters are shallow and pretty horrible
to others who don’t fall within their social orbit. I found it difficult to
like anyone, with the exception of Rachel and Nick.
It’s also overlong for satire, which was what I assume
Kwan was going for here. There was plenty of stuff here that could've been cut. Plus, when this book was released in 2013, I would’ve
been angered at how Crazy Rich Asians ends –I’m not even sure if it has an
ending (though by the mere fact the books has no other pages sort of gives you
the idea that it ended). Of course as I read up on the book, I discovered this
was the first book in a trilogy (China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems
followed in 2015 and 2017, respectively) but beyond the books abrupt ending and
no real resolve and no real indication the story was going to continue, many
would’ve been surprised to see the novel trail off like a distracted child getting
a new toy. And, sorry, I don't plan on reading the rest.
Anyways, I know this book has (and will continue) to
appeal to a certain demographic, not only for those who were brought up in Singapore (but I hate the idea that the only way to have gotten the jokes and adore the lavish lifestyle was to be from China),
but many who are celebrity worshipers here on both TV, movies, and the fashion
world. But it just reminds me how shallow the world continues to be, where
people believe “brand” names should mean something to me and where being filthy
rich makes these people somehow morally better than anyone else.
While Fresh Off the Boat’s Constance Wu will be starring
in the film adaptation due in August 2018, as much as I love her, I can’t see
myself ever viewing this movie –well, unless they cut out a huge chunk of the story
and ramp up the satire.
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