Crazy Rich Asians, the book that’s like a vacation
What’s in it for you
What it’s about:
Crazy Rich Asians is a treat. It may sound like a drugstore buy, yet it has a tremendous amount of depth. The story revolves around Rachel and Nick, a couple living in America who are going to Singapore together for Nick’s best friend’s wedding. To Rachel’s surprise, her humble professor boyfriend is actually part of the Asian elite and his best friend is the biggest celeb of the region.
Nick is also the heir to a ridiculous fortune and part of a family whose antics are soap-opera-worthy. Rachel struggles with being accepted as a normal American Chinese person while Nick discovers who his real family and friends are.
Cultural background:
Kevin Kwan wrote his first novel about what he knows best. As a member of this Asian elite, he thought it would be interesting for outsiders to experience his world. His family finds it hilarious that anyone would find their lives special. In an interview with Nylon, he shared, “I think most of my family is completely puzzled by these books and they don’t really understand what the fuss is all about.”
The movie version of this book (coming out August 17, 2018) is quite cinematic and really lends itself to becoming a really fantastic film for so many reasons. It’s the first major Hollywood film to be directed by an Asian director and have a predominantly Asian cast. I’ve been following Kevin Kwan on social media since 2013 and feel like a proud sister when I see his set updates. This is really exciting and I hope it succeeds.
What to expect:
Expect a lot of foreign words. What I really love about the books is how many exclamations Kwan keeps in the book. He defines almost everything which is so wonderful. I learned so much. The characters travel through several Asian countries and so we hear a lot of languages. The most prevalent, I believe, is Malaysian, so expect to learn a lot of that!
The family drama is heavy. There’s a cultural vibe here that I think many immigrants (regardless of where you are from) will understand. There are estate battles and a lot of infighting between siblings, couples, and cousins.
Alice, Nick’s cousin, is an It girl in Asia and beyond. Her scenes are filled with a sad glamour. While she’s going through a tough time in her marriage she is still a pro at remaining stylish. Remarkably, while Alice’s parts are full of name dropping, the character herself is humble and reserved. It’s a refreshing change.
The drama and glamour is balanced with a strong dash of heart. There’s a specific passage I remember feeling very moved by. It’s a bit of historical fiction having to do with World War II. Not all of the friendships are petty, and not all family members are competing for a place in a will.
What I got out of it
Why this book?
I must have seen this book in a magazine labeled as a fun beach read. Throughout the last 6 years, I’ve been trying to learn more about other cultures. This book was critically acclaimed as a great time and talked about a subsect of people I knew nothing about- literally very affluent Asians.
What I learned
So many words! So many foods! Growing up in quite a traditional Jewish family we rarely eat foods of other cultures. There are still so many foods I have never tried, I’m working my way through them though. 🙂
Alamak, is kind of the Malaysian OMG.
Nay che seen; ah!- you’re out of your mind in Cantonese
kwai kwai- Malay for “What a waste”
suey doh say- Hokkien for “goody-goody”
bobo chacha- Cantonese for “so atrocious I could die!”
8- Araminta and Colin had 888 wedding guests. The number 8 is considered by the Chinese to be an extremely lucky number, since in both Mandarin and Cantonese it sounds similar to the word for prosperity or fortune. Triple eight means triple the luck. (source: book)
– It’s also connected to the spiritual or magical ideas of 8 being a “lucky” number since it represents North, South, East, West, Up, Down, and the soul (or something like it). Also, there’s the obvious infinity connection. Fun times.
Quotes
I couldn’t pick too many short quotes. Please read this book!
“You look like some spinster widow.” Eddie
“There’s no such thing as a spinster widow, Eddie. Spinsters are unmarried.” Fiona said dryly -page 257
– Nick’s cousin Eddie is kind of unbearable. He is a true caricature of a man who let his wealth get to his head. Here his wife is just over it and snaps back at him.
Speaking of Eddie, he has a much richer best friend whose father’s name is… Ming Kah-Ching. Took me several reads to understand. $$$
“Don’t be so bourgeois. It’s just a fling. Don’t make this a big deal. Remember, grace under pressure.” -page 97
When a character suspects her husband is cheating on her, she characterizes her shock and hurt as bourgeois. According to her, cheating is expected in her first class world.
Will you be joining me in August for the Crazy Rich Asians premiere?
What was the last fun novel that taught you a lot about another culture?
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