Crazy Rich Asians (2013) by Kevin Kwan
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan is the first in a three book series, with the other two being “China Rich Girlfriend” (2015) and “Rich People Problems” (2017). It was also made into a hit movie “Crazy Rich Asians” in 2018.
Author’s AAPI Background: Kevin Kwan was born in Singapore to a wealthy and established Chinese Singaporean family and moved to the US when he was 11. He has said that “Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan, which is a staple of Asian American literature and which I intend to read, is one of his favorite books and inspirational to him as a writer. Crazy Rich Asians is loosely based on his memories as a child in Singapore, and because he wanted to write a novel about contemporary Asia and the renaissance of wealth. He has also said moving to the US has westernized his view of Asia and the life he had in Singapore.
AAPI Background of characters: Rachel Chu, one of the main characters, was born in mainland China and came to America with her mother as an infant. Originally she was considered an “ABC” or American Born Chinese (not sure when this term was popularized bc it was the title of Gene Luen Yang’s book before this was published; but ABC has become a thing) before characters found out she wasn’t born in the states.
Most of the characters, and the “crazy rich Asians” mentioned here, are Chinese Singaporeans, similar to the authors experience.
There is an Indian family friend of Nick’s (other protagonist) called Mrs. Singh, who wears an expensive sari (traditional Asian women’s clothing, typically worn in South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal). She’s a “crazy rich Asian” too and there is no racism, classism whatever against her for not being Chinese Singaporean or for wearing traditional South Asian clothing while the rest of the characters wear western clothes, female characters going to Paris to shop.
There’s a Turkish friend of Nick too (there is a racist joke about him on the basis of him being “Indian” by a character shown to be a spoiled bully, but he doesn’t take it to heart, no one else is racist, and he’s said to be Turkish later in the book).
A Malaysian princess/sultana who is a friend of nick’s grandma also appears but these three are the only non Chinese Singaporean “crazy rich Asians” to actually appear as characters in the book.
A character is mentioned to have married Thai royalty, and the Burmese king is mentioned, possibly a friend of a character, but they don’t actually appear. Some other south and southeast Asian roualty are mentioned to be friends with Nick’s family as well, but don’t actually appear. The only East Asians mentioned or appearing are ethnically Chinese (tho some from Taiwan)
There’s a Taiwanese soap opera star a character is dating but she’s looked down upon and portrayed as a promiscuous gold digger.
Indian Gurkhas (elite Nepalese and Indian soldiers serving the British crown and brunei) appear and are mentioned. Servant characters, though not really touched upon much, or important characters, are from various Asian countries (immigrated to Singapore for work or to flee country). There are Filipinas, Indonesians, Indians, Thais, Sri Lankans, and iirc Taiwanese. There is also at least one Chinese maid, not just other Asian ethnicities.
Despite the book being about Chinese Singaporeans, many of the “crazy rich Asian” characteristics or behavior is common to Asians in general. Asians view of Asian Americans and how they’re “not Asian enough” is addressed, as is often every wealthy Asians sending their children overseas to study at British universities and being taught at English medium schools (set up by British) and having that as their first language rather than their native Asian one. Overseas Chinese (ie singaporean) and views towards mainland Chinese, Taiwanese etc., China’s one child policy, is shown/addressed. Asians marrying among high classes/rich, looking down on not old money, arranged marriages, parents needing to approve partner, etc, big extended family being important, looking down on divorce, not living together till marriage, preference for male babies, respect for elders, big wedding ceremony with insane amounts of people invited, it being normal for families who are even slightly well to do/middle class to have many servants, calling older generation aunties and uncles, how in laws treat “not suitable matches”, are more common among Asian countries in general. Other parts of overall Asian culture will be relateable to any Asians while the book as a whole has characters living in a different/much wealthier world than most readers, Asian or not.
When the movie came out in 2018, all the Asians at school were super excited because finally Asian representation, and probably because of the title tbh. My friends were fawning over Henry Golding as well. I did watch the movie before I read the book, but on a plane in I believe 2021. I did like it, but not love it, probably wouldn’t rewatch. Astrid was definitely my favorite character in the movie though. The movie definitely took on a different tone, more appealing to western humor perhaps since as a theatrical release, they wanted non Asians coming to theaters too. It did work. However most non Chinese characters are cut or don’t spreak in the movie, just doing simple servant duties. It was an all Asian cast basically tho not everyone playing Chinese people were Chinese. I did want to read the book because of the movie though.
The book is LONG so it does make sense theres a lot they couldn’t include in the movie, but the book itself had “wider” Asian representation (though again it’s rlly not about Asians in general centered on Chinese Singaporeans, so as an Asian who is not I still wouldn’t have minded) and I much preferred it to the movie, would reread. I originally started reading the book (real, printed, paper) in December 2021 but kept getting distracted by my phone (how ironic). This time finishing it, I listened to the audiobook. It’s definitely very interesting, not boring at all lol. There’s a lot more strong female characters in the book. The characters are also different, nuanced, and well thought out. In this rich society, being born into wealth versus “new money”, flaunting wealth, “humility”, should you hide your wealth, dealing with inadequacy and being used by in laws, “gold digging” by wealthy women, class, etc. there’s honestly a lot of different things to think about with the book, for everyone. It’s a bit of a satire and social commentary though based on the authors real experiences. In fact, the majority of the characters won’t be super relatable to you regardless of if you’re Asian or even Chinese Singaporean, because of their wealth, and the reader takes an outsider’s look along with Rachel who wasn’t born rich, isn’t rich, is American, follows her dreams rather than family controlling everything, etc. I think it would be enjoyable to anyone Asian or not and Asians will be glad to see some common Asian cultural things and themes as well. It may have Asians in the title but don’t go in thinking it’s going to be about a wide group of Asians and know it’s mostly one ethnicity in one country.
The main plot is this Chinese American professor Rachel Chu, going to Singapore with her professor boyfriend Nick, to attend his best friend’s wedding where he is best man, and also meet nick’s family. However she is not at all prepared for the wealth, environment and behavior of people in that society.
warnings ig: there is some slurs, racial and homophobic said by one douche bag character, and there is sexual content for sure unlike the movie
@nymphology
litc
