Book Review #12- "Crazy Rich Asian" by Kevin Kwan

 LIVING A LIFE OF AN ASIAN SOCIALITE

Book: Crazy Rich Asians

Author: Kevin Kwan

Publisher: Doubleday

Date Published: Januray 1, 2013

Country Published: United States of America

Blogger Rating: 4 out of 5 

Plot/ Summary:

The story started with an Asian family from Singapore, went to Europe for a family vacation. They were about to check-in, then the manager of the hotel had refused to let them stay in the hotel for being an Asian. 

What the manager didn't know is that the family is a very powerful and wealthy family in Asia. With just one call, they have not just been successful to convince the manager for them to stay at the hotel but also they became the sole owner of the hotel. (This is just a glimpse of how wealthy and powerful Asians can be, if they have money..... says in the book)

After several years. Nicholas Young, the only son of the prominent Young Family of Singapore, had been living in the US for several years and had become a professor from a prestigious university in the States, living a normal life. Then one day, He decided to invite his long term girlfriend, Rachel Chu, to travel with him back to Singapore to meet his family. 

The only thing that Nicholas had missed out from telling Rachel is that his family and super close extended family are the richest bunch of family in Asia (which includes Singapore, Hong Kong and China), and meeting Nicholas Family would turn her world upside down. 

Blogger Review:

I actually loved this book :) I only gave it 4 out of 5, because the ending of the book is open ended story. The good thing about it though is that the 2nd installment of the book had been released this month (but still need to wait for the price to drop.... it is still to expensive at $22.43 for paperback.........huhu T-T)

What I love about this book is their Singaporean expressions mixed with different languages and dialects (like Hokien, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay and many more) that they inserted in the book; which makes it very entertaining to read. 

My favorite character in the book is actually Astrid Leong. She is the cousin of Nicholas Young, who married a typical guy (from her family's perspective) and been living her life differently from what her parents had given her. She's a very loving mother and a caring wife to her husband. 

Reading this book is like a reflection of how other overseas Chinese been coping with their 2nd home country other than China. Like my family, my dad is from Hong Kong and my mom is from China. 

Being a Chinese myself, living in the Philippines.The strict traditions and culture of our ancestors are quite restricting for me. When our grandparents are still alive, our family is very strict in up holding our family tradition and most especially to be forced to work on your family business.

But fortunately for me and my siblings our parents would let us choose whatever we want to do in our lives. Free to choose our own religion, free to choose what course to take in college/university and many more. Hoping that some people may also experience this kind of freedom. To be able to live their life to the fullest and be happy always.

Category on Reading Challenge: A Very Funny Book

I'm very entertained by this book. This is a very funny book for me, most especially at the start to the middle of the book, because it were the Singaporean expressions were inserted in different dialects or languages that I can actually understand and relate to. Hoping to be able to buy the 2nd book soon. (cross fingers price drop pleaseeeee........)

Blogger Art:

Hand drawn using fountain pen in blue ink.

Looking for a copy of this book:

Amazon for $9.49

Book Depository (Free Shipping Worldwide) for $10.45