.

.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Crazy Rich Asians: A Novel by Kevin Kwan

about book:

An outrageously funny debut, Crazy Rich Asians is the story of three superrich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occur when Nicholas Young, heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia, brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.

When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick, 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 her 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 whom her son should - and should not - marry.

A romp through the Far East's most exclusive playgrounds - from the glittering penthouses of Shanghai to the private islands in the South China Sea - Crazy Rich Asians is an insider's look at the Asian jet set, a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money and between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese, and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.

my thoughts:

OMG!  I absolutely LOVED reading Kevin Kwan's, Crazy Rich Asians!!! This book reads like an episode of Lifestyles of the  Rich and Famous mixed with an episode of The Young and the Restless - I loved it!!  It actually made me think of that show, #Rich Kids of Beverly Hills - Dorothy Wang is the daughter of a billionaire and I'm guessing her life would probably be on par with the characters in this book if she lived in Singapore, instead of BH.  Of course, the number of Berkins, private plane rides, and last minute vacations mentioned in this book could rival Wang's own personal life any day of the week I'm sure.

Kwan has created a fantastically engaging and humorous story about the rich and famous Chinese families residing in Singapore.  We have a book filled with family dramas, power struggles, infidelity, identity crises, and so much more.  And with all of the drama, there is the fabulous-ness that comes with being "crazy rich" - the designer clothes, first class travel, the immense family estates, the private chefs, and so forth.  It is truly insane how mega-rich these families are and how easily they can drop a few hundred thousand dollars on one night out.  It is beyond unbelievable - and I have to admit rather addicting to read about.  I seriously felt like I was reading an episode of some ridiculously over the top soap opera and I LOVED it!!  The writing was excellent, the characters were unforgettable, and the stories were unputdownable.  I was hooked from beginning to end! 

I would most definitely recommend Kevin Kwan's fantastic debut novel, Crazy Rich Asians to anyone looking for a great new book to read.  It is the perfect summer read!

2 comments:

Ti said...

Asians are becoming cool again. Did I just say, again? I guess they never were but that sitcom Fresh Off the Boat which I believe is based on a book and now this book.

Nadia said...

Ti, LOL! Yeah, FOB is based on a book. And they are making this book into a movie and there will be a sequel coming out next year! I love it!!