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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this for a Goodreads Challenge: Acclaimed Titles and I’m glad I did.
This was a really interesting satirical take on the Asian American experience. It was written in script format and was a take on being generic Asian Man.
At times hilarious, poignant, with scathing commentary about the entertainment industry/Asian history in the USA. It treaded the line on being “incel-y” and stuck the right cord of being informative and social commentary.
This got adapted into a tv series on Disney+, so it’ll be interesting to see how this translates on screen.
‘Wether we admitted it or not, and sometimes you did admit it to yourself, right before falling asleep, in the way thoughts like this come to you: your first, best, and only real master, the source of all your kung fu knowledge, was no longer himself. He’d aged out of his role and into the next one, his life forced depleting with every exertion. Wisdom and power leaking from him with each passing day at night. He played his role for so long he lost himself in it, before some separation that happened gradually over decades, and then you waking one day to feel it, some distance that had crept in overnight. Some formal space you could no longer cross.’
‘Bruce Lee was proof: not all Asian Men were doomed to a life of being Generic. If there was even one guy who had made it, it was at least theoretically possible for the rest.’
‘The police have questions. You say it not in Mandarin, but Taiwanese. The family language, the inside language. A secret code.’
‘There we go. The two words: Asian Guy. Even now, as Special Guest Star, even here, in your own neighbourhood. Two words that define you, flatten you, trap you and keep you here. Who you are. All you are. Your most salient feature, overshadowing any other characteristic. Both necessary and sufficient for a complete definition of your identity: Asian. Guy.’
This was a really interesting satirical take on the Asian American experience. It was written in script format and was a take on being generic Asian Man.
At times hilarious, poignant, with scathing commentary about the entertainment industry/Asian history in the USA. It treaded the line on being “incel-y” and stuck the right cord of being informative and social commentary.
This got adapted into a tv series on Disney+, so it’ll be interesting to see how this translates on screen.
‘Wether we admitted it or not, and sometimes you did admit it to yourself, right before falling asleep, in the way thoughts like this come to you: your first, best, and only real master, the source of all your kung fu knowledge, was no longer himself. He’d aged out of his role and into the next one, his life forced depleting with every exertion. Wisdom and power leaking from him with each passing day at night. He played his role for so long he lost himself in it, before some separation that happened gradually over decades, and then you waking one day to feel it, some distance that had crept in overnight. Some formal space you could no longer cross.’
‘Bruce Lee was proof: not all Asian Men were doomed to a life of being Generic. If there was even one guy who had made it, it was at least theoretically possible for the rest.’
‘The police have questions. You say it not in Mandarin, but Taiwanese. The family language, the inside language. A secret code.’
‘There we go. The two words: Asian Guy. Even now, as Special Guest Star, even here, in your own neighbourhood. Two words that define you, flatten you, trap you and keep you here. Who you are. All you are. Your most salient feature, overshadowing any other characteristic. Both necessary and sufficient for a complete definition of your identity: Asian. Guy.’
emotional
funny
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was so clever and well written. This book is written in the form of a screenplay, and follows Willis Wu, an actor who wants to be more than just a bit player. Willis is stuck in the character loop as the Generic Asian Man, but he dreams of being Kung Fu Guy like his father. I was worried the structure would make this book difficult to follow but I was pleasantly surprised - it was engaging right from the start. Charles Yu skillfully delivered teachable moments and a powerful message, wrapped in satire and just overall good storytelling. I would highly recommend this book!
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
This eye-opening novel takes the form of a screenplay, but will give anyone not Asian a taste of the attitudes/situations they face every day. It began to drag toward the end, becoming preachy.
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A captivating fiction about Asian stereotypes juxtoped with an insider view of one man's existence. Dramatic and worthy of the praise.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"The question isn't where did the Asian disappeared to. The question is why is the Asian guy always dead? Because we don't fit in the story."