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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
To be fair, maybe I would have enjoyed this book more if I had been Asian as I would have had some common ground with the references and the way family treats their kin. I mean, it didn't keep me from enjoying the book, but I guess I expected more because a friend of mine gave it a g l o w i n g review but it just felt like reading, say, the Devil Wears Prada meets Gossip Girl but about a really nosy and bitchy OOT crazy rich Asian family. Lots of enumeration of luxury articles and descriptions of the absurdly luxurious clothes they were buying and the even more absurd prices they were buying them at. I guess my weak rating only reflects my disappointment because I had believed this book to be more than a light, fun reading but if that's what you're looking for, then the book is good.
When Rachel Chu agrees to go to Singapore with her laidback, down to earth boyfriend, Nick Young, for his childhood friend's wedding, she is excited for a lovely vacation and a chance to meet his friends and family, about whom Nick has told her very little. Imagine her shock when she realizes Nick's upbringing was far from humble and he is a part of one of the wealthiest and most respected families in Asia. She is thrown amongst the most extravagant and haughty people in Asia, whom Nick calls friends and family, and they just as shocked and appalled to see their prized heir with a Chinese American of no significant means or family. Rachel is in for the ride of her life as she navigates this treacherous social realm that she may one day marry into.
.
Crazy Rich Asians starts off like a rollercoaster ride with a big dive and then never-ending shock and thrill. There is a little background story of Nick's family and the challenges they faced gaining the respect of the western world. You will get scenes from several members of multiple intertwined families and may be shocked at how casually they speak of wealth, how ignorant they seem of their own extreme opulence, and how obsessively they gossip about one another and obsess over breeding and appearances. It is satirical view of a real world, providing fascinating social commentary.
.
The book is written in third person that tows the line of omniscient and objective. We experience events from nearly every character and are clear on that person's opinion of matters but are rarely given insight into personal emotions, which does make this satire a little clinical. The main storyline is Nick bringing Rachel to Singapore, where we probably experience the most emotions, especially through speech. But otherwise, this objective POV of the many other characters involves, does little to garner empathy for this unapologetically vain group.
.
Overall, I enjoyed this one with its hilarity and ridiculousness, but I do think the main plot line could be been more enriched. Can't help but compare it to the movie... and I enjoyed that ending better.
.
Crazy Rich Asians starts off like a rollercoaster ride with a big dive and then never-ending shock and thrill. There is a little background story of Nick's family and the challenges they faced gaining the respect of the western world. You will get scenes from several members of multiple intertwined families and may be shocked at how casually they speak of wealth, how ignorant they seem of their own extreme opulence, and how obsessively they gossip about one another and obsess over breeding and appearances. It is satirical view of a real world, providing fascinating social commentary.
.
The book is written in third person that tows the line of omniscient and objective. We experience events from nearly every character and are clear on that person's opinion of matters but are rarely given insight into personal emotions, which does make this satire a little clinical. The main storyline is Nick bringing Rachel to Singapore, where we probably experience the most emotions, especially through speech. But otherwise, this objective POV of the many other characters involves, does little to garner empathy for this unapologetically vain group.
.
Overall, I enjoyed this one with its hilarity and ridiculousness, but I do think the main plot line could be been more enriched. Can't help but compare it to the movie... and I enjoyed that ending better.
Maybe I wanted to give the book 3 1/2 stars for the delicious character Nick and the fated love story between him and Rachel.
Perhaps I would give it 3 1/2 stars because, although I know this book and the lifestyles described therein are based on fact, I do not know the facts, but I’ll bet this is an excellent satire of them.
But, really I would give it 3 1/2 stars because I want to read the sequels. If the book leaves me wanting more, then your rating gets a bump.
Crazy, Rich Asians is based on the timeless premise of all Cinderella love stories. Who doesn’t want to be rescued by the ridiculously handsome and ridiculously rich prince? If you think this story is all about how Rachel doesn’t want that, then you would be wrong.
Rachel is head over heels in love with Nick and his family’s wealth is a surprising bonus. It takes her off guard and she is skeptical, but this is a girl that would be happy to accept the trappings that come with her boyfriend. That is, if it weren’t for the family and “friends” that surround him and mercilessly persecute her.
Stereotypes abound with the Uber-wealthy characters in this book and if I hadn’t read so many reviews assuring us that these Crazy, Rich Asians actually exist, I would write it off as pure fiction.
I enjoyed the subtle references to some of our favorite designers. I especially enjoyed how the designers Americans all clamor for as signs of status and money- are second-hand donations from Goodwill to these people.
The luxuries that are commonplace for them remain part of a dreamscape in our American movies and literature. These people make the Kardashians look like Budweiser girls.
It is a fun trollop through their beyond rich lives, but you can’t help but fight for Rachel and Nick’s love story. You can’t help but root for them, even though you know you have fallen victim to the oldest literary cliche. I guess I am a romantic sucker.
The book is a fun, fluffy summer read, but written with just enough depth to make you care about what happens to our main characters, their love and their lives among these Crazy, Rich Asians.
Perhaps I would give it 3 1/2 stars because, although I know this book and the lifestyles described therein are based on fact, I do not know the facts, but I’ll bet this is an excellent satire of them.
But, really I would give it 3 1/2 stars because I want to read the sequels. If the book leaves me wanting more, then your rating gets a bump.
Crazy, Rich Asians is based on the timeless premise of all Cinderella love stories. Who doesn’t want to be rescued by the ridiculously handsome and ridiculously rich prince? If you think this story is all about how Rachel doesn’t want that, then you would be wrong.
Rachel is head over heels in love with Nick and his family’s wealth is a surprising bonus. It takes her off guard and she is skeptical, but this is a girl that would be happy to accept the trappings that come with her boyfriend. That is, if it weren’t for the family and “friends” that surround him and mercilessly persecute her.
Stereotypes abound with the Uber-wealthy characters in this book and if I hadn’t read so many reviews assuring us that these Crazy, Rich Asians actually exist, I would write it off as pure fiction.
I enjoyed the subtle references to some of our favorite designers. I especially enjoyed how the designers Americans all clamor for as signs of status and money- are second-hand donations from Goodwill to these people.
The luxuries that are commonplace for them remain part of a dreamscape in our American movies and literature. These people make the Kardashians look like Budweiser girls.
It is a fun trollop through their beyond rich lives, but you can’t help but fight for Rachel and Nick’s love story. You can’t help but root for them, even though you know you have fallen victim to the oldest literary cliche. I guess I am a romantic sucker.
The book is a fun, fluffy summer read, but written with just enough depth to make you care about what happens to our main characters, their love and their lives among these Crazy, Rich Asians.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but this is a rare case of liking the movie better than the book. I felt like it kinda rambled on and on about the designer clothes sometimes and I could care less about that aspect.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A book about awful human beings.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I didn’t like this as much as I wanted to 😩 I normally love books about rich people, and I did enjoy the scenes at the wedding. However, I was looking for rich people drama and there just wasn’t any until the very end and I was over it by then. I hate to say it but I like the movie better.
Fun for what it is. Liked all the memories it brought back of SE Asia for me....though I will always have fonder place in my heart for Malaysia over Singapore I enjoyed all the slang and over the top story line.
This is so not my usual thing. But I've recently discovered that I kind of love messy rich people books. And when this was available on Libby, I figured "why not?"
And it delivered. So many messy rich people. I was furious for Rachel as people tried to ruin her relationship with Nick. I was genuinely shocked when the truth of Rachel's father was revealed (also her "grandparents" were going to blind her?!?!?!).
I just had a lot of fun listening to this and can't wait to watch the movie/finish the series.
And it delivered. So many messy rich people. I was furious for Rachel as people tried to ruin her relationship with Nick. I was genuinely shocked when the truth of Rachel's father was revealed (also her "grandparents" were going to blind her?!?!?!).
I just had a lot of fun listening to this and can't wait to watch the movie/finish the series.