Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

17 reviews

alexutzu's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny informative lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a long adventure throughout the world of these extremely rich people. So much happening all the time, it was a lot to keep track of! I would really like to check the movie adaptation next and possibly continue the series.

😍 The good:
I felt that the narration was authentic and I enjoyed the diverse perspectives. The story seemed realistic and it kept having cliffhangers, which really made me curious about what is next. I really felt immersed while learning more about the culture. It was fun, while also having some thoughtful scenes. The audio version was really fast-paced, almost like a movie, and I liked the narrator.

😅 The not-so-good: 
There were a bit too many characters to keep track of, even though I can understand their purpose. It also was a bit overwhelming in terms of jumping from one character to another... I kept forgetting what was happening to each of them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Racism

sarah_readz's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Although I got bored of the endless descriptions of luxury, I can appreciate that they're meant to be boring. Youre meant to be bored by luxury beyond your wildest dreams, because a lot of the characters are, and by the end of it semi sentient closets don't even phase you. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Xenophobia, and Classism

sohva's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

The book was fun to listen to while doing chores and needing something to follow but with not too much stakes. The premise is interesting and the plot certainly entertaining. However, way too much of the book is descriptions of different expensive things, which got boring quickly. Also, the main character had hardly any personality. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Bullying

Minor: Pregnancy and Physical abuse

mattyvreads's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Urmmm… so… I didn’t care for this book. Parts of it were wonderful! I think it is definitely successful as a romance novel. There were real moments of humor and genuine surprise, but overall the storytelling and the content did not work for me.

My main critique all boils down to one pervasive thought I couldn’t shake: “this book was so glaringly written by a man.” In every description of the female characters, to the sexualized POV of the supporting female cast. Those elements were so distracting and strange that they really took me out. The book could have definitely used some major editing.

Besides that, the pacing and structure of the story made absolutely no sense to me. The twists (which do not make sense) are misplaced in the story.

Despite the book’s length, there is absolutely no resolution to Nick’s conflict with his family. There is barely a resolution between Rachel and Nick, too, and they’re the main characters! The twists left me more confused than enlightened.

Plus there’s like a whole chapter full of racial/homophobic slurs for some reason…. I’m remain… confused. 

Regardless, I think I’m glad I read it?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism and Car accident

Moderate: Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Drug use, and Racism

macliffe's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Cursing, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Pregnancy

theuncannydani's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Colonisation, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racism, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Classism, and Bullying

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Incest, Violence, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Drug use, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Car accident, Cursing, Sexual violence, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Stalking

Minor: Stalking, Grief, Fatphobia, and Drug abuse

atamano's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Racism, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content

sapphicsoilscientist's review against another edition

I miss books with characters I wouldn’t want to kick in the shins every three pages. This book is full of people that cannot or will not behave themselves. I understand some of them are meant to be poorly behaved because they have so much money, but even the love interest is not a likable person. 
Also the homophobia and rape jokes are more than I have time for. I don’t know how this could be a ‘fun and light’ read for people. I don’t think we read the same book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Classism, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual content, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Adult/minor relationship, and Racial slurs

The further into the book you get, the worse it gets. Nothing about any of these characters made me want to read past all the terrible things happening on the bachelor/bachelorette party.

natia_nfg's review against another edition

challenging funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I actually watched the movie way before reading the book and I love the movie with my whole heart. The book was a quite a surprise for that reason. I had seen commentary on how the movie watered down the themes of the book and I really came to understand that after finishing the book. The satirical nature of the world of the crazy rich was so compelling to read. While I loved how Nick's character was almost blissfully unaware of his world, I found myself feeling a bit frustrated with him, especially because his naiveté came at Rachel's expense. I also loved reading about Astrid and Michael's relationship, especially in conjunction with Nick and Rachel's. The extensive measures that Michael had to take to find a way out, the way that Astrid thought she understood his struggle, is so similar to Nick and Rachel. It becomes more interesting because unlike Nick, Astrid doesn't delude herself into thinking that the money or the family can't seriously impact her husband, but even that level of self-awareness wasn't enough. I also like how the book doesn't perfectly resolve Nick and Rachel's relationship, which makes me even more excited to read the next book. It really is a great book and I felt like I could really imagine the world they live in vividly. My one issue with the book is Bernard Tai🤢🤢. I get it, he's supposed to suck, but he just makes me too uncomfortable for me to overlook it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia

Minor: Racial slurs

copiani's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Classism, and Infidelity

Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Misogyny

Minor: Sexual content