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Inspired by how much I enjoyed the film Crazy Rich Asians, I selected China Rich Girlfriend for my home commute. It was a great, if uneven, read. There were a lot of characters and storylines in China Rich Girlfriend, enough that I want to go back and actually read Crazy Rich Asians because the movie has a pretty narrow throughline in the narrative revolving around Nick Young and Rachel Chu. China Rich Girlfriend, on the other hand, rotationally focuses on five different women: Rachel Chu (now Young), Bao Shaoyen, Colette Bing, Astrid Teo, and (the infamous) Kitty Pong. Each woman is in a different place in her life and relationships, and I love that we get to see so many different facets of life in the book (even if they are all focused on the top 1%).
China Rich Girlfriend is a whirlwind of jet-setting name-dropping intrigue. The crazy rich dropping stupid amounts of cash because they can. There's an interesting reflection that happens about 70% of the way in where the slightly buffonish parents of the young noveau riche come into contention with their spoiled and self-absorbed offspring that I quite enjoyed.
From this book to the first movie, China Rich Girlfriend isn't as good as Crazy Rich Asians and I blame it on the structure. The way that the storylines are sometimes intertwined, but very often glance off each other in only the most superficial way makes it like an odd conglomeration of intertwined short stories. I still enjoyed it thoroughly because you really are getting a glimpse into a world that is vastly different from the average persons in terms of class, but also (and perhaps more importantly) due to ethnicity. The struggle between tradition and modernity between parents and child, as well as the constant competition that exists between socialites as they leverage their wealth to jockey for social position was fascinating and, frankly, very juicy. How true to life the book is, really, is anyone's guess, but it makes for fun reading.
The only other downside for me were the twists at the ending. Although exciting, for sure, Rachel and Colette's 180 came way out of left field. Without giving anything away, part of that equation was a trick ending set-up to look like something else entirely. The second part, and the deeply satisfying smackdown that resulted, was, in its own way, expected but also out of character for what we had seen in the novel to that point. And then there was poor Kitty Pong whose entire storyline was shoe horned in around the edges of the book.
The audiobook was ably read by Lydia Look. The voices were distinctive and mostly consistent. I loved all the sotto voce footnotes.
I enjoyed the book thoroughly and if they finally get the movie produced, I will be excited to see it.
China Rich Girlfriend is a whirlwind of jet-setting name-dropping intrigue. The crazy rich dropping stupid amounts of cash because they can. There's an interesting reflection that happens about 70% of the way in where the slightly buffonish parents of the young noveau riche come into contention with their spoiled and self-absorbed offspring that I quite enjoyed.
From this book to the first movie, China Rich Girlfriend isn't as good as Crazy Rich Asians and I blame it on the structure. The way that the storylines are sometimes intertwined, but very often glance off each other in only the most superficial way makes it like an odd conglomeration of intertwined short stories. I still enjoyed it thoroughly because you really are getting a glimpse into a world that is vastly different from the average persons in terms of class, but also (and perhaps more importantly) due to ethnicity. The struggle between tradition and modernity between parents and child, as well as the constant competition that exists between socialites as they leverage their wealth to jockey for social position was fascinating and, frankly, very juicy. How true to life the book is, really, is anyone's guess, but it makes for fun reading.
The only other downside for me were the twists at the ending. Although exciting, for sure, Rachel and Colette's 180 came way out of left field. Without giving anything away, part of that equation was a trick ending set-up to look like something else entirely. The second part, and the deeply satisfying smackdown that resulted, was, in its own way, expected but also out of character for what we had seen in the novel to that point. And then there was poor Kitty Pong whose entire storyline was shoe horned in around the edges of the book.
The audiobook was ably read by Lydia Look. The voices were distinctive and mostly consistent. I loved all the sotto voce footnotes.
I enjoyed the book thoroughly and if they finally get the movie produced, I will be excited to see it.
