Of Damask Settees and Busy Bees

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

A post from Toni Airaksinen

All of the notions of splendor and wealth that are generally conjured up by the phrase ‘crazy rich’ are taken to new a level in the novel “Crazy Rich Asians” by Singapore-born Kevin Kwan. It’s a delightful satirical depiction of just not only how people control their money, but how their money controls them.

Initially set in Manhattan, the story follows two people who work in a University and become romantically involved with each other, Nicholas Young and Rachel Chu. After dating for two years, Nicholas brings Rachel to meet his “traditional Chinese family” and friends back in Singapore.

The only problem: she doesn't know anything about his family’s background. When she does finally meet all of the other people in his family and social circle, she’s taken aback. With an extended family so large that the author provides a couple of family trees before the first chapter, there’s nowhere for her to hide.

With  Nicholas’s acquaintances who casually drop designer names like Valentino and exotic locales along the lines of Saint-Tropez, and Nicholas’s family members who believe that Rachel doesn't come from the ‘proper bloodline,’ the book is an astute look into our relationship with money.

One half family drama and one half social commentary on consumerism, the absolute extravagance of everything in this book will keep you wanting more. Who doesn't love riding a private plane while wearing Jean Paul Gaultier on their way to a spa trip to Bali?

However, underneath the social commentary, the plot lines that are strongly woven throughout the 400+ pages come to an all-too-abrupt finish all in the last few pages of the book.

It’s like the author took the easy way in his efforts to wrap up 390 pages of a deep plot.

I’m expecting a sequel.