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| 2018/04/26 12:06:46瀏覽750｜回應0｜推薦1 | |
Writer: Kevin Kwan is a Singaporean novelist，Kevin Kwan was born in Singapore, into an established Chinese family. His great-grandfather was a founding director of Singapore's oldest bank and his grandfather was an ophthalmologist who became Singapore's first Western-trained specialist. Kwan is also related to Hong Kong-born American actress Nancy Kwan. He attended the University of Houston, where he earned a BA in Media Studies, after which he moved to Manhattan to attend Parsons School of Design in order to pursue a BFA in Photography. In New York, Kwan worked for Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, and Tibor Kalman's design firm M&Co. In 2000, Kwan established his own creative studio, clients of which included Ted.com, Museum of Modern Art, and The New York Times.(R.1)
Story: Nick invited her girlfriend Rachel to attend his best friend Colin’s wedding in Singapore. The 32 year-old Nick is a history professor at New York University, whose mother Eleanor Sung spent her whole life to place her son, Nick to inherit her parents-in-law’s fortune. Eleanor is reluctant to take Rachel as her son’s girlfriend. Rachel is a Stanford-educated American-born Chinese, an economics professor at New York University. She was raised by a single Chinese mother. One of the key families in the story, in fact, is so rich. The book is told from the perspective of five main characters: Rachel Chu, Nicholas Young, Eleanor Young, Astrid Teo, and Edison Cheng. The story revolves around the grand wedding between Singapore's most eligible bachelor, Colin Khoo, and a fashion icon, Araminta Lee which everyone calls the wedding of the year.(R.13)
Our entree into their world is by way of Rachel Chu, a mainland Chinese-born economics professor. Born to a single mother who emigrates to the United States, dragging her daughter around the country as she works in various Chinese restaurants, Rachel is sensible, smart and non-calculating. Rachel meets Nicholas Young, a member of the wealthy mysterious Singaporean family, through a colleague at the university where she eventually works. They fall in love without Nick divulging his wealthy background, but when he invites her to spend an American summer in the city state to attend a wedding, Rachel discovers an entirely new way of living, and an entirely new sub-species of people,
Crazy Rich Asians casts a light on Singapore’s vapid, ultra-wealthy. It’s enormously depressing to think about the vast disconnect between their wealth and what ordinary Southeast Asian life is like for millions of others.(R.6)
Janet Maslin of the New York Times wrote of the novel, "Mr. Kwan knows how to deliver guilty pleasures. He keeps the repartee nicely outrageous, the excess wretched and the details wickedly delectable." (R.13)
Highlights vs self- reflection: 1.p.19:She had never been the sort of girl who longed for fairy-tale endings. Being twenty-nine, she was by Chinese standards well into old-maid territory, and even though her busybody relatives were perpetually trying to set her up, she had spent the better part of her twenties focused on getting through grad school, finishing her dissertation, and jump-starting her career in academia. This surprise invitation, however, sparked some vestigial instinct within her. He wants to take me home. He wants me to meet his family. The long-dormant romantic in her was awakening, and she knew there was only once answer to give. 2.p.298: Singapore was a meritocracy, and whoever performed well was invited into the winner’s circle. But those people-those people behind the gates were a sudden reminder that this was not entirely the case. 3.p.295: As the helicopter lifted off from the yacht, Nick and Alistair began laughing uncontrollably at the figure of Bernard, his baggy swimming trunks whipping around his pale damp thighs, staring up at them in bewilderment…I don’t think it even occurred to him that this isn’t a medical helicopter but a chartered one…A mere six hours later, Nick, Colin, Alistair, Mehmet, and Lionel found themselves sitting on canvas chairs in the middle of the Australian desert, taking in the spectacular view of the glowing rock. How the rich dealing with the emotional feeling is totally different than the poor. They can spend 6 hours to leave their uncomfortable place and zoom to another country to enjoy the sunsetting. 4.p.296:Wye Mun couldn’t help but remember what his father always said:”Never forget we are Hainanese, son. We are the descendants of servants and seamen. We always have to work harder to prove our worth.” Taichung Mayor Lin Jialong’s father is a tailor. He always wear the suit which his father made as his battle robe and remind of helping the down and out. 5.p.318:Nick smiled at Rachel in an attempt to cover up his dismay. He had wanted his parents to give their undivided attention to Rachel , but his mother was always springing last-minute surprises like this. 6.p.323:When you are just a tourist, you need to learn to respect the environment you’re in. 7.p.322:Rachel is an amazing cook. Without her, I’d probably be eating ramen noodles every night. 8.p.316:She looks better than in that school yearbook picture obtained by the detective. 9.p.336:She looked and sounded like a Chinese women in the most traditional sense, and yet here they were in a walled garden straight out of the Loire Valley having English afternoon tea. 10.p.337:…I had quite a few brothers and sisters. My father had many concubines who bore him children, but only one supreme wife, my mother. She bore him six children, but out of all my siblings, only three were officially accepted. Myself, and two of my brothers. 11.p.426: she had lived the first eighteen years of her life surrounded by people who had money but claimed not to people who preferred to hand things down rather than buy them new, people who simply didn't know how to enjoy their good fortune. spending money the Charlie Wu way was absolutely exhilarating-honestly, it was better than sex. 12.p.460: Rachel grabbed at nicks' wrist urgently he would never forget the look of devastation on her face: I think .. need air" she muttered, before collapsing into the wicker tea cart 13.p.481:Rachel’s eyes were brimming with tears, and as much as Nick wanted to insist she was wrong, he knew nothing he could say now would convince her otherwise. In any part of the world, whether New York, Paris, or Shanghai, she was lost to him. 14.p.489: Blue jay would never give up trying. He would take an impossible situation and make everything possible. 15.p.427: Rachel was angry at herself for crying and confused by the tidal wave of emotion that had swept over her, but she just couldn’t help it. The shock of the evening and the pent-up stress of the days leading up to it had brought her to this point, and now she was drained. 16.p.433:Rachel looked like she had been hit in the face with a durian. Golden Sentence: 1.p.16: He didn’t want to become persona non grata at his favorite café for carelessly pledging allegiance to another scone, even if it was his grandmother’s 2.p.296: It was just past sunset, and the sky was shifting rapidly from shades of burnt orange into a deep violet blue. The men sat in awed silence, as the world’s largest monolith glowed and shimmered a thousand indescribable shades of crimson. 3.p.329: Let China sleep, for when she awakens she will shake the world.-Napoleon Bonaparte 4.p.492:Pay the price for excesses 5.p.493: pingponging between two households. I have failed my son. 6.p.495:It only takes a spark to get the fire going And soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love. Once you've experienced it. you want to sing, it's fresh like spring, you sprang his love and you want to pass it on 7.p.498:He wanted to see the joy return to Astrid’s face, that glow he had witnessed all those years ago at the bonfire on the beach. He wanted to pass it on. 8.p.427:Rachel noticed that the laundry maids had placed thin sheets of scented blotting paper between each folded piece of clothing, and she began tearing them out frustratedly-she didn’t want to take a single thing form this place. 9.p.427:I refuse to be a sitting duck for all these crazy women in your life 10.p.477: She realized he was as much a victim of circumstances as she was. 11.p.481:All these crazy rich Asians, all these people whose lives revolve around making money, spending money, flaunting money, comparing money, hiding money, controlling others with money, and ruining their lives over money. And if I marry you, there will be no escaping it, even if we live on the other side of the world. 12. "I did not tell half of what I saw, for no one would have believed me"-Marco Polo, in 1324
Conclusion: 1. Chinese “Pride and Prejudice”. Money can talk, only money, but can’t talk about love. 2. 97% of workers in Korea is bullied by their Tycoon boss. Crazy Rich Asians’ first generation wins the money with toil and moil. Later their generation was born with a silver spoon in their mouth who knows nothing about toil and moil. But knows only to bully others. Once if our soul is trained to be invictus, our body can serve more or be served. 3. What they eat is rambutan fruit, what they ride is Daimler car. What they see is really different than others. Where to learn love is only to go out of the emerald castle. 4. Nick’s grandmom over 90 something, still inspects every single one of the young star fruits and wraps each of them in their own plastic bags. The humidity helps them to ripen and protects them from birds. In order to keep every fruit. Like old generation take good care of all the young. So the young need to escape from home to push themselves to grow up. 5. Money is a way to get, love is a way to give 6. Marriage is between two people. But it’s a kaleidoscope of two families. 7. One can be so pure and powerful if he has no selfish desires. 8. The flow of the money is derived from the giving, not from taking. 9. Money Buddha is a silent wise man who will find his successor by completing his unbearable task by rumor, temptation. 10. Shang Su Yi, matriarch of the family plays the great spirit of the tycoon, hard-working and the prophet of the family. Rachel is an economic professor who knows to deal with the old money by not greedy comparing with a saint heart via new money. Nick is a history professor who needs to learn from his history with gratitude and appreciation to show his respect to his old money. Men earn the big-money. Women thwarted the opposition's maneuver to gain control of old money. Crazy Rich Asians Questions by Lydia Lai: Discussion Questions: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan Posted Crazy Rich Asians book coverTitle: Crazy Rich Asians Author: Kevin Kwan Page Count: 527 pages Genre: Satire, Mainstream Fiction Tone: Humorous, High Drama, Witty
Summary: Envisioning a summer vacation in the humble Singapore home of a boy she hopes to marry, Chinese American Rachel Chu is unexpectedly to a rich and scheming clan that strongly opposes their son’s relationship with an American girl.
Few questions to discuss:
1. In the Prologue, Reginald Ormsby – GM of a posh London hotel – wouldn’t let Eleanor, Felicity, Alexandra and their families stay at the hotel. What did you think of this opening? This happened in the 80’s; were you surprised by racial implications? The most heroic slave uprising led by Spartacus , which broke out in 73 b . c，The Black arrested for ‘loitering’ in Starbuck in 2018, had no choice but to keep their heads down and get handcuffed, out of fear for their lives. For black people, it’s a familiar situation. La Bissen said: "The only way to change prejudice is to change culture.” Norles believes that if we want to challenge the deep-rooted prejudices that shape our actions, we must rely on contact.
2. What did you think of the characters in this book? Who was your favorite? Who drove you crazy? Rachel: p.19:She had never been the sort of girl who longed for fairy-tale endings. Being twenty-nine, she was by Chinese standards well into old-maid territory, and even though her busybody relatives were perpetually trying to set her up, she had spent the better part of her twenties focused on getting through grad school, finishing her dissertation, and jump-starting her career in academia. This surprise invitation, however, sparked some vestigial instinct within her. He wants to take me home. He wants me to meet his family. The long-dormant romantic in her was awakening, and she knew there was only once answer to give. One can be so pure and powerful if she has no selfish desires. Nick’s granmom: Nick’s grandmom over 90 something, still inspects every single one of the young star fruits and wraps each of them in their own plastic bags. The humidity helps them to ripen and protects them from birds. In order to keep every fruit. Like old generation take good care of all the young. So the young need to escape from home to push themselves to grow up. Eleanor: She lives revolve around making money, spending money, flaunting money, comparing money, hiding money, controlling others with money, and ruining their lives over money. 3. Were you aware of the wealth in Asia before reading this book? Alibaba gives me a peek to the tycoon in China 4. As Part Two begins there is a quote from Marco Polo “I did not tell half of what I saw, for no one would have believed me”. Kevin Kwan said in an interview that his editor had him “remove certain parts of Crazy Rich Asians because they were too unbelievable, even though they were grounded in reality”. What did you think of the descriptions of mega wealth in this book? This is already so eye-popping, What they eat is rambutan fruit, what they ride is Daimler car. Where they live, is in the Tyersall Park. Where to get a fresh air is to fly to Cameron Highland. Where to get a drink is in the SkyBar at Marina Bay Sands. If they get tired of the party on the yacht , then they can fly from the yacht to Australia in a few seconds by the helicopter. What they play is the Didgeridoo. What they wear for casual is Fred Perry or Sergio Tachini. Once they wanna solve the problem with girl friend. They will fly from Singapore to USA to get his girlfriend’s mom over to Singapore in few days. What they see and do is really different than us. Where to learn love is only to go out of the emerald castle.
5. Given the opportunity would you want to live the super rich life style? Do you think it could be stressful? Money is a way to get, love is a way to give Marriage is between two people. But it’s a kaleidoscope of two families. “The best thing come when you least expected, what we can do is well prepared for your chance.”
6. What do you think of the “old money” versus the “new money” divide in this book? Old money comes from seniors. New money comes from your hardship.
7. Nicholas didn’t feel his money would change his relationship when Rachel found out. What are your thoughts? p.427:I refuse to be a sitting duck for all these crazy women in your life
8. Sophie told Rachel, “No matter how advanced we’ve become, there’s still tremendous pressure for girls to get married. Here, it doesn’t matter how successful a woman is professionally. She isn’t considered complete until she is married and has children”. What do you think of this statement and do you think it would ring true in the United States? Singleness and marriage are not a stepping stone to the world of happiness! If you have the same thinking and behavior as a queen, people will treat you like a queen!
The writer is Joy Chen, whose Chinese name is Chen Yu. It is a Chinese woman who dares to challenge existing social prejudices and rules. She married only 38 years old and, with confidence and courage, she became a Los Angeles deputy mayor at the age of 31 from a shy little girl.
9. Do you think any couple in this book has a “good” marriage? Are the relationships different than the average marriage? 90% of the roles married with money. 10% of roles married with love.
10.Rachel goes with Araminta’s friends to her super exclusive bachelorette party, but she does not seem to be accepted by the group. Why do you think that is? Money is a way to get, love is a way to give Marriage is between two people. But it’s a kaleidoscope of two families.
11. What did you think about Colin’s bachelor party? p.492:Pay the price for excesses p.493: pingponging between two households. I have failed my son.
12Both Nick and Astrid offered to leave their family for their respective partners. What do you think about this? Can family ever be left behind completely?., p.495:It only takes a spark to get the fire going And soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love. Once you've experienced it. you want to sing, it's fresh like spring, you sprang his love and you want to pass it on p.498:He wanted to see the joy return to Astrid’s face, that glow he had witnessed all those years ago at the bonfire on the beach. He wanted to pass it on.
1. Do you think Nick and Rachel get married? Should they? Money is a way to get, love is a way to give, I can see how Nick tried so hard to remend their relationship. I believe they will create a way for both cos they wanna work on it. Nick is the blue jay that pecks repeatedly at the reflection of a Damien Hirst painting. His love spirit will like the spark fire. It only takes a spark to get the fire going. And soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love. Once you've experienced it. you want to sing, it's fresh like spring, you sprang his love and you want to pass it on
Related Reading: 1.Kevin Kwan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Kwan 2.Nancy Kwan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Kwan 3.Crazy Rich Asians: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Rich_Asians 4.Crazy Rich Asians Review: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/03/crazy-rich-asians-racial-stereotypes 5.Crazy Rich Asians Review: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/crazy-rich-asians-by-kevin-kwan-book-review-8985637.html 6.Crazy Rich Asians Review: https://www.travelfish.org/book-reviews/43 7.Hethrow Airport: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%80%AB%E6%95%A6%E5%B8%8C%E6%96%AF%E8%B7%AF%E6%A9%9F%E5%A0%B4 8.Piccadilly Tube Station: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly 9.Tea and Sympathy in New York: https://www.teaandsympathy.com/ 10.Calvin Trillin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Trillin 11.Royal Mansour: https://read01.com/zh-tw/KBoEDdJ.html#.WsbtYC5ubX4 12.Surrey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey 13.Crazy Rich Asians: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Rich_Asians 14.Taj Mahal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal 15.Peet Coffee and Tea: http://blog.udn.com/gloomybear/4182783 16.Myanmar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar 17.Tyersall Park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyersall_Park 18.Laurel Glen Drive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCt330dOJ-k 19.Cairnhill Residence: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cairnhill 20. rojak: https://icook.tw/recipes/194080 21.Lucky Plaza: http://www.luckyplaza.com.sg/ 22.Corinthian-columned portico: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinthian_order 23.Cairnhill: http://cairnhillresidences.com/ 26.personal sky garage: https://www.google.com/maps/place/1%C2%B018'40.1%22N+103%C2%B050'10.1%22E/@1.3112007,103.8363709,246m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d1.31114!4d103.836143 27.Kaimler: http://www.lordcars.co.uk/our-cars-vintage-wedding-car-hire/daimler-wedding-car-hire/ 29.papyrus: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8E%8E%E8%8D%89%E7%BA%B8 30.Loire garden: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loire_Valley 31.Nyonya Kueh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuih 32.Cameron Highland: (1)https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%91%E9%A6%AC%E5%B4%99%E9%AB%98%E5%8E%9F (3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwvT65nJz1o 33.Calacatta: http://www.formica.com/zh/tw/knowledge/trend-and-applications/calacatta-vs-carrara 34. Astier de Villatte porcelain |
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