Have any of you read Crazy Rich Asians? I’m wondering what other good Chinese-American books are out there?
I just had a fun, lighthearted time seeing Crazy Rich Asians with my daughter. Have any of you read the book? I’ve read all that Amy Tan has written as well as Maxine Hong Kingston. I’m wondering what other good Chinese-American books are out there?
Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn. Donald Duk by Frank Chin.
I had never heard the story behind Thousand Pieces. I’ll have to read it.
@Angel I haven’t read it but showed the movie to a class several years ago. We all loved it.
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane – I really enjoyed it
It sounds very interesting.
Lisa See is the author – she is fabulous – read her books !!
It’s uber checked out at all the libraries but maybe one of my friends has a copy. Hint hint, mfers.
The movie is awesome but the book is even better!!
Celeste Ng.
I’ll look her up.
I listened to Everything I Never Told You recently by Celeste Ng and it was amazing.
celeste ng is great – would recommend both her works. other works with a chinese american focus are: a river of stars by vanessa hua, the astonishing color of after by emily x.r. pan, i wore my blackest hair by carlina duan (if you’re into poetry), and everything here is beautiful by mira t. lee
Lisa See books are wonderful
Show Flower and the Secret Fan was wonderful!
I’ll look for these!
@Angel Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy are a set. Shanghai is first.
I read Fifth Chinese Daughter and felt it was very relatable growing up Chinese American and blending my two cultures.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/286490
Girl in Translation is also about the Chinese American experience. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7362158
Megan Hand they both sound good!
Just read the book haven’t seen the movie yet.
Jamie Ford writes great books about the Chinese American experience, although they can be a bit sad.
It’s non-fiction and not Chinese-American, but I loved Wild Swans by Jung Chang about three generations of women in her family in China. It was fascinating.
I would like that.
@Angel I learned a lot from it, especially about China under Mao.
Jean Wierzbinski another excellent book is Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng.
@Angel It is now on my TBR list. Thank you!
Chemistry by Weike Wang
Just checked the Amazon reviews. Like!
This was I think the only time I thought the movie was better than the book which I also enjoyed.
Gail Tsukiyama is one of my favorite writers. She’s not Chinese but some of her books are set there.
I enjoyed Shanghai girls. Didn’t know there was a sequel. I never knew about “ paper sons” until I read that book. It was an interesting piece of history.
Read the next two in the CRAZY RICH ASIANS series. They continue the story and are delightful They have already started to make a movie about the second one, RICH GIRLFRIEND PROBLEMS.
@Amy, I love Lisa See because she does her research. She’s one of my top ten authors. I’ve read almost every book she’s written. Plus, if you follow her, she shares informational articles connected to her stories.
I forgot one more suggestion!!! This book reminded me of Peony in Love. It’s called Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo and the focus is on the other world when you die. It’s nothing like Crazy Rich Asians, but if you like a bit of fantasy and Chinese folklore/ traditions, you might like this!
What a different theme, I’ve never tried such a tale!
I really enjoyed Ghost Bride. It’s set in the Chinese community of Malaya, long before it was Malaysia.
A middle grade Chinese novel that could be of interest is Bronze and Sunflower. The author, Cao Wenxuan, won the Hans Christian Andersen Award, which has often been called the Nobel of children’s literature.
Thanks!
What a wonderful collection of titles to go on my TBR list! Thanks everyone who replied! 🙂
If you are interested in older books, Pearl S Buck wrote many excellent novels about China.
Gish Jen’s Typical American. It’s the only one of hers I’ve read but now that I’m reminded of it I may have to look for others.
Qiu Xiaolong’s Inspector Chen mysteries, set in Shanghai, roughly 1990s. I can lend you the first one if you’re interested.
Absolutely interested ?
I’ll put it in the car so I don’t forget to give it to you.
Wild Swans is a wonderful nonfiction book tracing three generations of Chinese women from the age of concubines through the age of Mao and ending in America. It’s a book I can’t forget.
Definitely will read it soon!