#Kevin kwan

[caribeandthebooks]

Caribe's Read Around The World TBR - Part 3

Books set in Asian countries <3

[glennethph]

Reminder: Nick is still an asshole for not warning Rachel about his family, especially his mom.

[thencomethecherryblossoms]

It’s 2024 and I’m still (not so) politely asking for a crazy rich asians sequel

[addictivecontradiction]

Crazy rich asians, 2018

[bornitereads]

Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan

Reread: Jun 2024

So if you've watched the movie, you know what this is about. The plotlines of both film and novel are similar and fantastic, but the book offers a richer (ha!) view into the world of said crazy, rich asians. Also I found the book to be sillier than the movie. Maybe Kwan was painting a more vivid picture of the ridiculous things rich people do and I just don't recognize it as a normal (i.e. poor) person, but it came across as fun and silly. Which is why I enjoy these books. I also enjoy how it goes deeper into the lore. There's a whole thing in the book where the Youngs (and other blood related families) are so rich they are basically unknown. And Peik Lin goes on this whole solve the mystery thing, it's fun. Plus the Astrid marriage thing is way more interesting. Although casting Gemma Chan was so perfect for Astrid and I definitely imagine her when reading the book now haha. Nick's mom is less outwardly a raging bitch to Rachel, but makes up for it in scheming. She is way less of a sympathetic character in the books though, she only calms down in the third book.

Anyways love this book (and the movie too).

Info: Anchor Canada; 2013

[books-to-add-to-your-tbr]

Title: Crazy Rich Asians

Author: Kevin Kwan

Series or standalone: series

Publication year: 2013

Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary

Blurb: When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendour beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the it girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should - and should not - marry.

[shsenhaji]

📚 January Reading Round-Up 📚

January was a pretty great reading month! Finished a few books I'd started in December, while also binging some new ones.

- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (good, very funny and bittersweet, full of detailed and lush descriptions, loved the last part the best, very different than the movie's plot)

- Paladin's Strength by T. Kingfisher (Delightful, funny, characters were a bit too self-deprecating but it worked nonetheless, all the feels)

- Manacled by Senlinyu (Very good, cried at a lot of parts, not my favourite iteration of this trope but a great addition, loved the fanart, interesting take on Draco Malfoy that I did enjoy)

- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (Very good, loved the audiobook, funny and smart and heartfelt, MC has ADHD vibes, some cool twists, great intertwined flashback story structure)

- Fullmetal Alchemist Fullmetal Edition Vol. 5 by Hiromu Arakawa (Very good, thankfully some of the scenes didn't hit me as hard as the anime, loved the humour and the art style)

- The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani (Good, very intense, loved the second half of the book more, great character development and themes)

- A Darkness at the Door by Intisar Khanani (Very very good, binged it in a day, very poetic and lyrical and angry and cathartic, loved the romance and the friendships and the ending)

- Tuyo by Rachel Neumeier (Good, loved the beginning, not quite what I was expecting for the ending, great characters and communication)

[adamwatchesmovies]

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

While it would be nice for every story to be wholly new and completely unpredictable, there’s something satisfying about a film that uses genre tropes this well. Crazy Rich Asians is the best romantic comedy we’ve seen in a long time. It’s glamorous, romantic, gorgeous, hilarious, smart and expertly directed.

Economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is travelling to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding) for his best friend Colin’s wedding. There, she learns that Nick's family is among the richest in the country. Dismissed by many because they don’t believe she will fit in, Rachel becomes determined to prove them wrong.

I watched Crazy Rich Asians on a double-bill with Monster-in-Law because of the two pictures’ similarities. Basically, they share a plot but the execution makes them so different it’s like they have nothing in common. You can probably guess the story’s beats but there’s a twist to them that makes Crazy Rich Asians so much more. When you see Nick and Rachel together, they’re perfect. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. He’s wealthy but isn't insensitive to the problems of the common person and doesn't flaunt his riches. The performers have excellent chemistry. They’re both beautiful people. The camera doesn’t shy away from showing you Henry Golding without a shirt on and Constance Wu appears in several glamorous outfits that make her look like a princess. You like them as individuals. You like them even better as a couple. There’s no reason for Nick's mother, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) to disapprove of them but she does. In her eyes, Rachel's upbringing means she will never fit in.

It’s not that Rachel grew up “poor” and that Nick didn’t. This film is deeper than that. Eleanor doesn’t approve because of the way Rachel was raised. Her parents were Chinese but she grew up in America. In Eleanor's eyes, Rachel could never understand the values the Young family hold so dearly. The opening scene shows Eleanor being discrimated against for being a foreigner. It generates sympathy for her. Seeing her judge Rachel later shows how much of a hypocrite she is.

You could dig deep into the film’s themes of old money vs. new money, of tradition and need to move away from them as well, the significance of the relationship between Astrid (Gemma Chan) and her husband, Michael (Pierre Png), or what it means to see a major theatrical release with an all-Asian cast, but ultimately, all of these are gravy. What you came for are some laughs and scenes of tenderness that will make your date want to hold your hand. That's what you get. The wedding Nick and Rachel attend is so beautiful and so glamorous. It radiates love so brightly it’ll bring tears to your eyes. It’s as romantic as attending a real-life wedding between two people you know are perfect for each other. You love seeing Nick and Rachel together. Seeing them having a great time with every luxury money can buy at their fingertips is rewarding.

There's so much going on with the cinematography, sets and costume designs you could watch the movie on mute and have a great time but then you’d be missing out on the comedy. Awkwafina (an actress who continues to impress with each film) delivers one big laugh after another. So does Ken Jeong - the funniest he’s been in years. Many of the side characters are quirky and memorable for their comedic values. The “serious” characterization is left to the main cast, with Eleanor coming off as particularly multi-faceted. She can afford to be. As in any fantasy, the leads have to be “perfect” to reinforce that anyone who doesn’t cheer for them is a villain.

Crazy Rich Asians is so enormously pleasing only those with a bone to pick against romantic comedies could dislike it. That said, I would agree with criticisms directed towards the conclusion. It’s a bit too long and does indulge a bit in some rom-com clichés. I'm mentioning this to show I'm not biased. The visuals, humor, drama and romance make Crazy Rich Asians a film you’ll be glad to return to over and over. It’s a terrific pick for date night. (August 7, 2020)

[siriuslydandy]

🍍🌞🌴📖

[emmieedwards]

"Às vezes não fazer nada pode ser a forma mais eficaz de ação."

— Asiáticos Podres de Ricos, de Kevin Kwan

[i-am-the-page-turner]

"Rich People Problems" by Kevin Kwan.

"Rich People Problems" by Kevin Kwan is the exhilarating conclusion to the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, immersing readers once again into the extravagant world of Asia's ultra-wealthy elite. The story follows the uproarious saga of the Shang-Young family as they navigate scandals, secrets, and squabbles over their vast fortune. When the family matriarch, Su Yi, falls ill, her heirs descend upon Tyersall Park, the family estate, hoping to secure their share of the inheritance. Amidst the chaos, old rivalries resurface, alliances are tested, and long-buried family secrets threaten to unravel the dynasty. Kwan skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, from the tumultuous romance between Nicholas Young and Rachel Chu to the scheming antics of socialite Kitty Pong. With its sharp wit and lavish descriptions, "Rich People Problems" offers a tantalizing glimpse into the opulent lifestyles and cutthroat social dynamics of Asia's super-rich. As the drama unfolds, Kwan delves into themes of family, tradition, and the price of wealth, delivering a satisfying conclusion that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next twist in the Shang-Young family saga. With its larger-than-life characters and uproarious humor, "Rich People Problems" is a delightful romp through the world of high society and excess. Through its glittering façade, the novel also offers poignant insights into the complexities of love, loyalty, and the true meaning of family. As the final pages turn, readers are left with a sense of closure and the lingering allure of the glamorous world Kwan has brought to life.

[signal-failure]

Kevin Kwan's New "Lies and Weddings"

Lies and Weddings, by Kevin Kwan, contains the same kind of frothy lifestyle fun as the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. Basically everyone in this novel is constantly wearing something beautiful and constantly eating something delicious. There’s social climbing, secret relationships, deep love, manipulation, huge financial secrets, and inner discoveries, with nods to classic British novels. It’s a…

[grouchydairy]

Doing nothing can sometimes be the most effective form of action.

#Kevin Kwan (Crazy Rich Asians)

[addictivecontradiction]

Crazy rich Asians, 2018

[bornitereads]

China Rich Girlfriend - Kevin Kwan

Reread: Jun 2024

Sequel to Crazy Rich Asians. If Crazy Rich Asians was about Nick and his family, this one is about Rachel and her family. Especially her dad in China who has a whole other family. We meet her dad and her brother and her (evilish) stepmother. Oh and her brother's kind of girlfriend who also is "China Rich."

There are two other big plotlines in here too. One is about Astrid trying to pull her marriage out of the trash (spoilers: it belongs there). And the second is about Kitty Pong, now Kitty Tai. I love that Kitty is basically joke in the first book, but now moves to becoming one of the major characters in the series.

Again this book has a silliness to it that I adore. It's a feature of the whole series. There is some wild serious stuff as well, but it's all kind of ridiculous. And I think that's the point haha.

Info: Anchor Canada; 2015

[edits-by-angel]

°• It's not my job to make you feel like a man. I can't make you something you're not. •°

pls do not repost 🥰☺️