To all the the people who read this blog, and also happen to read international best sellers–yes, I am fully aware that I missed the boat when it sailed in 2013. Even though it’s been five years after the novel was released, I have officially finished reading Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed! This book had me going through all the emotions. I went from elation to forlornness. Experienced glee and exasperation. There were points in the story that made me go “awww”, and other points that made me go “wtf!” If you are someone who has not read the book, and as such does not want any spoilers, do not read any of the subsequent paragraphs. Consider this your spoiler alert.
“I AM HERE FOR IT!” I exclaimed to myself while leafing savagely through the the prologue. You may ask yourself what caused Celeste such joy? Ponder no further. I had the satisfaction of experiencing Ormsby, a racist hotel employee, get dismissed in epic fashion. Ormsby turned away the exhausted Young party, who had been traveling from Singapore to the United Kingdom, from the hotel where they had not only made, but also confirmed a reservation. What the racist chap did not know was the Youngs were a very well connected family with deep pockets (the depths of which are only alluded to, and are never fully divulged to the reader). After Ormsby turns the Young party away, Felicity Leong, neé Young, contacts her husband Harry Leong. Harry was outraged by the treatment his wife and family received. So Harry makes phone calls, tracks down the owner of the hotel, and buys the hotel from the owner. Soon the Young party returns to the hotel they had essentially been kicked out of, and Ormsby, about to unleash on the Youngs, stops dead in his tracks because the former owner of the hotel is with them (of course the former status is unbeknownst to Ormsby). As a result Ormsby starts actually doing his job, and prepares the rooms. Of course the former owner tells Ormsby that he is no longer the one in charge of the hotel, and the hotel now belongs to none other than Felicity Leong. But what brought a smile to my face was Felicity Leong’s response to Ormsby. Felicity’s sister, Eleanor, reminds her that she has something to say: “Oh yes, I almost forgot, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave the premises.” While the sentence may sound simple, do not be mistaken, given the context in which Felicity delivered the line this was high class savagery.
Kwan’s book also excellently executes character development. Not going to give too much away here, but I’m specifically telling you all the Astrid Leong and Michael Teo relationship–particularly regarding the Charlie situation–is deep. There were moments when I thought I knew what was happening, but then I was humbled when further details were revealed that I definitely wasn’t expecting. Once you read the chapter in part III titled “Repulse Bay” you’ll get it. That chapter gave me all the feels. Charlie you are the real MVP.
In short, Crazy Rich Asians is a phenomenal book. There’s a little bit of something for everyone in it. I definitely had to Google some things to fully be able to visualize the experiences the characters were having. I’m going to read the rest of the trilogy, and watch the film. Stay tuned!