When it comes to satire, Kevin Kwan understands the assignment. So it's no surprise that China Rich Girlfriend is just as fun, just as frothy, and just as sharply insightful as its predecessor.
Stepping into the sophomore book of an author who has hit it out of the park with their debut, I'm always a bit uncertain. Did I hallucinate my enjoyment? Was it a one hit wonder? Can the author really recreate the magic once again? Well, now that I've read a few Kevin Kwan books, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. I didn't imagine it, it wasn't in my head. Kwan writes satire aimed straight at my heart and my funny bone, and I'm happy to soak up every single line.
The characters, their drama and antics, the peculiar situations they find themselves in, all feel both outrageous and familiar. Reading this was like stepping back into a culture I knew intimately. The expectation of filial piety, the inability of different generations to communicate effectively, the preference to acquire things over experiences, all made so much sense to me.
In a satire, the characters are key. Fleshing them out and imbuing them with humanity is how you ground the story and prevent it from turning into a mockery. And Kwan does so masterfully. I empathized with all the characters, I understood why they do what they do. Even the most abrasive among them never turn into caricatures, and that's skillful indeed.
It was fun to see some of the side characters of the first book get their due in this one. Everyone wanted more of Astrid, and this book certainly brings that wish to fruition. But my surprise favorite was Kitty Pong, the butt of the joke in the first book, but a leading lady here. She and Corinna really stole the show in this one, and Corinna's dossier for Kitty was one of the real highlights of the book.
I'm amazed at how much authentic details Kwan is able to add into all of his stories. The art, the fashion, the history all come from the real world, and they help make this feel borderline biographic. It might be fun to read dishy gossip about made-up characters, but to read about ones that actually come across as real? That takes it to a whole 'nother level.
I also have to give a nod to the setting. It was a joy to experience Shanghai, the city of my birth and early years, through the eyes of this story. I am forever missing this glittering metropolis with its delicious food and vivid skylines, so I definitely won't say no to such a sensational visit, even if it's just within the pages of a book.
I'm finding myself enjoying Kevin Kwan more and more. He really has an eye for social commentary, and his satirical take on crazy Asian families is the best combination of honest and funny. He sees the absurdity in human nature and paints all that folly in such delightful strokes, I have no choice but to laugh and revel in it with him.
Readaroo Rating: 4 stars
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