American Born Chinese
Jul. 11th, 2009 11:41 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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50books_poc9. American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang
I devoured this book. And then I read it two more times.
I'm not sure exactly why I feel in love with it like I did - I even found his insertion of Christianity into the story to be a little squicky. (He comments on his decision here. I'm not at all saying he was wrong to insert Christianity - I think my discomfort actually stems from the fact that I would have adapted stories to make them Christian in much the same way when I was a Christian.)
But... I found the use of Chinese characters to illustrate kung fu fight scenes absolutely delightful (especially because I knew most of them). And I loved how he made the three narratives fit together (I didn't see it coming). And I loved all these little things.
And there were some quotes that I thought were lovely and deep, such as "Returning to your true form is not an exercise of kung fu, but a release of it."
And the book really showed in a crystal clear way what it means to fade into whiteness, and what that entails giving up. I think this is what spoke to me most deeply.
Highly recommended.
I devoured this book. And then I read it two more times.
I'm not sure exactly why I feel in love with it like I did - I even found his insertion of Christianity into the story to be a little squicky. (He comments on his decision here. I'm not at all saying he was wrong to insert Christianity - I think my discomfort actually stems from the fact that I would have adapted stories to make them Christian in much the same way when I was a Christian.)
But... I found the use of Chinese characters to illustrate kung fu fight scenes absolutely delightful (especially because I knew most of them). And I loved how he made the three narratives fit together (I didn't see it coming). And I loved all these little things.
And there were some quotes that I thought were lovely and deep, such as "Returning to your true form is not an exercise of kung fu, but a release of it."
And the book really showed in a crystal clear way what it means to fade into whiteness, and what that entails giving up. I think this is what spoke to me most deeply.
Highly recommended.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 04:29 am (UTC)I actually think that one panel where they deliver the gifts is my favourite part- it's an ultimate "East meets West" moment, a unifying moment. I have a complicated relationship with Christianity myself, but that moment (to me) was one of the good bits.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 06:53 am (UTC)I loved it when I read it, but don't remember this aspect of it. I'm gonna have to go read it again.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 06:37 pm (UTC)And the book really showed in a crystal clear way what it means to fade into whiteness, and what that entails giving up. I think this is what spoke to me most deeply.
That part made me flinch.
Yang also did at least two indie comics featuring Asian-American characters. I think it's middle school age kids, and full bizarre stuff like weird things in your nostrils, strange dreams, secret societies, and moralistic messages.