Crazy Rich Asians
Book Review - Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan is the first in a series of three books (the second book is China Rich Girlfriend and the third is Rich People Problems.) The story centers around Rachel and Nick, a young Chinese couple who are both professors in NYC. Nick is the best man in his best friend's upcoming wedding in Singapore and he has asked his girlfriend of two years to join him for a summer with his family.
I thought Crazy Rich Asians was a crazy fun read! My friend Stacy recommended these books to me last week and I immediately ordered all three. This first book includes a lot of my favorite things: (1) gourmet food descriptions that leave me salivating (2) couture fashion, which also leaves me salivating (3) comedic family drama that at times made me thankful for my family and at other times were hilariously relatable.
My favorite food description came toward the end of the book in Part III, on page 403, and described a Giant South Sea Scallop Consommé with Washington State Ginseng Vapors and Black Mushrooms:
“In front of her way was a bowl, but encasing the surface of the bowl was what appeared to be a pinkish, membrane-like bubble that wobbled on its own accord....She gave it a jab with her fork, and the bubble immediately collapsed on itself, releasing a burst of pungent medicinal steam into the air. As the filmy pink membrane met the surface of the soup, it created a beautiful marbleized pattern across its surface. Rachel could ow see an enormous poached scallop in the middle of the bowl and thinly julienned black mushrooms artfully positioned like sun rays around it.”
I also learned something new about fashion! I had never heard of lotus-fabric until this book. On page 366 this fabric is described as an...
“...extremely rare fabric that is handwoven in Myanmar, and normally available only for the most high-ranking monks. I’m told that it feels incredibly light and has an extraordinary ability to keep cool in the hottest climates.”
So of course I had to do a little more research. In searching around on the internet I found this great write up from Wanderlust and Lipstick that tells the legend of how lotus-fabric was invented:
“It is said that about 100 years ago, a woman named Paw Sar Ou wanted to give a special robe to the head Abbot at the Buddhist temple she visited. She discovered that she could cut the stem of a lotus plant and that when she pulled the halves gently apart, threads appeared. Paw Sar Ou was able to collect enough of these threads to spin them into longer fibers and then be able to weave cloth from them on her loom. From this fabric, she created a special robe to give to her Abbot as an offering.”
I'm still looking into this fabric, but I'm already fascinated!
Anyway, I'm completely inlove with this series already and I can't wait to get started on book #2! If you haven't started this series, yet, I suggest you do so ASAP! You'll definitely want to read the book before the movie comes out!
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