List Books During Typical American
| Original Title: | Typical American |
| ISBN: | 186207111X (ISBN13: 9781862071117) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Literary Awards: | National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for Fiction (1991) |
Description As Books Typical American
From the beloved author of Mona in the Promised Land and The Love Wife comes this comic masterpiece, an insightful novel of immigrants experiencing the triumphs and trials of American life. Gish Jen reinvents the American immigrant story through the Chang family, who first come to the United States with no intention of staying. When the Communists assume control of China in 1949, though, Ralph Chang, his sister Theresa, and his wife Helen, find themselves in a crisis. At first, they cling to their old-world ideas of themselves. But as they begin to dream the American dream of self-invention, they move poignantly and ironically from people who disparage all that is “typical American” to people who might be seen as typically American themselves. With droll humor and a deep empathy for her characters, Gish Jen creates here a superbly engrossing story that resonates with wit and wisdom even as it challenges the reader to reconsider what a typical American might be today.
Declare Containing Books Typical American
| Title | : | Typical American |
| Author | : | Gish Jen |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 304 pages |
| Published | : | May 14th 1998 by Granta Books (first published 1991) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Cultural. China. Novels. Literature. American. Adult Fiction |
Rating Containing Books Typical American
Ratings: 3.42 From 1456 Users | 129 ReviewsCommentary Containing Books Typical American
I'm fond of books with protagonists I like and this book had none. That said, everybody had foibles that I can relate to, but the number of cringe-worthy situations almost made me put this book down. How can bright people do stupid things? The story I should have - wanted to - absorb was the difficulties of being an immigrant, but the interpersonal drama mostly eclipsed that message. I'm conflicted about whether to pursue Jen's other books.This book should be required reading at my office.*I have long wondered how my Chinese clients pick their Americanized name. How does Xiangxin become John? And Wenxia become Sara? The book solves the mystery! They have the secretary at their colleges office of international education pick it for them. Said secretary rolls through a mental list of all her ex-boyfriends. Its like spinning the wheel of fortune. Voila, Yifeng becomes Ralph! Even Ralph seems letdown by this process: Walking home,
This was not a joy to read. Up until the last 12 pages it all just kept plodding along heavily, the characters didn't make me laugh and I usually find Asian immigrants HILARIOUS. Yifeng (Ralph) Chang comes to the US from China to study engineering. He starts out proud of his virtuous ethical ideals and then they disappear. Same thing happens to his sister Theresa and eventual wife Helen. Ralph befriends a Chinese-American named Grover Ding, a millionaire with questionable morals of his own, and
Novel.
This is a dark, dark book. A newly immigrated group of Chinese students become family and take on the worst aspects of our culture during the 60s and 70s. I found the adoption of deadly sins hard to believe and the protagonists leaving academia for the tax fraud possibilities of a chicken franchise seemed absurd. The small lies and major deceptions seem also implausible but perhaps I dont know the truth. As to the characters, most are unlikable, even before their Faustian acts. It feels like
Chinese immigrants assimilate into America. Love, loss, and cultural (mis)understanding. I read this for an online English course. What follows is my discussion board post covering this novel:American Dream, Chinese NightmareRalph Chang comes to the United States to get an education, vowing to keep his head down (hardly looking at the sights during his transcontinental train ride) and dedicate his spare time to cultivating virtue, honoring his family, and keeping away from girls (Gish 6). In
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