About this title: Jen's first novel is about a Chinese immigrant family, the Changs, their struggle to make it in a new world, and their exploitation by a slick con artist.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Plume Books
Date Published: 1992
ISBN-13:9780452267749ISBN:0452267749
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. trade pb, 11a3, minor shelf/edge wear. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. Plume Contemporary Fiction. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Plume Books
Date Published: 1992
ISBN-13:9780452267749ISBN:0452267749
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. trade pb, 4a1, minor shelf/edge wear, Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. Plume Contemporary Fiction. Audience: General/trade. read more
Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Fine. Almost in new condition. Book shows only very slight signs of use. Cover and binding are undamaged and pages show minimal use. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Acceptable. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
"Jen's book follows the story of Yifend who becomes Ralph upon entering America. Ralph strives to distinguish himself from the contentious relationship he left behind in China with his father and other family members. But political events in China change everything and Ralph's plan falls apart and only comes together again when his sister shows up in America. This story is about the connection and disconnections of Ralph with his Chinese family and heritage. I wanted to read one of Gish Jen's novels since I've been blown away by her short stories, notably from the collection "Who's Irish." She writes like the Garrison Keillor of Chinese Americans. "Typical American" is a fine book, but it is not like her short stories. The characters in "Typical American" were not as sympathetic for me."
"A young man comes to the US from China to study engineering; The communist takeover means he can't go back to China. The novel follows his attempts to live in this country; sad tale of immigrants trying to assimilate."
"For whatever reason, I didn't enjoy this one as much as The Love Wife or Mona in the Promised Land. It's well written and funny and engaging.
But maybe I think the other novels better explore the themes of identity, race, and family. Or maybe after reading the other novels the questions don't seem as fresh and thought-provoking to me now. I don't know. Regardless, this is a very good novel, definitely worth reading, although Ralph Chang is absolutely maddening."
"I saw Gish Jen read a couple of years ago and I always meant to read something by her; she was a great, engaging, funny reader. This book is okay, but I did not come to care much about the characters. There's a lot of Great Gatsby here, and I liked the persistence of references to the stability of buildings, walls, houses."
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