Excited
I love “chick-lit,” also known as fiction written for and targeted to young, working women in their twenties and thirties. I must say, it’s about time chick-lit is written by and for Asian American women, and Christine Son’s Off the Menu does just that. Intertwining the lives of three best friends — Hercules Huang, Whitney Lee and Audrey Henley, Son paints a picture of three very distinguished lives, careers and passions, and the friendship that glues them together.
Hercules is a top chef with her own restaurant of fine-dining and line of cookware. Whitney is a corporate lawyer with an Ivy League education and a hidden passion for singing. Audrey is a schoolteacher and adopted daughter of Texas billionaires. Over good food and laughs, the three share their stories and struggles, and over a weekend vacation, discover what they want more in life.
Highlighting themes like cultural assimilation, adoption and generational misunderstandings, Off the Menu illustrates some of the complexities and realities of being Asian American. While Hercules, Whitney and Audrey challenge their parents’ expectations, struggle to climb the corporate ladder and fall in limbo and in love, you are bound to journey with these characters as they delve into the intersections of life — friendship, family, love and happiness.
Off the Menu is a book many can relate to — building courage, pursuing passion and finding oneself. So, what are your favorite chick-lit books?
(Visit Christine’s website and visit her blog! Thanks to TLC Book Tours for asking me to be a part of my very first Blog Tour!)
Follow the rest of Christine Son’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Wednesday, November 26th: Diary of an Eccentric
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Seems tasty. I'll check it out.
Seems tasty. I'll check it out.
Very cool--I'm going to look for this book.
Very cool--I'm going to look for this book.
China Dolls was absolutely horrific. Not just as Asian chick-lit, but as chick-lit in general...as fiction in general. The Dim Sum of All Things was much better.
Random note: I'm rereading one of my favorite Dean Koontz novels, Ticktock, which has a Vietnamese-American protagonist, and every time I read it, I am amazed by how well a white writer portrayed an Asian American.
China Dolls was absolutely horrific. Not just as Asian chick-lit, but as chick-lit in general...as fiction in general. The Dim Sum of All Things was much better.
Random note: I'm rereading one of my favorite Dean Koontz novels, Ticktock, which has a Vietnamese-American protagonist, and every time I read it, I am amazed by how well a white writer portrayed an Asian American.
Another recommendation:
The Dim Sum of All Things by Kim Wong Keltner. She has a sequel, Buddha Baby, but it wasn't nearly as good as the first.. I'd say this was my first "Asian chick-lit"..I've never been a fan of the word "chick.." (sadly, i'm getting in the hang of it.)
Anywho, I read this book in high school and wrote a review for it on L.A. Youth, a newspaper by and about teens. You can read it at this link:
http://www.layouth.com/modules.php?op=modload&...
Another recommendation:
The Dim Sum of All Things by Kim Wong Keltner. She has a sequel, Buddha Baby, but it wasn't nearly as good as the first.. I'd say this was my first "Asian chick-lit"..I've never been a fan of the word "chick.." (sadly, i'm getting in the hang of it.)
Anywho, I read this book in high school and wrote a review for it on L.A. Youth, a newspaper by and about teens. You can read it at this link:
http://www.layouth.com/modules.php?op=modload&...
Rob, I read "China Dolls" and actually, I enjoyed that book more than I did this one.
I thought it was very witty and entertaining. You're right, it was very stereotypical and white-centric, and mainstream media-- but also not, in that it featured Asian American women in those "normal" roles. And while I believe representation is a good thing, I acknowledge the importance of consciousness and constructive criticism. I'd say "chick-lit" is among one of my guilty pleasures along with watching shows like Sex and the City--guilty, but also, oh so healthy.
Rob, I read "China Dolls" and actually, I enjoyed that book more than I did this one.
I thought it was very witty and entertaining. You're right, it was very stereotypical and white-centric, and mainstream media-- but also not, in that it featured Asian American women in those "normal" roles. And while I believe representation is a good thing, I acknowledge the importance of consciousness and constructive criticism. I'd say "chick-lit" is among one of my guilty pleasures along with watching shows like Sex and the City--guilty, but also, oh so healthy.
I cannot wait to read this book. It's about time!
Trish
I cannot wait to read this book. It's about time!
Trish
Just like in any kind of genre, there are bad "chick-lit" books as well as good ones. I consider Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" one of the very first "chick-lit" books, albeit not an Asian one...but a fantastic classic.
Personally, I think the term "chick-lit" is really limiting and just a poor attempt at categorizing something just to make a special section on the bookshelf to put the book in. If Connie says this book is great, I can trust her judgment, without putting all "chick-lit" books into one category and condemning them all.
Just like in any kind of genre, there are bad "chick-lit" books as well as good ones. I consider Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" one of the very first "chick-lit" books, albeit not an Asian one...but a fantastic classic.
Personally, I think the term "chick-lit" is really limiting and just a poor attempt at categorizing something just to make a special section on the bookshelf to put the book in. If Connie says this book is great, I can trust her judgment, without putting all "chick-lit" books into one category and condemning them all.
I think that's a really good point, Natalie and that came across my mind as I writing this. Let's talk more about it.
I think that's a really good point, Natalie and that came across my mind as I writing this. Let's talk more about it.
Hmm. Seeing as I do not have any time to read anything for pleasure these days, I may have to put this off until after the LSAT. Sounds interesting, I am curious what "chick-lit" is. I don't know if I support this idea of literature directed at "women", hehe....inner feminist questioning everything...=)
Hmm. Seeing as I do not have any time to read anything for pleasure these days, I may have to put this off until after the LSAT. Sounds interesting, I am curious what "chick-lit" is. I don't know if I support this idea of literature directed at "women", hehe....inner feminist questioning everything...=)
Very excited to read this book! Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the review.
Very excited to read this book! Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the review.
Great post, Connie! It reminds me of Dirty Girls Social Club, by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, I loved that book and the various Latina personalities she presented. I'll check out Off the Menu.
Great post, Connie! It reminds me of Dirty Girls Social Club, by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, I loved that book and the various Latina personalities she presented. I'll check out Off the Menu.
(Thanks Amyable! I went ahead and edited that; my bad.)
(Thanks Amyable! I went ahead and edited that; my bad.)
Title says Christine Song but the author is really Christine Son?
Title says Christine Song but the author is really Christine Son?
It's like Cashmere Mafia, but EVERYBODY is Lucy Liu!
It's like Cashmere Mafia, but EVERYBODY is Lucy Liu!
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