Comments on: Blog Tour: Christine Son’s “Off the Menu”

By: Christine Son, Author of Off the Menu, on Tour November 2008 | TLC Book Tours

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:51:34 +0000

[...] Tuesday, November 11th: 8Asians [...]

By: Samantha

Samantha — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:41:33 +0000

Seems tasty. I’ll check it out.

By: Asianmommy

Asianmommy — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:33:13 +0000

Very cool–I’m going to look for this book.

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:04:37 +0000

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.

By: seeconrun

seeconrun — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:27:07 +0000

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&name=Issue&action=IssueArticle&aid=715&nid=57

By: seeconrun

seeconrun — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:22:14 +0000

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.

By: Trish

Trish — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:49:14 +0000

I cannot wait to read this book. It’s about time!

Trish

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:46:37 +0000

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.

By: seeconrun

seeconrun — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:03:34 +0000

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.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:43:42 +0000

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…=)