American Knees

by Shawn Wong

An Asian American couple is determined to overcome the obstacles of family, race, and sex as they struggle to live happily ever after

Genres: Fiction, Asian American, Literature, Asian Literature, Contemporary, Aapi, Adult Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Raymond Ding is 40, divorced, and, as a boyfriend, sort of lecture-y and condescending. He works as the Assistant Director of Minority Affairs at Jack London College in Oakland and, in his relationship with Aurora Crane, a younger Eurasian woman, he can't seem to forget that he's the guy she's sleeping with and not her Ethnic Studies professor. Interminable conversations about the sexual politics of race and the racial politics of sex abound, and eventually Aurora asks him to move out. Raymond has the typical mid-life crisis but only because he feels it's expected of him, has another relationship, helps his dad come to terms with aging, figures a few things out, and does a lot of growing up. But I never really liked Raymond enough to care about any of it.

The book itself is often very funny, especially in Raymond's conversations with his dad or his friend Jimmy. It is also frequently sexually explicit -- which as an Asian person I appreciated since it shows we don't spend all our spare time doing math problems -- but which as a reader, I found sometimes unnecessary if not awkward. Wong is a good writer and I'd like to read some of his other work, but I didn't love this one.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for asian-am
Lit in college. It was a good course with a great instructor who is also an author. He happened to be friends with Shawn and brought him to class one day. After all of the history and more "serious" six novels that we had to read, this one was much lighter. Shawn told us that he wrote this book basically for his sister(s)(?) who wanted a sexy beach book.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Asian-American studies professor Wong presents a romantic comedy about cross-cultural identities. In this light-hearted novel, American born Chinese Raymond Ding finds true happiness with a half-Japanese, half-American beauty."

I looked it up on Amazon, everybody seemed to like it a lot and thought it was a great book. I, on the other hand, could not get into it. It started quite funny, very witty... But after a hundred pages of talk about who you should date and why or why not or which race that significant other should belong too or not, if it matters etc. I was thoroughly bored.

[grundoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose the closest this came to what I might've sorta been expecting was the male-chick-lit core, though a sophisticated variant, more a narrative following a series of relationships from both sides. For sure it wasn't the sheer amount of sex, both talk and deed, maybe occasionally qualifying as erotica but mostly frank subject matter. But what I really hadn't anticipated was an exploration of Asian-American racism from just about every angle. Highly, highly recommended for that, though wrapped in a package that might not be for everyone.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read this book twice and saw the movie by Eric Byler. I didn't like it the first time but appreciated it more the second time. At first, I was annoyed by the "fact-dropping" of Wong re: Asian American history. But then, I interpreted it as part of Russel's (the protagonist) personality. That is, as much as I felt annoyed with it, it's one of main Russel's character flaws--to try to "teach" others instead of being a son, lover, friend, etc.

In the intro, Wong states that this book is about the "spaces" between people. He does a good job of trying to bring in the complexity of the so-called "Asian American community": generational differences, biraciality, gender, national histories, etc.

What can be read as superficialy is that he tackles these issues in such an easy-to-read and casual manner. But, I think his way of bringing them into the book are more "real." We usually don't deal with these issues in our lives in an intense way--that novels and films usually portray--but usually piecemeal and without resolution. I think this is what Wong tries to portray.

[Chris and Yuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've set myself the strange, masochistic task of reading all the books I was supposed to have read in college, but never got around to. American Knees is one of them.

Though I loved reading about characters whose concerns, complaints, neuroses, and motivations are so familiar and believable to me as an Asian American, this probably wouldn't have been a book I would've read if it hadn't been about Asian Americans.

Actually, I'd file it under Lad Lit, the masculine counterpart to Chick Lit. Though instead of going all James Frey and bragging about drugs, drink, and self-abuse, Shawn Wong instead focuses on relationships, both interracial and inter-Asian.

A notable (as far as Asian American literature) and funny book, but easily blown away by (as imperfect as they may be) Chang-rae Lee, Jessica Hagedorn (at least with The Dogeaters and Gangster of Love), or Gish Jen.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

i've just realized - on page 70 - that the characters and some scenes seemed strangely familiar and i was trying to find out if i had read any other novel on asian americans and their interracial love affairs until being finally sure that i've already read "American Knees" about a year ago......not too much of a compliment for a book if one doesn't remember it in the first place, and to be honest i remembered most the dullness of the style - may be a fault of the german translation, though. first i thought that maybe the book was more interesting for asian americans, but in the end a good novel should be able to touch anyone notwithstanding his background and that's what Shawn Wong has failed to achieve at least with me....

[Jessie Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps this is just me, but American Knees feels like only half a novel. It reads as though there should have been at least fifty more pages. The first half is weakened by the fact that the beginnings and middles of the relationships are glossed over. The characters are enjoyable enough, though I wanted to read more about how their relationships developed.

However I found myself enjoying it more towards the end, as Raymond and Betty's relationship starts to develop as he continues to sort out his relationship with Aurora. It's a quiet book, full of small moments. Overall, it wasn't terrible, I just wanted to enjoy it more than I did.

[Nita · Rating 2 out of 5]

From my Amazon.com review ca. 1999:

I used to like this book because I identified with one of its main characters solely because of our similar ethnicity. I think that's fairly dumb now - this book is less about being AsAm and more about being human. The spaces we share; the neuroses that define us ... if you happen to eat rice and take your shoes off at the door, that's cool too -- but at the end of the day, even checking the same box on a racial form can't make me look past this book's obvious flaws. The narrative will not grab you, and quite frankly, the characters aren't that compelling. Nor are their neuroses.

[Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for class, but it was a good read. The sexy parts were on a different scale than what I've read before, and I enjoyed the discussions that this book brought up. What was lacking, for me, at least, was the emotional connections in Raymond's relationships.
There was drama, and there was passion and regret, but I couldnt tell you why Raymond loved Aurora or Betty, or even Darleen aside from his reflections on race and how that played into those relationships.
It was steamy and the writing itself was good, funny at times, even, but I didn't pick up on the deeper emotional aspects and reasonings, which bumps the book down to a 3 for me. Still worth the read, though!

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I was meant to learn from this book. It's highly erotic in its words, describing various sexual encounters, and one does learn a bit about Chinese culture but I was disappointed and found it one big sexual description. C-. I can't bring myself to give it a D...writers work hard and I'm sure someone out there liked it.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after seeing the film adaptation (Americanese) at its Chicago debut. At the time I was being confronted with my own asian-ness and racial identity in a way I hadn't before, which is why I think it resonated with me then. I'd like to go back and re-read it now, and see how my impression has changed.

[Ursula · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Terry MacMillan-style Asian American novel. Filled with surface-level, shallow musings about APA issues and inauthentic characters who are embarassingly crafted to defy stereotypes. There may be some argument for this as the first wave of Asian American fiction, but ... really ...

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I perhaps like the idea of this novel than I did the novel itself (although, it is quite well-written, I feel). The book makes an Asian American romance (its existence and complexity) a real possibility. Hooray!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exploring what it means to be Asian-American while also exploring the complexities of meaningful relationships this book had a lot of hits and just as many misses. As an outsider to the culture groups explored, I appreciated the perspective this book offered and what I was able to learn....

[Tanya Kunwongse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keeping in mind that this book was written a decade and a half ago, this book can be a lot of fun. But the characters, despite their diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, are stiff and preachy. Shawn Wong has great ideas and a lot of witty lines, but ultimately this book is one long lecture.

[Jaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Never read a book that addressed queer/sexuality/bi(curiousness) until this book.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A half-White, half-Asian man struggles with relationships and Asian American and American culture.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit explicit but I liked it. :)

[Leslye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt shallow. So much angst and complaining.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun easy read, I learnt new things. Will miss the protagonist.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how this book would stand up to a reread, but I really loved it when I was in college. "Race made racy!" said one of the blurbs on the back.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel that explores the unique Asian American experience, with a good dose of sex and cynicism.

[Abdellatif]

i think this book is very intersting and i find my confort in it when i read

[Ann Chenhall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shawn Wong is a versatile author. I first listened to him speak of the dare he was given to write a beach book and this book resulted. He is a literature professor, poet and intellectual so he needed to research by reading other such romantic novels most often read by women while relaxing beside a pool or at the beach. I was also curious how such a book could result from a man's point of view.

This story was very embedded in the tradition of Asian American literature as the main character Raymond Ding found his calling in a college working with Asian American studies. Raymond is acutely aware of his Chinese American status and with the variety of Asian women with whom he becomes involved. Wong really did a nice job describing some of the sex scenes. Some were funny and most were vivid. His humor was fun to find as Raymond worked his way through relationships.

I almost wanted an epilogue or a sequel as I wanted Raymond to realize Betty really was the one for him and his father would be so thrilled to acknowledge another generation of his family.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asian Americans as contemporary people - funny, interesting and a very good read.

[Evan Suggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely one of the funniest books I've ever read. It's also funny how much Wong hates the joy luck club (I have no opinion on the joy luck club)

[Matthew Wen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably racist

[JANIII · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can anything feel like a Harlequin romance at times, but also have very real questions about racial identity, sexual liberation, and women's issues? If so, this is probably it.