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American Chinatown: A People's History of Five Neighborhoods
A granddaughter of a fortune-cookie factory worker profiles the five most famous Chinatown regions of America including those in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Las Vegas, likening Chinatown to a vibrant microcosm that possesses its own history and national cultural significance.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2009
57 people are currently reading
1160 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Tsui
12 books340 followersBonnie Tsui is a longtime contributor to The New York Times and the bestselling author of Why We Swim, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and a Time magazine and NPR Best Book of the Year; it has been translated into ten languages and was a Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist in Science. Bonnie is also the author of American Chinatown, which won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and Sarah and the Big Wave, a children’s book about the first woman to surf Mavericks and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. She is a consultant for the Hulu television series Interior Chinatown. Her new book, On Muscle, will be published in April 2025. Her work has been recognized and supported by Harvard University, the National Press Foundation, the Mesa Refuge, and the Best American Essays series. She lives, swims, and surfs in the Bay Area.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 29, 2015
Mostly enjoyable book about Chinatown Maybe you've gone to one on a tourist trip to San Francisco, New York, London, or any major city that has one. Maybe you've eaten fortune cookies whenever you go to a Chinese/Asian restaurant. This is the story of five different Chinatowns and the people in them.
Author Bonnie Tsui was born in New York and wanted to explore the various Chinatowns and what they meant. She travels from NY to Honolulu, Hawaii and looks at the history, culture, society and changes in Chinatown. She talks to young teenagers who are super involved with volunteering in Chinatowns to the people who fought to get recognition from the government (in Las Vegas that meant to get a sign declaring this was the Chinatown area, in San Francisco it meant getting the streets cleaned up from all the garbage), etc.
No two Chinatowns (at least the ones in this book) are alike. San Francisco is a major port from the Gold Rush. New York has many garment makers. Honolulu is a mishmash of various Asian peoples who migrated for various reasons to the West. I really wish she had included an "international" Chinatown in say Sydney, Australia or even in Nairobi, although due to cost and time it probably would not have been feasible.
I also wish she had spent more time discussing some of the changes that have occurred. For example, Chinese people left the Chinatown in San Francisco to spread out over the city. Restaurants and what not became more dispersed across various neighborhoods and the SF Chinatown is more of a tourist attraction than anything else. Tsui does talk a bit about the 2008 financial recession and its effects on the Chinatown/Asiatown in Las Vegas (which, like the city, relies heavily on tourism), but I would have loved to have seen more about it.
It's a fairly readable book. There was not as much repetition as I thought there would be, probably because the 5 Chinatowns that are featured are very unique. I enjoyed this very much and will look to see if I can find other books about other Chinatowns for comparison.
Author Bonnie Tsui was born in New York and wanted to explore the various Chinatowns and what they meant. She travels from NY to Honolulu, Hawaii and looks at the history, culture, society and changes in Chinatown. She talks to young teenagers who are super involved with volunteering in Chinatowns to the people who fought to get recognition from the government (in Las Vegas that meant to get a sign declaring this was the Chinatown area, in San Francisco it meant getting the streets cleaned up from all the garbage), etc.
No two Chinatowns (at least the ones in this book) are alike. San Francisco is a major port from the Gold Rush. New York has many garment makers. Honolulu is a mishmash of various Asian peoples who migrated for various reasons to the West. I really wish she had included an "international" Chinatown in say Sydney, Australia or even in Nairobi, although due to cost and time it probably would not have been feasible.
I also wish she had spent more time discussing some of the changes that have occurred. For example, Chinese people left the Chinatown in San Francisco to spread out over the city. Restaurants and what not became more dispersed across various neighborhoods and the SF Chinatown is more of a tourist attraction than anything else. Tsui does talk a bit about the 2008 financial recession and its effects on the Chinatown/Asiatown in Las Vegas (which, like the city, relies heavily on tourism), but I would have loved to have seen more about it.
It's a fairly readable book. There was not as much repetition as I thought there would be, probably because the 5 Chinatowns that are featured are very unique. I enjoyed this very much and will look to see if I can find other books about other Chinatowns for comparison.
November 12, 2009
American Chinatown gets off to a slow start. I think part of the problem for me was that I am more familiar with the Chinatowns that are the subjects of the book's earlier chapters, those in SF and NYC, and the information in those chapters was not new to me. But later chapters, especially the one on the brand new Chinatown in Las Vegas, built momentum. The story is told through an engaging series of vignettes about individuals whose lives are tied to particular Chinatowns. By the time I finished the book I was thoroughly drawn in by the way she tied the different pieces together to build a picture of the Chinese in America as seen via the streets of Chinatowns.
May 7, 2012
Tsui is obviously a very confident writer. I like that, though it's not quite the style of writing I was expecting. I very much enjoyed the interesting tidbits about each Chinatown. Sometimes I wasn't sure what the real purpose of the book was. It wasn't really a true history; I'm not sure what it was, but at least it was interesting.
June 6, 2022
A Chinese American writer takes a look at five Chinatowns in the USA and tries to understand how they were formed, worked, and the current situations. She sees them as an American state of mind and a fascination of people who are of Chinese heritage.
February 28, 2024
perhaps i was expecting a bit more of a comprehensive/historical gloss on chinatowns? which maybe was my fault. the line between history history and "people's history," as is in the title of the book, is perhaps one i could've been more aware of.
i think there are lots of interesting stories here, some of which more revelatory/indicative of some more deep, fundamental truths about chinatown/the role of ethnic enclaves in american society, and some of them are just fun/wholesome stories about people who happen to live in chinatown. i think the cross-city comparison, too, is interesting, though i wonder if it ends up falling into the fallacy of forced differences. they are, after all, all chinatowns - i'm sure they have more in common than they do differences
i think there are lots of interesting stories here, some of which more revelatory/indicative of some more deep, fundamental truths about chinatown/the role of ethnic enclaves in american society, and some of them are just fun/wholesome stories about people who happen to live in chinatown. i think the cross-city comparison, too, is interesting, though i wonder if it ends up falling into the fallacy of forced differences. they are, after all, all chinatowns - i'm sure they have more in common than they do differences
January 9, 2012
I really like Chinatowns. I am particularly fond of New York's, where I have spent countless hours, and Boston's, where I have spent a countable number of hours. I have also spent one afternoon each in San Francisco's, Honolulu's, and Seattle's. I like them too. Ms. Tsui would like me to think about WHY I like these places so much- is it because they seem foreign, or because they seem American? Do they seem seperate from their cities, or integral to them?
A lot of this book is about people of Chinese heritage and their relationship to Chinatowns, but as someone with no Asian heritage at all, I still thought all the issues Ms. Tsui raised were really interesting. She looks at five Chinatowns- San Fran, NYC, LA, Honolulu and Las Vegas- and examines how connected each enclave is with the larger cities. New York's Chinatown, for example, is intimately connected to New York's garment industry, and LA's has a long-standing relationship with Hollywood. Tsui is also interested in the dynamics of Chinatown as a refuge for new immigrants, versus Chinatown as a tourist attraction, versus Chinatown as a place for American born Chinese people to connect to their culture.
It's funny, I never really thought much about WHY I like Chinatowns so much. I guess before I would have just said the food, but after reading this book and thinking more, I think it goes deeper than that. New York's Chinatown has always seemed to me like the best part of New York, the most quintessentially New York City part of New York City. Flushing Chinatown is similar. There's something about the narrow streets, and the crowds, and all the stores and restaurants...when I think about feeling better by going downtown and losing myself in all the bustle, I just always think of Chinatown. And when I'm in a new city, I know that I'll feel comfortable there and the food will be great and cheap. And I'm English/French-Canadian. Anyway, the moral of the story is, Chinatowns are great and I recommend this book if you love them too.
A lot of this book is about people of Chinese heritage and their relationship to Chinatowns, but as someone with no Asian heritage at all, I still thought all the issues Ms. Tsui raised were really interesting. She looks at five Chinatowns- San Fran, NYC, LA, Honolulu and Las Vegas- and examines how connected each enclave is with the larger cities. New York's Chinatown, for example, is intimately connected to New York's garment industry, and LA's has a long-standing relationship with Hollywood. Tsui is also interested in the dynamics of Chinatown as a refuge for new immigrants, versus Chinatown as a tourist attraction, versus Chinatown as a place for American born Chinese people to connect to their culture.
It's funny, I never really thought much about WHY I like Chinatowns so much. I guess before I would have just said the food, but after reading this book and thinking more, I think it goes deeper than that. New York's Chinatown has always seemed to me like the best part of New York, the most quintessentially New York City part of New York City. Flushing Chinatown is similar. There's something about the narrow streets, and the crowds, and all the stores and restaurants...when I think about feeling better by going downtown and losing myself in all the bustle, I just always think of Chinatown. And when I'm in a new city, I know that I'll feel comfortable there and the food will be great and cheap. And I'm English/French-Canadian. Anyway, the moral of the story is, Chinatowns are great and I recommend this book if you love them too.
June 23, 2013
Having spent time in four out of the five Chinatowns Bonnie Tsui explores (SF, LA, Honolulu, Las Vegas), it was fun & informative to read the author's findings as she reports not just the communities' history, but also perspectives of many current residents. Though this is not a thick book, it certainly goes well beyond what you can find from a history book or a cursory visit of each location.
An interesting bit of information--not surprising, really, but a disappointing reminder of how far we apparently still have to go as a nation--relates to the development of the shiny-new Las Vegas Chinatown, which began in the mid '90s as a top-down creation in the form of a 99 Ranch shopping center:
Bonnie Tsui's American Chinatown is an interesting, pleasant, wide-ranging read, one that makes me want to continue reading about American Chinatowns, spend more time exploring them more deeply--and waiting to see what else will emerge from Tsui's pen in the future.
An interesting bit of information--not surprising, really, but a disappointing reminder of how far we apparently still have to go as a nation--relates to the development of the shiny-new Las Vegas Chinatown, which began in the mid '90s as a top-down creation in the form of a 99 Ranch shopping center:
When (Las Vegas Chinatown developer James Chen) first started looking at land to purchase for his Chinatown, one owner explicitly told him that he refused to sell to Chinese, "because they bombed Pearl Harbor." In recent years, whenever controversy erupts between the United States and China, racist phone calls inevitably plague Chinatown's management office.
Bonnie Tsui's American Chinatown is an interesting, pleasant, wide-ranging read, one that makes me want to continue reading about American Chinatowns, spend more time exploring them more deeply--and waiting to see what else will emerge from Tsui's pen in the future.
May 19, 2010
This is a cool book! The author, Bonnie Tsui, explores the Chinatowns of San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Las Vegas, researching their history and interviewing residents. Tsui highlights the similarities between the Chinatowns--they serve as gates and resources for new immigrants and spaces for later generations to keep in touch with their heritage, and they struggle to balance meeting their own needs with catering to the dominant culture to survive--and she examines the features that make each unique: New York Chinatown's history with the garment industry, Los Angeles Chinatown's relationship with Hollywood, Las Vegas Chinatown's creation as a commercial center.
I wished Boston's Chinatown had been included in the book, but as Tsui wrote that there are at least forty communities that could be considered Chinatowns in the U.S., it makes sense that she narrowed her selection to five. This was a fun and worthwhile read that gives a deeper look at places that many people may primarily see as tourist attractions without considering their larger role in history and society, or the lives of the people who are part of the community.
I wished Boston's Chinatown had been included in the book, but as Tsui wrote that there are at least forty communities that could be considered Chinatowns in the U.S., it makes sense that she narrowed her selection to five. This was a fun and worthwhile read that gives a deeper look at places that many people may primarily see as tourist attractions without considering their larger role in history and society, or the lives of the people who are part of the community.
September 16, 2009
Tsui's exploration of five famous Chinatowns in America is interesting, informative, and mouth-watering. Appropriate for a culture in which people greet each other colloquially by asking "Have you eaten yet?" While her dual focus appears to be on Chinatown's function as a magnet for new immigrants and as a gathering place for young Chinese Americans to resolve identity issues, Tsui's histories and anecdotes also highlight the rich - if largely unobtrusive - contributions to American society that Chinatowns have made.
Nothing earth-shattering, but still worth reading - especially for folks who've visited one or more of the Chinatowns examined. Even after several visits to San Francisco's, including a visit in the company of a Chinese friend, I still learned something new about America's oldest Chinatown.
Nothing earth-shattering, but still worth reading - especially for folks who've visited one or more of the Chinatowns examined. Even after several visits to San Francisco's, including a visit in the company of a Chinese friend, I still learned something new about America's oldest Chinatown.
December 7, 2012
I grew up in NYC and spent many enjoyable days eating and shopping in Chinatown. Also, knowing Bonnie Tsui as an accomplished swimmer, painter, and student, I looked forward to reading this book. Ms. Tsui did not let me down! While she takes a look at 5 different Chinatowns across the country, rather than just the one I grew up visiting on occasion, the language Ms. Tsui uses when describing life in these other neighborhoods bring them to life for the reader. I never felt like I was reading a text book, but rather, a memoir-ish account of very interesting pocket communities, and their importance to those that start out in them. Bravo Bonnie!
August 14, 2016
From an overview of five Chinatowns in the United States, it's interesting to see why Chinese Americans gravitate to Chinatowns and why Chinatowns are still important. The American Chinatown experience is different from the Canadian Chinatown experience, maybe because Chinese are a larger group in cities like Vancouver and Toronto.
Bonnie Tsui's book provides insights into Chinese American immigration, a subject almost never covered in school. This was an enjoyable read.
Bonnie Tsui's book provides insights into Chinese American immigration, a subject almost never covered in school. This was an enjoyable read.
August 25, 2010
Much more interesting than I expected at first. Tsui is an engaging writer and she provides the human stories of people who live in several major Chinatowns (SF, LA, NYC Manhattan, Flushing, NY) as well as historical backgrounds. Goes beyond or behind the 'orientalized' facades aimed at the non-Chinese tourist to discuss the significance that these quarters hold for its residents.
August 3, 2013
Really interesting approach and a great idea to explore five different American Chinatowns. I felt that the first chapter of each of the five Chinatown sections were consistently more interesting than the chapters that followed, so I started skimming towards the middle to the end of the book. I do think this is a great book to take a look through and I'm glad to have come across it.
August 24, 2013
Quite decent! Tsui found some really interesting people to talk to, and doesn't shy away from calling racism racism, and talks about economics as well as food and immigration, and all in all I quite approve.
October 22, 2009
I was only interested in the section on Honolulu's Chinatown, since I can relate to that!
January 19, 2016
A pretty fascinating exploration of the Chinatowns of different cities.
January 6, 2012
This book made me want to learn Chinese. See my full review here: http://eatsleepreadlove.wordpress.com...
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December 20, 2013Fascinating
January 10, 2021
This should probably be required reading for Chinese Americans (if not most people). Even though I grew up in the SF Bay Area and frequented the OG Chinatown, there was a lot of history and perspective that I gained from this read. What was a bit troubling to me is that I'm learning about the racism and history of Chinatown as a de facto ghetto only now in my 30s, after seeking out this book (which was prompted by a public radio interview with author Charles Yu). To paraphrase one of Tsui's interviewees, it seems like in history class, after the railroads the Chinese just disappear--but we've actually been here the whole time. It makes me wonder how many Chinese Americans, like me, have been ill-informed, sheltered, and/or blissfully ignorant about our history and heritage. All in all, I think Tsui has put together a clear and compelling narrative with 5 variations on the Chinatown theme. There are plenty of interesting, fascinating stories (China City, really?) and my only issue was that towards the end, the takeaways got to be a bit repetitious (maybe I just don't read enough nonfiction).
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November 1, 2020Read this because the acknowledgments section of the brilliant Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu mentioned it. Anyway, well-written and interesting book that I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in urban history, the immigrant experience, or just likes visiting the Chinatown of whichever new city they go to. On a personal note (and what prompts me to write this review), is that as a member of one the other big Asian American community, the book made me think about my relationship to the geography of my community - unlike most other immigrant communities in this country, the almost purely post-65 nature of Indian immigration means that we don't really have some big-city neighborhood that holds a place in our collective imagination a la Chinatown. In a sense, there's nothing for us to really go back to. I don't have much else to say, but at the very least it makes for an interesting contrast with Chinese Americans.
August 3, 2024
I certainly learned a lot from this, but I was hoping the personal stories would be set in a slightly higher level view of each city's history. I'm also fascinated by the way everyone seems to use "Chinese" interchangeably with both "Mandarin" and "Cantonese", with a smattering of other dialects too. I'd read an entire book about just Chinese languages in America.
January 27, 2021
The journalist, memoir-style makes me feel like I'm there, with the author. Seeing first hand, the present and hearing about history through family and research. Totally enjoyable, enlightening.
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June 16, 2024翻了两篇没读完，个人的感受比较多不太符合我的口味
May 19, 2013
I have been to all the Chinatowns in this book except Vegas. I loved learning the history of each one, the current day issues with poverty and affordable housing, jobs and retention of Chinese history.
April 9, 2010
SNL sketch : SNL movie :: travel article on Chinatown : American Chinatown.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews