Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion
This topic is about
Real Americans
book discussions
>
Discussion: Real Americans
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
ColumbusReads
(last edited Oct 20, 2024 02:14PM)
(new)
-
added it
Sep 09, 2024 12:43AM
Mod
reply
|
flag
I can try? I started today because Libby told me it was no longer on hold. I have never led a discussion before but have some ideas! Let me know if you still need someone!
Mod
Yes Heather, that would be great. You won’t have a problem at all. You can check out the format of some of the previous discussions or change it up however you like. I’m here if you have questions. Thanks again
ColumbusReads wrote: "Heather wrote: "I can try? I started today because Libby told me it was no longer on hold. I have never led a discussion before but have some ideas! Let me know if you still need someone!"Yes Hea..."
Sounds good. I have ideas and luckily this book is in 3 parts which is helpful for how to split it up as well.
Hi! I would love to participate in this months read. How do we od it? Are the conversations based on posts here, or do you meet? Is there another space to speak? Just wondering!
Mod
Hello Nicole, yes, the conversation is held on this thread here and only here. It will begin on October 1st. The moderator (discussion leader) will provide a schedule for the group. Hope that helps.
Hi everyone! I will go ahead and post the schedule for discussion for Real Americans. Hopefully this works for folks! Luckily, this is a 3 part book (Part I, Part II, Part III) so it makes it a little easier for organization. Schedule/discussion plan:1. Pre-read discussion intros now (Sept 24th)-Oct 3rd
2. Prologue, Part I- Oct 4th-11th I will post questions on the 3rd
3. Prologue, Part I and Part II- Oct 12th-19th I will post questions on the 11th
4. Whole Book! Prologue, Part I, Part II, Part III Oct 20th-Oct 31st
Hope that works!
For some prediscussion questions (Sept 24th-Oct 3rd):
1. Say hi and introduce yourself! Who are you and where are you in the world?
2. How are you enjoying or planning to enjoy this book? Physical copy, hardcover, audio, kindle?
3. Is this your first time reading this author or have you read a book by this author before?
4. What interests you about this book or why are you particpating in this particular discussion?
My answers-
1. I am Heather and I am in Baltimore MD. Thank you for allowing the opportunity to facilitate this book discussion!
2. I have been enjoying the audio version of this book on the Libby app via my public library. I got it in the middle of Sept so got a little early of a start.
3. I have never read this author before.
4. I love family sagas so this was definitely of interest to me before I started reading!
Mod
1) I’m Columbus. I’m a moderator here at LFPC. I’m originally from Detroit, MI but have been living in Atlanta for 25 years.
2) I’ve had a copy of Real Americans since its release date and have been looking forward to reading it. Now I have the perfect excuse to do so. I will read a physical copy but will also use an ebook version from Libby for when I’m out and about.
3) This is my first time reading this author. A friend just finished reading her novel, GOODBYE, VITAMIN, and she really liked it. I respect her opinion.
4) I was initially interested in this book by the fantastic reviews it received upon release. Also, literary fiction is by far my favorite genre. That and the fact it’s blurbed on the book jacket by some fantastic writers.
I’m excited to read this with the group and would like to tag my fellow mods (Beverly & Bill) to answer the questions as well.
hello. this is fun so far! 1) i'm maya. i'm a 20 year old reader and a simple member of LFPC in montréal, québec. i've lived pretty much all my life in the city and its metropolitan area.
2) i have the audiobook through my spotify premium. it's the first time i'm actually doing this in audio format. i'm getting over my weird wall of comfort to be able to read books i'm not entirely certain i want to buy - a book can be an expensive purchase.
3) this is my first time reading this author. i had never heard of rachel khong prior to this novel.
4) half way interest, half way convenience. had a small interest over it as i went to the books but couldn't rlly pick it up until i found out spotify has audiobooks! it's apparently not a new feature at all but i just found out about it. i also just rlly like to discuss, there aren't many people who are willing to read a full novel and then discuss it :)
Mod
1) i'm maya. i'm a 20 year old reader and a simple member of LFPC in montréal, québec. i've lived pretty much all my life in the city and its metropolitan area.
2) i h..."
Hello there Maya,
You actually taught me something new. I use Spotify on the spin cycle at my gym and had no idea they had audiobooks. So thanks!
Mod
https://youtu.be/TZ7dubkO_dQ
https://americanliteraryreview.com/20...
Mod
This is one case where I prefer the us cover to the uk cover, which isn’t dreadful but kinda blah to me.
https://www.youtube.com/live/mQu32D6J...
ColumbusReads wrote: "Oh, and I found this interview that she gave with Isaac Fitzgerald. I’ll admit I haven’t watched it yet so not sure if it has spoilers. This is one case where I prefer the us cover to the uk cove..."
Thank you for sharing. I did listen to her interview on NPR Book of the Day and I don't think their are spoilers. Discussion questions for part 1 will be posted tomorrow! https://www.npr.org/2024/05/13/119697...
1. Hi, I'm CJ, I'm new to this group. I live in the Southwest US.2. I am reading a physical copy of this book, as it's all my library has. I usually prefer audiobooks or ebooks as those are easier for me with my health issues and ADHD. But I will try my best with this.
3. This is the first book by this author I've read.
4. I'm more of a SFF reader but I like other things too and want to read more literary fiction outside of those genres. I'm always interested in checking out authors new to me, especially if they offer something that can broaden my reading experience.
Mod
2. I am reading a physical copy of this book, as it's all my library has. I usually prefer audiobooks or ebooks as those are easier..."
Awesome, thanks for that info, CJ. And welcome to the group.
1.Hello, I am Bill, one of the founders of the group and moderator. Originally from Trenton, NJ, I now reside in PG county Md. or the DMV as it's come to be known. 2. I'm on the wait list for the book. I should have it soon since only 1 hold was in front of me.
3. I've never read this author before.
4. Reading it because I listed it on the monthly poll and it's also one of the books on my very lengthy TBR list and the numerous favorable reviews it has garnered.
Hi everyone! As stated above, we will discuss Part 1 of the book from Oct 4th-Oct 11th and I am posting questions today. I understand everyone reads at a different pace so please be mindful of spoilers in your comments. In discussion group comments, members can mark text as spoilers by surrounding the text with (view spoiler) tags. Anything between those tags will be hidden in a "(view spoiler)" link. The spoilers won't be revealed until that link is clicked.Some questions for Part 1:
1. How are you liking or not liking this book so far?
2. Part 1 follows Lily Chen during a specific historical time and place. How did you like Lily as a character? Could you relate to her? How did you like the time and the setting of Part 1?
3. Lily enters into a romantic relationship during Part 1. How do issues of class intersect with cultural differences to create problems in this relationship and among these characters?
4. Anything else you want to discuss re Part 1!?!
I listened to the NPR interview Heather posted above and now I'm very excited about reading this. I am picking up the copy I have on hold at the library today.
Mod
The basic premise seemed pretty ordinary to me and I was only slightly interested in reading the book. But like William, the reviews I’ve read have been so overwhelmingly positive that I thought I would join in. I’m so glad I did. I started reading it, would put the book down and couldn’t wait to get back to it.
I’m really enjoying the wonderful prose and the finely written characters -particularly the nuances of the primary characters Lily and Matthew, and the others as well. Lily’s story starts in 1999 and continues on into the early and mid-aughts and the author captures a very vivid and interesting period.
There’s quite a distinct class and cultural difference in the two characters. Lily is Asian-American and works as an unpaid intern at a large media corporation, then only later becomes assistant photo editor. Waspy Matthew and his family are uber rich and he’s heir to a pharmaceutical company. The dichotomy is immense!
I’m very interested to see where this story goes with the two families and how they get along. I’m a little suspicious of the seed and how this may change the story. Right now my issue is with coincidences and things lining up a little too convenient for me. However, we’ll see where the story goes without me making assumptions for now.
i actually finished it on the first of this month! personally, i always enjoy a early 2000s setting but i'm still debating with myself on whether i liked lily. i think there were bits in her that i found really resembled me and reached me a bit, like the class distinctions, comments and vibes she was depicting; and there are other bits that i just simply couldn't understand why for the life of her she did or say that. i'm sorry how the hell were you so comfortable going a flight to paris with essentially a stranger with no notice or anything?? where's the sense of self-preservation?? i really thought lily was about to get trafficked!!
ColumbusReads wrote: "You actually taught me something new. I use Spotify on the spin cycle at my gym and had no idea they had audiobooks. So thanks!"so actually i have just ran into a wall with this spotify audiobooks thing while starting on another audiobook - there's a 15 hours limit per billing cycle, of which unused hours are non-transferable. currently i'm high on the fumes of my violent rage and i want to rip off the walls of the spotify hq in stockholm. i think this feature defeats the very purpose of having a "premium" account, especially since i'm paying the 20.99$ cad for the family premium. i know this is not a forum for this specifically, but i thought to tell you if you didn't know this.
1. Hello. I’m Rosemary, a retired primary school teacher, living in London. 2. I have the hardcover version of the book.
3. This is the first time I have read a novel by Rachel Khong.
4. I found the title intriguing and the blurb made me decide to read the book to see how the characters would come together.
Shelly here, Just received my ebook copy today. Will begin ASAP. looking forward to the read.
maya ☆ wrote: "i actually finished it on the first of this month! personally, i always enjoy a early 2000s setting but i'm still debating with myself on whether i liked lily. i think there were bits in her that i..."I finished early also due to timing with my Libby hold. I also had a hard time connecting with Lily at times and some of the choices she made. It also seemed like she had some red flags about getting into a relationship with Matthew multiple times but sort of ignored it? I did feel sad for her though because she seemed to want to connect more to her Chinese heritage and culture and her main way to do that would have been through her parents but they seemed to have believed that fully assimilating was the best option (more is revealed on this later in the book so I won't discuss now due to spoilers).
ColumbusReads wrote: "I started reading the book late yesterday and anticipated finishing Part 1 by Saturday. However, I got so immersed in the story that I finished it earlier today. It’s been a minute since I’ve had t..."Yes, there are a lot of coincidences in this book and the theme of "fate" and "destiny" seems to come up a lot as well...I think this is why it is classified somewhat as "magical realism".
Heather wrote: "Hi everyone! I will go ahead and post the schedule for discussion for Real Americans. Hopefully this works for folks! Luckily, this is a 3 part book (Part I, Part II, Part III) so it makes it a lit..."Per the timeline proposed above, Prologue, Part I and Part II- Oct 12th-19th I will post questions on the 11th. See below! Be mindful of spoilers! I will try by best as well!
1. Overall, how did you feel about the shift in character and setting for Part II?
2.. Lily and Nick each experience presuppositions and microaggressions about their identities based on how they look—for example, (view spoiler) . In what ways do these presuppositions clash with how they perceive themselves? What do you think Khong is communicating regarding "Americanness," i.e., the degree to which a person is American?
3. (view spoiler)
4. Any other insights or discussion you want to have about Parts I and II.
Heather wrote: "I also had a hard time connecting with Lily at times and some of the choices she made. It also seemed like she had some red flags about getting into a relationship with Matthew multiple t..."it's exactly that. i feel for her distant relation to her culture despite her proximity but i simply couldn't get behind some of the choices she was making like girl what... i know you did not...
Mod
ColumbusReads wrote: "Many have questioned Lily’s decisions and motives in the first two parts. I’m guessing more particularly in the first part. What are some things that left you scratching your head?"Lilly's attempt at acquiring a sugar daddy for one.
Pivoting....Oddly I've stopped getting email notifications from GR about posts and DM's. Perhaps the same with you? I've sent you, Columbus, 2 pretty important DM's in the last 2 weeks that have gone unanswered.
Mod
Really? I’ve gotten nothing. Let me check.
Mod
Oh goodness, I missed a month-load of messages. I’ll respond back, William. Sorry about that 😱
ColumbusReads wrote: "William wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "Many have questioned Lily’s decisions and motives in the first two parts. I’m guessing more particularly in the first part. What are some things that left you ..."No problem..I think GR's notifications have gone offline..
Heather wrote: " spoilers - answering question 3 " my bad, i be yapping.
while i understand as character why she did what she did, i feel that not giving the option early on in nick's life to connect with his father was a bit of an injustice to him. if i understood well, i think he had no idea about the unconsented modifications (i'm trying to make this as vague as possible for the few that haven't gotten to that part), OR that if he did know about it, nick should still have had a say on whether or whether he's interested in having a relationship with his dad. nick should have known earlier on about this business. because learning this later on in life, i just feel it's an avoidable pain in a son's life.
lily doesn't have to interact with matthew or very minimally, but sheltering nick from the truth about his father and his appearance (of which has haunted him forever) was not the move in my opinion. i think at an early age, i would have explained in basic middle term to my son why his father isn't in the main picture and perhaps reexplained myself a few years later when he's able to discern for himself better - say the first time around 6 or 7 and the latter towards 12-13.
developmental years in a child's life are essential and do set them up for life so i believe in openness and truth and communication and the transfer of all possible skills a person could have in life. my son shows an interest in dolls? come on we're getting to toy-r-us, i want to show that i care about your hobbies and that i welcome your nervousness and show you that it's okay. my son doesn't understand why i'm making a major decision for us? i explain to him the context and my reasoning as best and as appropriately as i can. i speak 3 languages? i will teach them all even though he's only doing to need two to interact with the majority of the people around him. i see that my son is reticent in sharing his university choice fearing my reaction? i make sure that my emotions shouldn't limit him or shouldn't be considered in such a decision because i want the best for him. i totally understand that single motherhood (or motherhood at all) is not a thing i have experienced but having once been a child, i think that some of these were essential to instill in nick at a young age. namely: honesty. honesty is not honesty unless the 100% whole truth. you would think after such a breach of trust and honesty lily would have made sure nick learns to always be honest but alas!!! a lot could have been very different for everyone had people just been honest and say the thing. i know it's the core of the novel but if we consider them as real people in the real world, i can't understand lily's abstinence. if i were her friend, i would have scolded her over this decision. i know it's me and my natural sense of "why would i ever lie" but seriously lily, it wasn't your fault. and this secret is affecting your son. why would you not say it?
Mod
my bad, i be yapping.
while i understand as character why she did what she did, i feel that not giving the option early on in nick's life to c..."
So very true and it’s exactly what I was thinking when I read this. I have several close friends and a few acquaintances that have been so resentful to their parents for not telling them the important (necessary?) things sooner.
Mod
Mod
ColumbusReads wrote: "maya ☆ wrote: "Heather wrote: " spoilers - answering question 3 " my bad, i be yapping.
while i understand as character why she did what she did, i feel that not giving the option early on in n..."
Right. This was one of my biggest issues with Lily. She basically made decisions for Nick that would impact him for the rest of his life just like her mother did to her. I know it isn't the same but she also separated him from his family, heritage, etc. I get he was a baby but then as he grew and was asking questions she still wasn't talking to him or giving him this information and he sought it out himself. It was quite unnecessary for her to keep all of that from him esp as he got older.
maya ☆ wrote: "Heather wrote: " spoilers - answering question 3 " my bad, i be yapping.
while i understand as character why she did what she did, i feel that not giving the option early on in nick's life to c..."
Yes! I agree re Lily keeping Nick from Matthew. I think at a certain age he should have been provided the information needed and given the opportunity to decide. Instead he grew up feeling like he wasn't wanted and rejected.
ColumbusReads wrote: "Oh, and I was surprised about the Timothy reveal. I had no clue."me too! i thought it came out of left field but i originally welcomed this nice surprise. i think i would loved having more moment with him and nick especially after that night in the hotel. in general, i really love stories about friendships and/or just any relationship dynamics teetering on homoerotic - i really thought i was getting a sweet treat with nick's pov. and while i really related to nick for a big chunk, i was also longing for more of them together and their back and forth play. justice for timothy and nick's friendship 😔
Heather wrote: "She basically made decisions for Nick that would impact him for the rest of his life just like her mother did to her. I know it isn't the same but she also separated him from his family, heritage, etc. "just like her mother did to her" OOH clocked that tea!!
Finished the book. I see its a couple days before the entire book is open for discussion so I'll withhold some thoughts. But I came away not likeing any of the main protagonists very much. Everyone withheld important information, information which could effect the course of others lives, from each other. And the time that the childish but deadly "silent treatment" was employed was mind boggling. Weirdly, the one character I was least likely to have compassion for, the billionaire father, Matthew, seemed to me to be the most honest, and he tried to do the right thing, Did Lily really expect him to give up all his money, disavow his family and move with her to an isolated island on the other side of the country? Did she even give him the chance to?
Hi everyone! It is the 20th so the whole book is open for discussion. Some questions-1. Of the three narrators (Lily, Nick, and May), which character do you most strongly empathize with? Which character is the least sympathetic?
2. Did you like this book or would you recommend this book?
3. Anything else you would like to discuss!
Mod
The opening chapter narrated by the nauseating (is this the adjective you would use?) Lily was by far my favorite. I would’ve preferred the book to have been narrated by her. However, that’s not the structure the author chose to use so we have to go by what we have here.
I probably sympathized more with Nick due to the actions of his parents and him growing up with so many questions and not getting the answers he needed. That being said, I thought the middle section was the weakest of the three by far. It was just all over the place.
I thought Khong delivered real writing chops and research (oh, the research!) with the final section. I had to re-read some of it to make sure I understood what was going on. The writing in the last two sections of the book could’ve been written by two different writers. But, then that could’ve been intentional?
Heather wrote: "Of the three narrators (Lily, Nick, and May), which character do you most strongly empathize with? Which character is the least sympathetic?"very obviously, i connected with nick alot more than anyone else in this novel. while i agree with columbus that his pov was the most scattered, i think i just can't resist the voice of a person at a loss about their disconnect with their culture. justice for nick and timothy's friendship!!
edit: also found little pleasure being with lily or may. lily's pov was messy and may was very heavy especially with the science research. true it takes real dedication for writing that in a way that is understood but it made me question if i was actually going down the drain with a scientific journal at times AND i thought the question about heritage was going to be approached in a more sociological or philosophical way through the lens of a geneticist. expectations were flipped on my head on this one, though in retrospect, what the hell was i thinking.
maya ☆ wrote: "Heather wrote: "Of the three narrators (Lily, Nick, and May), which character do you most strongly empathize with? Which character is the least sympathetic?"very obviously, i connected with nick ..."
I actually really enjoyed Mae/May's POV. I did find myself frustrated that Lily and Nick's parts ended at HUGE cliffhangers! I didn't have a lot of sympathy for Mae going into her portion but I really enjoyed it. I felt like I learned a lot about who she was and why she made certain decisions (even if I disagreed with them).
Sooo..nobody has noticed how Mae and Otto conspired, even if under the guise of making Lily more able to bear children, more genetically European and therefore more of a "Real American". But Nik, cognizant of his Asian heritage, carried the burden of looking white and privileged but had actually been raised as a minority and middle class. A duality he never IMHO successfully consummated.
William wrote: "Sooo..nobody has noticed how Mae and Otto conspired, even if under the guise of making Lily more able to bear children, more genetically European and therefore more of a "Real American". But Nik, c..."The whole book I think is about how families have the capability of perpetuating generational trauma and patterns or disrupting them. Very much noticed this. However, I did feel like Mae's POV was helpful for me in understanding her worldview. I did dislike the miscommunication throughout the book- Mae doesn't discuss her personal heritage or culture or life with Lily and then Lily does the same to Nick. Lily separated herself and Nick but still couldn't break the pattern either. I also though the inclusion of Nick's half brother (name I cannot remember) was interesting because it basically showed Nick the life he would have had if Lily hadn't removed him from NYC.
Mod
