This graphic novel alternates three interrelated stories about the problems of young Chinese Americans trying to participate in the popular culture.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese.
This graphic novel alternates three interrelated stories about the problems of young Chinese Americans trying to participate in the popular culture.
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6 comments:
The graphic novel is well written even though the settings switch between the monkey's and the real people. In comparison to "When the Emperor was Divine" I liked reading this book better and easier to understand. It also more relative to the topic of discrimination and racism.
I also am not generally into graphic novels, but this one was really great. The message is true and strong: never be ashamed of who you are.
This book was pretty confusing...although parts of it were humorous the author didn't make it that easy to follow. I think it definitely an easier way to understand racism than the book "When the Emperor Was Divine." The fact that it faced different challenges with different caracters that at first seemed totally unrelated made it pretty annoying. If you are looking for a good read, I don't suggest it. If you're looking for a humurous graphic novel, than go right ahead.
This book was confusing until the end. I really didn't understand it until the end but found that it was kind of interesting to see how the three stories connected together. I haven't read a lot of graphic novels but found that this book wasn't that bad. I think that between this book and "When the Emperor Was Divine" I would choose this one because it was easier to understand and seemed to portray the messages better.
I missed the theme the first time through, but on rereading I saw that the transformers the boys played with early in the story foreshadowed what was to come. The theme is clearly stated on p. 29 by the herbalist's wife who says to Jin, "It's easy to become anything you wish . . . so long as you're willing to forfeit your soul." His dream of her brings that back on p. 193 "So, little friend, you've done it."
Is it necessarily bad to transform oneself? Does one necessarily forfeit one's soul by doing so? What does that mean?
And, Mr. Eastman by being sure not to miss the last page, did you mean the end paper where the monkey king is trudging along with the monk and other two disciples? What does it mean?
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