Real Americans

Reviews

[An] ambitious multigenerational saga of money , migration, dreams, secrets and the lure of scientific progress Devastatingly good Evocative and gripping . . . a beautifully told multigenerational story about the Chen family, and what identity really means This compelling family saga tackles big issues with insight and a light touch Rachel Khong’s gripping second novel explores how biology, our parents’ abstract hopes for us, sheer luck, and the forces of history itself make us who we are. Real Americans is both a tender story of the intimate relationships between people and a sharp examination of very big questions of ethics, politics, and fate Real Americans traverses time with verve and feeling. Khong captures how people can be strange to themselves, how bewilderment can be a site of creation (or change, or becoming) Aglow with love in its many forms, suffused with questions of where-and to whom-we belong, Real Americans is a book of rare charm. Khong untangles the roots of family with a wry, tender attention that will leave readers as comforted as they are challenged Gorgeous, heartfelt, soaring, philosophical and deft, Real Americans turns the multigenerational novel inside out. Fate, honesty, our bargains with life. You will keep turning it over and over in your mind Real Americans is a grand novel that explores the American psyche, dramatizing the fundamental American belief in the ability to change the world and improve humanity. Rachel Khong shows infinite and colorful perceptions of the world, which are often leavened with wisdom. Besides being a page turner, this book is also an eye-opener, imaginative and exhilarating Khong is a magician . . . Brilliant Flawless Khong masterfully explores a family splintered by science, struggling to redefine their own lives after uncovering harrowing secrets. Real Americans is a mesmerizing multigenerational novel about privilege, identity and the illusions of the American dream Khong manages to imbue seemingly mundane topics with charm and pathos through her attentive, humorous and personable writing Like a chain of fairy lights in the darkness A million small, human and often deeply funny details gather force to tell a tale that is ultimately, incredibly poignant Easy to inhale . . . Khong observes this pervasive sense of unbelonging with cutting precision, and perfectly captures the dislocation, insecurity and erasure that are facets of Asian-American life . . . The novel’s real beauty lies in its amazement at the sheer luck of being alive. A poignant and contemporary multi-generational novel . . . Khong's candid and humorous storytelling shines as she explores the challenges and complexities of straddling multiple cultural worlds . . . An expansive story of secrets, betrayal, and forgiveness. Khong's narrative resonates deeply, offering readers an insightful and heartfelt exploration of race, family, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Real Americans is a truly special novel. It’s an elegant portrait of how we disappoint those we love, despite trying our best, and how attempts to tame humanity misunderstand its complexity. Khong masterfully unfolds each character before us, revealing their dreams and regrets, and their undying hope for better. Ambitious A tale of identity, belonging and betrayal Beautifully written . . . a confident, immersive story that explores three very different-but-interconnected lives . . . binding the story together is a clear-eyed look at money and power, lost connections and what we inherit from our families - with an unexpected sprinkling of sci-fi and magic too A multigenerational family epic, one that asks big questions about whether we make our own decisions, but does so with a wonderfully light touch Expand reviews