The Dim Sum of All Things is a novel written by Kim Wong Keltner, explores the many aspects of Asian American life and culture. Just my purest first impression of reading the summary on the back of the book it sounded like it would be a fun book to read. However, after diving into a fairly good portion of the book I found my opinion of the book to change quite a bit. I was very surprised to see so many references to Asian and Chinese stereotypes. I thought that after reading further into the book they would stop, but that was not the case at all. The story does nothing redeem itself after so many negative stereotypes.
The main character of the story is named Lindsey. She is one of those kinds of helpless characters you get annoyed at in stories, instead of going out and solving her problems she just sits there and mopes. She is also very distant with her own culture, so I find it odd that they way Lindsey talks is as if she is being representative of all Chinese,Asians, and women as well. A good portion of this book is about stereotypes, well guess what? the main character is very quick to place people into stereotypes as well. Lindsey will see a white male dressed a certain way and immediately he is labeled a "Horder". Looking at Lindsey's character we see many of the themes the book focuses on.
Culture is a constantly reoccurring theme in the book. I myself feel that this book does not truely explore all of the Chinese and Asian American culture because Lindsey is so disconnected from her culture. It is like being lectured about a culture by someone who is not even from that culture. Not to mention at times I feel Lindsey dislikes her culture, like she wishes she could have been born into something else.
Stereotypes are another common theme in the story. Lindsey talks about the many categories that people put her in. The funny thing though is that Lindsey herself is sometimes caught putting people into categories. So it is a bit hard to be cheering for for the main character because she does see that she is being simple minded. However, there are timse in the book that I did feel that I could relate to her. Such as when she talks about how people would call her things when she was little, but had no idea what they were saying until she was older. I went thorough something that practically identical.
Interracial dating is a very sensitive subject that can be found in the book. When you are reading the first few parts of the book it sounds like the book is really against interracial dating. Coming from an Asian family I have alwaysed noticed it, and was hoping that the book would give some good reasons as to why this is because it baffles me. I do not see why they are so against dating out of thier own gene pool. I know that times have changed for the better, but there still is some of the past still lingering around and I hope it will fade away eventually.
This book stirs up many feelings inside of me and questions as well. After getting me all interested with all the questions about Asian American culture, it annoys me that so much of the book was focused on stereotpyes. I am a little disapointed that it never really went into depth they questions that were posed on the back. I still would like to know that the facination with Hello Kitty is all about.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Book Review
Let me start off by saying that the book The Dim Sum of All Things written by Kim Wong Keltner, is a pretty interesting book, not just only story wise but also culturally. The book introduces the main character, the 25 yr old woman Lindsey Owyang, who is a Chinese American. The book starts out with Lindsey’s daily life, and moves on to specific things that have happened to her over the years, or in the present time of the book. As I read through the book I realize that some of things that Lindsey experienced, I have experienced myself. Such things were the smell of incense or weird smelling dishes. The mini titles in the book were really interesting like, “She was a Freak Magnet” or “Bananas, Twinkies, and Eggs”. In a way I feel that this book likes to “jokingly insult” Asians in way, like how Lindsey likes to think some Chinese guys are really smart or nerdy, Star wars freaks, or the pudgy guys are perverted. I also sense some sexism in the book, it seems like most of the blame or problems Lindsey faces come from men, making most or 90% of all men are bad. The book also likes to relate races into food categories; White on the out and Asian in the inside is call an egg or Asian on the outside and white in the inside is called a Twinkie. Overall the book was pretty comical and really interesting even though I sense some racists or sexist comments, making this book a worth to read.
The Dim Sum of All Things gives us the readers a mirror view of Asian Culture. It gives us a feel of how the world looks at Asian culture, such as marriages, religion or food, weekend activities, entertainment, providing the readers a first person view of all these things. Of course Asian culture has change through the years, but some aspects of it have not for some families, such as marriages. Lindsey describes how her grandmother would react if she were to be dating a Japanese guy, she would explode! Or like how Lindsey’s grandmother wouldn’t mind her dating a white guy, in the old days I don’t the parents would approve of that. The title of the book, The Dim Sum of All Things in my opinion refers to how culture is created together by little pieces like dim sum until it becomes full.
The Dim Sum of All Things gives us the readers a mirror view of Asian Culture. It gives us a feel of how the world looks at Asian culture, such as marriages, religion or food, weekend activities, entertainment, providing the readers a first person view of all these things. Of course Asian culture has change through the years, but some aspects of it have not for some families, such as marriages. Lindsey describes how her grandmother would react if she were to be dating a Japanese guy, she would explode! Or like how Lindsey’s grandmother wouldn’t mind her dating a white guy, in the old days I don’t the parents would approve of that. The title of the book, The Dim Sum of All Things in my opinion refers to how culture is created together by little pieces like dim sum until it becomes full.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Book review for "The Dim Sum of All things" -Rafael
Where should I start...
The novel by Kim Wong Keltner took me by surprise, I have never read a novel that had charged with frustration. The constant reference to Asian and Chinese stereotypes at times had me put the book down and take a moment to think about why the author continued this derogatory trend the describe the characters and environments.
Lindsey, the main character is a lost, uninformed, confused and overly-dramatic figure. She acts as if she was born yesterday and knew nothing of her own culture. She easily labels others, mainly white men as the predators of all things Asian; "hoarders for short. The destructive criticism of others that continues to be repeated non stop over the book, soured my thoughts "Am I to think that Asian women feel or think this way?" No, its way too general its 2 ethnocentric to accept as a possibility. Nevertheless the book covers many topics that should be brought to our attention:
Stereotypes:
One the main themes that carried over throughout the book, it brought the attention a a fictional mentality young women who is completely confused, completely ethnocentric or racist. Although it was a frustrating experience, I could relate to her sometimes. I too was not born in the USA so some common culture activities or thoughts, that my own culture chased could be polarized by the parallel growth with the common culture of the "Non-Hispanic". But, I did feel that at some points it got too out of hand. and not even I was that subjective to others.
gender:
Lindsey was as submissive as she could be. Loyal to her family. And the most of the characters that were men and Asian did someone pose that advantage over the women. Her family was very traditional, regardless of how she felt she would have to bide. Her dates that took her to karaoke. My culture also shared that traditional custom. I believe this theme was the least spoken of but most understandable. To be in the clear, no I do not agree that this is acceptable as times change.
Culture:
Parallel to Stereotypes, culture was always under fire. I felt it was completely unrealistic that she had such limited knowledge of her own culture. and to become almost hostile towards it, bothered me tremendously.
Interracial Dating:
This is a very touchy subject. although we live in a time that allows such theme to be accepted more openly in reality, the book nearly wants to destroy it at first. And I always was thinking" what is so wrong" why does the Asian family want nothing to do with others. Historically I can understand why, but to my own point of view, that is prejudice, being masked under culture.
the book never really answers why Asian women pick white guys, why people get tattoos of Chinese Characters.
I guess we are lest to be as subjective as Lindsey and make our own conclusions of her, the the rest of the story.
-Rafael de la torre
The novel by Kim Wong Keltner took me by surprise, I have never read a novel that had charged with frustration. The constant reference to Asian and Chinese stereotypes at times had me put the book down and take a moment to think about why the author continued this derogatory trend the describe the characters and environments.
Lindsey, the main character is a lost, uninformed, confused and overly-dramatic figure. She acts as if she was born yesterday and knew nothing of her own culture. She easily labels others, mainly white men as the predators of all things Asian; "hoarders for short. The destructive criticism of others that continues to be repeated non stop over the book, soured my thoughts "Am I to think that Asian women feel or think this way?" No, its way too general its 2 ethnocentric to accept as a possibility. Nevertheless the book covers many topics that should be brought to our attention:
Stereotypes:
One the main themes that carried over throughout the book, it brought the attention a a fictional mentality young women who is completely confused, completely ethnocentric or racist. Although it was a frustrating experience, I could relate to her sometimes. I too was not born in the USA so some common culture activities or thoughts, that my own culture chased could be polarized by the parallel growth with the common culture of the "Non-Hispanic". But, I did feel that at some points it got too out of hand. and not even I was that subjective to others.
gender:
Lindsey was as submissive as she could be. Loyal to her family. And the most of the characters that were men and Asian did someone pose that advantage over the women. Her family was very traditional, regardless of how she felt she would have to bide. Her dates that took her to karaoke. My culture also shared that traditional custom. I believe this theme was the least spoken of but most understandable. To be in the clear, no I do not agree that this is acceptable as times change.
Culture:
Parallel to Stereotypes, culture was always under fire. I felt it was completely unrealistic that she had such limited knowledge of her own culture. and to become almost hostile towards it, bothered me tremendously.
Interracial Dating:
This is a very touchy subject. although we live in a time that allows such theme to be accepted more openly in reality, the book nearly wants to destroy it at first. And I always was thinking" what is so wrong" why does the Asian family want nothing to do with others. Historically I can understand why, but to my own point of view, that is prejudice, being masked under culture.
the book never really answers why Asian women pick white guys, why people get tattoos of Chinese Characters.
I guess we are lest to be as subjective as Lindsey and make our own conclusions of her, the the rest of the story.
-Rafael de la torre
Monday, October 13, 2008
100 pages in and counting (The Dim Sum of All things)
So far into my reading of "The Dim Sum of All Things" I will publicly announce I was offended by the book and angered within the first 10-15 pages and I am not directly decedent of any Asian background! Why was I so pissed off? I dunno the repetitive call out of stereotypes and slurs the author kept pulling out spontaneously when in many occasions it was not necessary. Although after the first 50 pages i began to enjoy the book and began to also question why the character is so ashamed. But I will be no hypocrite. I too sometimes experience the same attitude to my own culture. Latinos who wear flags like capes and hood ornaments to their low rider impalas or El Camino's pisses me off some times. Sometimes I rather speak English than Spanish, only because i've been exposed to America more than to Mexico most of my life.
This has also gotten me to think. No matter what background or culture we belong to, two opposite people from opposite cultures can experience the same thing, so it makes me think why do we hate each other sometimes or why are we ashamed to be who were are. I don't i think im just as confused as Lindsey.... =[
-RAFAEL DE LA TORRE
This has also gotten me to think. No matter what background or culture we belong to, two opposite people from opposite cultures can experience the same thing, so it makes me think why do we hate each other sometimes or why are we ashamed to be who were are. I don't i think im just as confused as Lindsey.... =[
-RAFAEL DE LA TORRE
Films- Suicide Circle - Film by Sion Sono
Over the weekend I was out an about, looking for things to do and see. so I said "screw it" I've been holding a copy of "The Love Guru" with Mike Myers (one of the worse hes made) for quite a while and had to return it. I drove down to Lakeshore Blockbuster (insert Ad here) in Oakland and decided I wanted to pick up something new. I could not find anything of my taste and waltz down the old school flick isle of the store. Perfect! A film, with box art so Japanese I had to take it.
Suicide Circle by Sion Sono is a film that is uniquely twisted and violent. It was one of my first encounter with true Japanese cinema and I deeply enjoyed it. The plot of the story involved a chain of suicides nation wide (japan) that connected people with the simple idea that they are someone all connected with their loved ones and everyone else even after death. A bit difficult to explain without giving away the story but I will say this if you enjoy cheesy violent death scene (trust me they are cheesy) and films that seemed like they were filmed with old school 8mm cameras, you will enjoy Suicide Circle!
-RAFAEL DE LA TORRE
Suicide Circle by Sion Sono is a film that is uniquely twisted and violent. It was one of my first encounter with true Japanese cinema and I deeply enjoyed it. The plot of the story involved a chain of suicides nation wide (japan) that connected people with the simple idea that they are someone all connected with their loved ones and everyone else even after death. A bit difficult to explain without giving away the story but I will say this if you enjoy cheesy violent death scene (trust me they are cheesy) and films that seemed like they were filmed with old school 8mm cameras, you will enjoy Suicide Circle!
-RAFAEL DE LA TORRE
Food
Since we recently did the Iron Chef challenge in class, it would be the perfect time to talk about food and its importance. I feel kind of bad that in my family the cooking tradition may be coming to a halt soon. Seeing as how very old fashion and traditional my parents are. My mom thinks that it is weird for guys to want to learn how to cook. She believes that knowledge should be reserved for girls only, the only problem is that she has two sons and not one daughter to pass on her knowledge of the ways of the kitchen. However, I am gradually getting her to break down the barriers of traditional old ways and learning a few new things about cooking.
To me home food is just food that you cook at home. Rather than going out to a restaurant and having someone else do the cooking for you. You choose to take the time and effort to make your own dish, not to mention decide what goes in it in case you are a picky eater. Also home food is really good quality food because you don't use the cheapest most cost effective things to put in it. It all translates into love, you put love into your home cooked meals. You don't get that at a restaurant, it's an ingredient that they cheap out on.
The way my mom cooks is very much unique. She will for sure make sure there is a heaping amount of vegetables in the dish. Her philosophy is that you can never have enough vegetables, heck sometimes the dish could be considered vegetarian and still taste like it had meat in it. My mom is very health conscious when it comes to cooking, so she will always make sure to use the healthiest ingredients even though it may cost more. My mom will cook her fair share of Asian meals, but her skills as a cook go further than Asian meals. She will look at other dishes from other countries and then make them at home with her own twists to it. She will add something that she thinks would make the dish taste really complete. She is constantly reinventing her own dishes, so going home and getting a cooked meal is always a nice surprise. Her cooking could some what be used to talk about Asian American culture. It is similar how we are taking what we know and are used to about it, but as time goes on we are adding our down twists to it. Asian American culture is constantly reinventing itself as well.
To me home food is just food that you cook at home. Rather than going out to a restaurant and having someone else do the cooking for you. You choose to take the time and effort to make your own dish, not to mention decide what goes in it in case you are a picky eater. Also home food is really good quality food because you don't use the cheapest most cost effective things to put in it. It all translates into love, you put love into your home cooked meals. You don't get that at a restaurant, it's an ingredient that they cheap out on.
The way my mom cooks is very much unique. She will for sure make sure there is a heaping amount of vegetables in the dish. Her philosophy is that you can never have enough vegetables, heck sometimes the dish could be considered vegetarian and still taste like it had meat in it. My mom is very health conscious when it comes to cooking, so she will always make sure to use the healthiest ingredients even though it may cost more. My mom will cook her fair share of Asian meals, but her skills as a cook go further than Asian meals. She will look at other dishes from other countries and then make them at home with her own twists to it. She will add something that she thinks would make the dish taste really complete. She is constantly reinventing her own dishes, so going home and getting a cooked meal is always a nice surprise. Her cooking could some what be used to talk about Asian American culture. It is similar how we are taking what we know and are used to about it, but as time goes on we are adding our down twists to it. Asian American culture is constantly reinventing itself as well.
A trip to Japan town
During the weekend i went to Japan town since it was a while I went , it took me a while to figure out where to go, but then my family was with me and they had a better sense of direction than me. Japan town in my opinion didn't change as much as I thought it would, I thought that there would be new stores, but it's the same nostalgic Japan town that i remember.
What I found different in Japan town was that there were different kinds of people there than i last remember. Usually or in the past I wouldn't see as many "white" people in an area, I would usually see Asian's in that area, but I guess as the time passes by Japan town became a must see spot in San Francisco. This pretty much shows that the culture world keeps growing, even now, people that aren't even Asian still shows interest in other cultures.
I also notice then when walking around the mall, I see that even though Japan town is in America, it would still keep most of its Japanese traditional look, including the food.Even though the food very expensive, I suggest that people should go eat at the restaurants there, it's really good in my opinion. There's also the famous Japanese anime culture that involves many different types of people, but that's for another post. Even though Japan town has changed a little its still the same nostalgic place i remember.
-Benson Lee
What I found different in Japan town was that there were different kinds of people there than i last remember. Usually or in the past I wouldn't see as many "white" people in an area, I would usually see Asian's in that area, but I guess as the time passes by Japan town became a must see spot in San Francisco. This pretty much shows that the culture world keeps growing, even now, people that aren't even Asian still shows interest in other cultures.
I also notice then when walking around the mall, I see that even though Japan town is in America, it would still keep most of its Japanese traditional look, including the food.Even though the food very expensive, I suggest that people should go eat at the restaurants there, it's really good in my opinion. There's also the famous Japanese anime culture that involves many different types of people, but that's for another post. Even though Japan town has changed a little its still the same nostalgic place i remember.
-Benson Lee
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