새해를 맞아 새로운 것을 해보기로 했다.
영어 공부를 더 해야 할 것 같아, 지난 연말부터 개인 과외 선생님들(총 4분)도 만나보고 몇가지 어플(튜터링, 영어신 등)도 써보고, 데스크탑으로 공부하는 프로그램(스터디맥스, 야나두)은 써보기도 하고 알아도 보았다. 뭔가 딱 맞는걸 찾기가 어려워서 (주중에 시간 내기 어렵고, 직접 대화를 통해 커뮤니케이션 하면 좋은데 동일시간/동일장소를 맞춰야 하는 부담 등등) 홀딩하고 있었다.
그러던 와중에 '트레바리'라는 곳에서 스타트업 관련 행사를 주최하는데, 트레바리 (일종의 독서모임) 를 가입하면 할인한다는 글을 보았다. 물론 참가비는 회사에서 나가겠지만, 비용도 아끼고 독서모임도 해보자는 차원에서 도전!
여러가지 모임이 있었는데, 영어독서모임으로 참가하기로 했다.
읽을 책으로 선정된 것은 "Crazy Rich Asians" 이다. Kevin Kwan의 소설이고 흥행해서(그래서겠지?) 영화화도 되었다.
겸사겸사 리뷰를 공유해 본다~
Not so Crazy, Not so Rich, but Real Asians
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When I saw the message that the book 'Crazy Rich Asians' was chosen to read, I thought the title sounds awesome and expected that I can see what lifestyle of "crazily rich" people would be. While I was reading it and even watching the movie, I've doubted their characters and lives don't make sense in my sarcastic view.
Not so CRAZY; Nick, Rachel and even Eleanor, they're never out of their minds. They're too much sane and rational. It drops the characters' likability. Rachel's character was designed too much shallow and Nick was flat, too; Young and rich, Big and tall. This flawless guy is always watching-his-fiancee in any circumstances. (HOW?) If it's not he's lying or pretending, the author should put more probability in the plot to understand why Nick is so loyal to his love. If I were the author, I'd put more powerful competitor toward Rachel, at least with the level of Astrid.
Not so RICH; Singapore is a great nation and I truly love its green and metal skyline. However, are they in a Socialist system? I'm not sure how much they're able to have a private property. Its land may belong to the government. If Nick came from Thailand, I do understand, but in the Singapore society, I wouldn't agree with their wealth. What if he didn't just rely on family wealth and try to establish his own territory by himself? On the pages, most of Nick's strengths came from his inherited assets and it makes him less attractive.
Real ASIAN: At the first page, I was blown away by seeing the family tree, so complicated. Asian cares a blood (even A,B, AB and O). The main obstacles of their love are Eleanor and other friends. The reasons they conflict and the way it's resolved are somewhat Asian-like; no special reason, just by jealousy or dependency with their emotions. If there was more complicated conflict "inside" the family (such as... some cousins wanted to take over his business, such as Korean-conglomerates-war), it's more thrilling.
Lastly, some names of brands aroused me luxurious and gorgeous feeling when I pronounced them. I enjoyed them in a good way. The words of names do a powerful role of showing and spotlighting their richness. Very successful. Hail the brands! They survive in a longer era even when people speak up to that we should make an equal world. I believe that human may feel happiness from inequality. By the way, then, where can I find real crazy and real rich guys and girls? Oh, I found'em on Instagram! I better follow the @rkoi.
