Comments on: The Comics that aren't as Good as Fun Home review: American Born Chinese.

By: Frisk0ho

Frisk0ho — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:22:10 +0000

book sucks.....

By: MarkAndrew

MarkAndrew — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:21:30 +0000

I made Journalista. All Deppey said was Mark Andrew reviews American Born Chinese. But still! Journalista!

By: MarkAndrew

MarkAndrew — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:53:12 +0000

William and J to the Azzit turns out, you're right that the Monkey King was a Chinese myth. (Which makes a hell of a lot more sense.) I've only run into it filtered through Japanese culture, so I assumed he was Japanese. I changed it in the text. Thanks for the clarification. J to the AAP and Brian That's the most sensible explanation I've heard for the end of ABC. But if that's what it was supposed to be about, it was really unclear. I think the problem is that Yang never showed us the CHANGED characters. It's just CLIMAX... END, with no resolution to show how the characters have been effected by the events of the book and how Practically Speaking, their lives have been changed by the revelation. That would also save the book from being too pat. Of course it ain't easy to tell what "Be Yourself" means in this context. If ABC had shown us Jin/Danny actually LIVING with the stuff he's learned, it would be a lot more functional as, like, a practical model. Joe Rice OVERALL I did really like it too, and I might've been a little harsh and I kind of feel bad. The Mutt Yeah. Stupid spell check didn't even know unimpunably. I like feeling smarter than spell check.

By: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:42:40 +0000

As others have noted, the underlying point of the story is very simply, "Be Yourself," and is relatable far beyond the cultural specifics Yang centered his story on. I'm betting the ending was a lot clearer and a lot more effective for those who've ever been in a position where they had to choose between conformity and individuality. Also, I'm 99% positive the Monkey King is a Chinese fable.

By: BrianC

BrianC — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:12:39 +0000

I agree with J - I don't think the idea of being yourself (and transforming) had to do with fitting into an American vs. Chinese culture. To me, it was about feeling comfortable about yourself - and finding that is probably somewhere in the middle of both cultures. My wife read this, and being born of foreign parents and raised here, she got got this stronger than me I think, the idea being it isn't easy to "be yourself" when there is no real model of what "yourself" is.

By: The Mutt

The Mutt — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:35:51 +0000

"unimpugnably"

Words are cool.

By: Joe Rice

Joe Rice — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:37:07 +0000

I really, really liked this. My wife and sister-in-law both did, too, though they both felt it hit a little "too close to home" to really ENJOY it.

By: J To The AAP

J To The AAP — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:16:37 +0000

Actually, i didn't think the merging of storylines was that bad. It made sense when I read it. I figured the transformer analogy was about trying to form yourself to other people's views in stead of your own. It's not about 'choosing to be American or Chinese' or any other culture for that matter but allowing yourself to be this new entity, which is, your self.

By: J To The AAP

J To The AAP — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:11:22 +0000

^William, I think you're right in the myth being Chinese. The Japanese love it though, it's been the basis of several manga, the most prominent being Dragon Ball.

By: William

William — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:06:52 +0000

Not to nitpick, but isn't the monkey king a Chinese Legend, from Journey to the West? Dunno if the Japanese also use him as a legendary figure the way the Romans incorporated greek myths into their own stories.