Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang

There are so many ways to read this book--it is wonderfully capable in that way. On the one hand it can be seen as an almost slavish devotion to the American ideal of work as worthy only to appear out of step with the reality of a pursuit of wealth without work is what people seek. On the other, it could be seen as a caricature of every stereotype made transparent. And so many more--the point is that it is enjoyable and illuminating. Joan is a Chinese American doctor who feels most at home when at work. In keeping with the world's exhausted and exhaustive use of "okay" — is to present Joan as an old stereotype: mousy, industrious, inscrutable, asexual. She is both admired and begrudged for her robot-like dedication, accomplishing nothing but work and sleep and remaining serene while doing so. A number of things go on to occur in the novel that make it clear that Joan is very much not okay, and neither are most of the rest of us, which is the point, I think, that this idea that work is 'the way' serves only those who make money off that work, and not the worker. Time to turn off the media and find yourself.