Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

I have been completely absorbed in getting all my badges for teh Goodreads challenges, and this fulfilled one of them. A satire and an indulgent romance tale, this is the first book in a trilogy penned by Kevin Kwan, starting in 2013-so this is a throwback, but also has the advantage that if you get into it, you can read the whole thing, you do not have to wait for the next two books to come out. I would usually advocate reading the book before seeing the movie, which is not what happened in this case--luckily I liked the movie, despite it's somewhat off putting title, and saw it long enough ago that I did not remember it clearly enough to be off put by the inconsistencies between the two. The book takes an in-depth look into the immense wealth, lavish lifestyles, culture, family expectations and innuendo that swirls around the rich families of Asia. With a specific focus on the heir of one of Singapore’s most well regarded families, Nicholas Young, the author considers the problems that arise when a son of old money in Asia, brings his Chinese American professor girlfriend back home. The complications of this potential ill match in the marriage stakes is set against another grand high society wedding. The upcoming nuptials of Colin, a close friend of Nicholas Young, provides Kevin Kwan with the room to explore the jetting setting life of the elite set of Singapore and surrounds. A story of wealth, love, family, honor, duty and culture, this book could either makes you stop and think for a moment what it would be like to live in this absurd world of affluence or it could make you grateful for your own flawed family.