Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Real Americans
- Narrated by: Eric Yang, Eunice Wong, Louisa Zhu
- Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Real Americans
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
HOW FAR WILL WE GO TO BELONG?
On the precipice of Y2K, unpaid intern Lily Chen is attempting to live the American dream in New York City. But her scientist parents imagined so much more for her when they fled Mao's cultural revolution, hoping for a better life. Despite the glamour of her media job, Lily can barely make rent - until she falls into the arms of Matthew. This young financier can give her a fairy tale life of luxury, and for the first time her dreams appear within reach.
High school student Nick Chen and his best friend Timothy are plotting to break free. College promises escape from an isolated and close-knit island in Washington State, space from his strict and secretive mum Lily, and the chance to finally fit in. But when Nick sets out to find his long-lost father, a world of questions opens, and it is one unexpected member of the Chen family who holds the key to it all.
Real Americans is a family epic about identity, sacrifice, choices and fate. It is a wildly imaginative and profound story of betrayal and forgiveness that asks us how far we should go for those we love.
Critic reviews
'Real Americans is a grand novel that explores the American psyche, dramatizing the fundamental American belief in the ability to change the world and improve humanity. Rachel Khong shows infinite and colorful perceptions of the world, which are often leavened with wisdom. [T]his book is also an eye-opener, imaginative and exhilarating.' (Ha Jin)
'Khong masterfully explores a family splintered by science, struggling to redefine their own lives after uncovering harrowing secrets. Real Americans is a mesmerizing multigenerational novel about privilege, identity and the illusions of the American dream.' Brit Bennett, author of The Vanishing Half
'Aglow with love in its many forms, suffused with questions of where-and to whom-we belong, Real Americans is a book of rare charm. Khong untangles the roots of family with a wry, tender attention.' (C Pam Zhang)
What listeners say about Real Americans
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-10-24
Boring and rather pointless
I was super disappointed in this title. I found the characters either boring, annoying or flat. I am not sure why it got so many good reviews. The only interesting part was the story of one of the characters under Mao's rule in China. But even that was rather stereotypical and touched on all the events popularly written about in other books. Maybe I missed the point, but honestly, it was a slog to finish.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!