I wanted to savour this book, because it is the third in the trilogy and because I love, love, love Kevin Kwan’s writing, but in the end I couldn’t put it down. Like Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend, Rich People Problems takes the reader back to the wildly luxurious world of the ultra-rich. In this book, Nicholas Young’s grandmother Su Yi is on her deathbed, which draws out the whole Shang-Young clan, each group hoping to inherit the coveted Tyersall Park. Complete with psychotic ex-wives, kidnappings, proposals and exotic destinations, reading this book feels like going on a vacation.
Something for Everyone
There were so many different storylines to follow in this book. In another book, I might have had a hard time keeping up, but in Rich People Problems it ratcheted up the suspense to another level. Just when I’d find out some new information about one storyline, I’d be dropped into another one and it kept me reading. For that reason, I’d say that the narrative structure of this book makes it a quick read.
Fantastic Backdrops
I’m not going to lie. Half of the reason I am addicted to these books is the amazing settings and the jet-setting characters who find themselves flying to Paris on their private planes on a whim. There are so many gorgeous places that the characters visit in this book! In particular, I loved his descriptions of the Indian palace, because they were so precise. I read one of Kevin Kwan’s books, it’s like he’s handing me a round the world ticket, complete with hilarious in-flight entertainment.
Sidebar: there are footnotes!
Apart from the delightful settings, the hilarious characters and the diverse plots, the numerous footnotes add an extra layer of intrigue that creates an immersive reading experience. While I’m not normally a fan of footnotes, since they do momentarily take the reader out of the action and disrupt the flow, in this case I have to say that they were so fascinating that I didn’t mind the brief disruption. Some of the footnotes are so weird and funny, especially the ones that explain crude Hokkien phrases. Apart from creating a conversational feel to the narrative, all of the little details about real places and people adds some great verisimilitude. As I have mentioned before, I am obsessed with verisimilitude.
Read this Book (And Laugh!)
This book made me laugh out loud in a public place. To clarify, I’m a quiet, hide-in-the-corner with my book kind of girl. But this book was so darn funny and sweet and exciting that for a little while, I guess I did become a laugh-out-loud person. This book is so much more than a hilarious summer read. Read Rich People Problems and let yourself be transported to a world of excitement.
Have you read any of Kevin Kwan’s books? Which travel books have you loved?
The Novel Shrink 