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The Barbarians Are Coming
The Barbarians Are Coming
Author: David Wong Louie
A stunning depiction of the Chinese-American experience and a deeply affecting novel about fathers and sons from the author of the prizewinning story collection Pangs of Love. — "Louie is elegant, funny, a touch spooky, and he has as fine a hair-trigger control of alienation and absurdity as any of the best of his generation."--Richard Eder, Los ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780965451628
ISBN-10: 0965451623
Publication Date: 2000
Rating:
  • Currently 2.9/5 Stars.
 5

2.9 stars, based on 5 ratings
Publisher: Putnam
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

CocoCee avatar reviewed The Barbarians Are Coming on + 404 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a Chinese-Born American-finding-my-identity sort of book. Funny and a very touching ending.
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paigu avatar reviewed The Barbarians Are Coming on + 120 more book reviews
I would've given this book 5 stars if it had a slightly better ending. However, this book is a true emotional read that dares to address racism and Asian stereotypes. Written from a true Asian-American perspective, this book accurately presents a Chinese male protagonist who struggles against his Asian roots (grows his hair long, dates non-Asians, learns to cook all cuisines except Chinese food, even goes so far as to prefer one son who looks more White to his other more Asian-looking son) but then is forced by his non-Asian supervisors/managers (even his father-in-law) to act "Oriental," or at least what they perceive the word to mean based on television shows, books, and superficial vacations.

I feel David Wong Louie has not earned as much fame and word-of-mouth as Amy Tan, for example, because his (Louie's) style of writing is more direct, sarcastic and bitter. He should definitely be considered one of the strongest voices of modern Asian-American writers.
reviewed The Barbarians Are Coming on + 55 more book reviews
This is an intriguing book with a great story. I enjoyed it very much.
reviewed The Barbarians Are Coming on + 34 more book reviews
A novel of the Chinese-American immigrant experience, seen in the relationship of a father & son.
reviewed The Barbarians Are Coming on + 29 more book reviews
Quirky and it will draw you in!


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