bigWOWO Rating: Asian American Gold
We often talk about the publishing industry on this site: how mainstream publishers kill good stories, whitewash the literary scene, and edge out the edgier stories created by newer literary talent. It’s very true–notice that whenever interviewers ask writers who they admire, it’s always the same old crowd–Alice Munro, James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, etc. Not that these authors aren’t good–they are–but there seems to be a gravitation towards sameness and conformity and emulation of the same people. It’s a strange trend for an industry that relies on people who are supposedly good at creative writing.
But hope should not be lost. If you’re tired of sameness, you have to check out This is a Bust by Ed Lin.
First, the book itself feels subversive. It’s softcover, and the front cover is an old sepia tone of Chinatown, while the back cover has a picture of a Chinese mural. There are cartoon drawings of communists throughout the book, and the font looks like Arial–a font you would expect to see in an underground tract from back in the pre-internet days when revolutionaries typed up political treatises on 8×11 paper, fastened them with a staple, and called it a book. I bought my copy at Powells, where the saleslady directed me to the back corner to a section called “Small Press.” I felt so subversive while buying it that I almost stole it (joke yo!).
Beyond the physical product was content that was as subversive as anything I’ve seen in modern Asian American literature. The story is about a cop named Robert Chow, a 25 year old Vietnam Vet, whose career is sidetracked by a police department that prefers that their one Chinese American cop act as a community spokesperson rather than a law enforcement official. Chow struggles to be taken seriously, as he sees and yearns to fight real crime in the NYC Chinatown neighborhood where he lives. While trying to improve his career path, Chow also struggles with PTSD, alcoholism, cultural issues, and finding love.
What I liked best about this novel was the colorful picture of Chinatown with all the great characters and storylines. 1976 was a tumultuous time in world politics with the growing power of China and the end of the Vietnam War, and it was exciting for people of Chinese/Asian descent who were about to see a new world order. I absolutely loved Ed Lin’s portrayal of the diversity within those few blocks of NYC Chinatown. His characters rise above and make their voices heard. I loved the complexity of the people–no one was a stereotype. And yes, there was an AF/AM coupling, a coupling that felt real and seemed to be more than just window dressing. The characters knew each other, and we knew them.
If you’re looking for a book that will stretch your imagination and make a break from the mainstream, check out This is a Bust. It’s an exciting mystery/detective story told by a talented new author, and any Asian American reader looking for a story that breaks the mold will enjoy the diverse new characters and storylines that Ed Lin creates.
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But here is an...
I agree with everything you said. About #1…I think...
bigwowow, thank you so much for your kind words about ‘this is a bust.’
i hope ‘snakes can’t run’ won’t disappoint!
Sure thing, Ed, thanks for writing your books and being such a driving force in Asian American literature. “Snakes Can’t Run” is next on my list, and I’m looking forward to it.