Search - The Dim Sum of All Things

A quick, happy, funny, fun read - Amy Tan lite. A total chick book. I learned a lot about Chinese culture, though, and was impressed toward the end with the author's descriptions of China and Chinese customs.

I held my stomach laughing at some of the situations Lindsey (the main character) gets herself into. Poor girl has the world's worst date. Hands down.

An interesting story about a Chinese-American woman caught between her heritage and her attraction to a "white devil" as her family refers to all Caucasian men.
I really enjoyed this book but disagree with those who call it chick-lit. It had its funny moments, but the seriousness of Lindsey's search for her Chinese roots seemed to me the main theme of the story, not her search for romance.

I enjoyed this book. It made me laugh out-loud at some of the absurdities of our given cultures. I could relate to Lindsey (the main character). I'm Italian and I find it comical when people think are confused because I don't speak like Rocky Balboa (Yo, Adrian!) and I don't have mob connections. Maybe I should just lie! Are we really like our stereotypes? Kim Wong Keltner pokes fun at her culture and at people who think all Asian little girls should like Hello Kitty.

This book is a fun little romp with a Lindsey Owyang, a Chinese American girl who grew up in SF Chinatown. She suffers the trial and tribulation (and joys) of work, dating white guys, Asian guys, friends, family, and city life. If you are interested in Asian culture it is a fun read, you get to see the main character's perspective on life and her own conflicts with her heritage and fitting in with her Chinese kin while really feeling like a typical white girl on the inside. Dim Sum of all things is amusing most of the time and sometimes touching as well.

I actually read the second book 'Buddha Baby' before I found this book and I still think I liked the second book more than the first one. I would recommend that as a great read even if you never read Dim Sum.

This book is ostensibly about Lindsey's (an ABC = American-born Chinese) inner journey from her trying to fit into American culture to finally accepting her heritage. Too bad that she comes across as a spoiled Chinese "princess". For the most part the book sounds like the diary of an adolescent girl's crush on a "white devil". The book is full of stereotypes. Given Lindsey's behaviour, it is rather inexplicable why her object of desire is attracted to her. The writing sounds rather immature, and dialogs are often stilted, with many non-sequiturs.

The only parts of the book where the writing improves is towards the end when the author describes her trip to China and a drive through the San Francisco Bay Area countryside - both of which help Lindsey come to terms with her Chinese roots. Unfortunately, and contrary to what you would expect from the questions on the book's back cover, it is not very amusing at all, because it is too contrived.

Very cute book, makes you appreciate and think about your own heritage.