Linny tells Nancy about her latest acting gig – this one a feature film being made outside Washington, DC, titled WHEN FATAL ATTRACTION HITS HOME. Linny was in a courtroom scene. She sat behind the defendant. Linny met a fellow extra who did work on Netflix’s HOUSE OF CARDS, a favorite of both Linny and Nancy. Linny says when she is watching movies, now, she is more attentive of the extras in the background. Linny describes her experiences with wardrobe and makeup. Linny muses that she may get an agent someday and try to get some speaking parts. At this latest gig, Linny met a fellow extra who was supporting her sister who had a speaking role. Linny and Nancy hatch a plan to go to NYC and spend a day being extras. This month we’re talking about CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwan. This is basically a romantic comedy. Rachel is an economics prof and her boyfriend Nick is a history prof at NYU. When Nick invites Rachel to accompany him on a trip back to Singapore where he’ll be best man at his friend’s wedding, Rachel finds out Nick is not just wealthy, but crazy rich. So rich, other rich people haven’t heard about him. Rachel is faced with culture shock, jealousy, prejudice, suspicion, and betrayal as she tries to figure out whether Nick is still the man of her dreams. Linda says this is definitely a beach read type of book. We get love but we also get a lot of glitz and glamour about how the one-percenters live. In the opening chapter, Nick’s mom impulsively buys a hotel when the staff don’t welcome them. Nancy asks Linny, since she loves a good romance, whether this is the kind of book she might typically pick up. Linny says, no, because she typically reads boys meets girl and the conclusion is that they get together. In CRAZY RICH ASIANS, Rachel and Nick are already a serious couple when we meet them. Linny said it was an enjoyable book for her to read, especially given we were in the middle of the Biafran War last month! Nancy says she did not super enjoy the book because there wasn’t enough of a plot and character development for her. It resolves too easily for her. She thought most of the characters were superficial and who spent obscene amounts of money on meaningless things that could be better spent. Linny says the estrangement was very brief and at the very end of the book. Linny notes we are seeing this great wealth through Rachel’s eyes, and it is crazy to her. There was a lot of classism and racism. These often came from protecting the family-oriented empire. Nancy did like how the author played with the notion of marrying for love and the different types of love and love troubles. Nick’s beloved cousin, Astrid, has a troubled relationship with her husband, Michael who the family belittles because he comes from a humble/middle-class background. There is also cousin Eddie who is dating a soap opera actress. Nick’s best friend, Colin, is marrying Araminta Lee who, although wealthy, is not as wealthy as Colin’s family and there are cracks in their relationship, too. Nancy also notes another difficult relationship is Nick’s parents and his marrying “down” to her. Linny says not all the characters are driven by money. Nick’s dad lives in Australia and lives a simple life. Nancy mentions that this book is a satire and we are supposed to find the story and characters ridiculous. They are outsized characters doing outsized things. Linny says she can see wanting to approve her son’s spouse. Linny says she understands the desire for arranged marriages, not that she’s endorsing them! Linda notes that women are the manipulators and movers and schemers in this book. Nancy said most of the men seem to be immune to concerns about Rachel. As they talk about this, Nancy realizes what she disliked about the book was this trope about scheming and jealous women. Linny notes not all the women are this way. Araminta and Peik Lee both like Rachel for who she is.