Reviews

• The most significant book to read in order to understand the Asian American movement

  I deem I-Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita as the one novel to read if you want to understand the foundation of Asian America—its culture and art, its politics and aspirations. This book pushes aesthetic boundaries as seen in form, and it innovates in its delivery on every level. I would make this required reading for Asian American Studies and stick this on a university level American Literature syllabus. It’s fun! It’s cool. It’s cinematic. There’s something for everyone. This. Is. Art. For my fellow Asian Americans who missed Asian American studies class (there was no class, you couldn’t be bothered, your parents wanted you to be more practical, you felt socially rejected by the guy who was the Asian American Studies cool person, this is your go-to one book you should read now…and in doing so, you can gain some cool points). This is the story of how and why Asian America came into being, how Asian people began to construct an American identity. Yamashita chronicles the cultural moment when Asian Americans declared themselves part of the creative American project and galvanized their communities, built alliances across ethnicities and races, and paved the way for our existence today. What you’ll find and understand—the how and whys of the Black Asian alliance, class struggle and belonging, the manong, communism, food, film, dance, global organization, performance art, jazz, the questions of gender, and romance and all the while asking: how do we belong? I did a dissertation chapter on this book. I believe it to be one of the most significant novels written by an Asian American for its aesthetics, form, and content, and predict that this will be one of the books that will be read in the decades to come. It is ahead of its time. Read it now.

• Good read, but you have to commit to it.

  Great book - it's slightly episodic, because it ties the themes together in a way that's not primarily narrative-driven, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the read. The writing is, dare I say, sexy - it drags a little in the latter part, but the characters and events described are all very enticing.

• I wish this book had won the National Book Award instead of just being a finalist.

  Wow. What an ambitious and massive and mind-altering work. It wasn't an easy book to read, and there were moments I wasn't sure she was going to pull it all together, even though I'd already decided I was along for the whole ride and was going to give her a shot. Boy, did she pull it together. I am sure this book means different things to different readers, but for me it became "about" the elderly Filipino migrant workers--the ones Yamashita mentions in her author's note--who, because of immigration quotas, racism, and available labor, really have no one but one another and no home but the one they're being forced from. But the myriad tiny side stories are so often and so deeply affecting. I know it is a heavy book, but I wish I could put it in everybody's hands and invite them to think closely about what it means to be American.

• Wonderful Book!!!!

  I love this book!!!!

• I Hotel Review

  I was so disappointed because I was supposed to read this for my book club and can't remember when I literally could not get through the first chapter of a book I disliked it so much. I live in San Francisco, travel a great deal internationally and was really looking forward to this, based on what I'd heard - what a waste of money! Thank goodness I didn't pay full price but still made me sorry I don't go to the library like most of my friends! We haven't had our meeting for this book yet (this month) but I've spoken / heard from at least three other members who had the same experience - it's going to be interesting "reviewing" a highly acclaimed book no one could manage to read.

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