Are there any novels by Asian American authors that either don’t have an Asian protagonist or aren’t about being Asian? The only book I’ve read by an Asian American author without an Asian protagonist is Yellowface, but the book was definitely about being Asian.
I don’t know if such a book exists. Please let me able of anything that might come close.
Thanks in advance!
by progfiewjrgu938u938
12 Comments
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro is about a somewhat dystopian near future and AI. Nothing about being asian. He’s not Asian American – he’s British. But I’d assume that is close enough.
Ted Chiang.
Have you seen the movie called Arrival? That’s based on a short story written by him.
A Little Life is the first that comes to mind for me.
Severance by Ling Ma – the protagonist is Asian Amerian but its not about that.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng – I’ve not read this, but judging from the casting of the TV show, if there’s an Asian character it’s not a main plot device.
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F. C. Yee writes the Avatar the Last Airbender novels about Avatars Kyoshi and Yangchen, if you’re into that series.
I don’t think *Sea Change* by Gina Chung is particularly about being Asian from what I can remember.
If you’re OK with British Asian authors, Sangu Mandanna wrote *The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches*. The MC is also Asian British but the ethnicities of the characters are not important to the plot.
Born in China, but raised in USA , as far as I know all of Rebecca Kuang’s novels have Asian themes.
The Chosen and The Beautiful by Nghi Vo is one suggestion. It is The Great Gatsby retold through the eyes of Jordan Baker; professional golfer and friend of Daisy Buchanan. The only Asian reference as far as I can recall is the Jordan is of Asian decent.
Joe Ide’s IQ series, as well as his Marlowe standalone _The Goodbye Coast_. Don’t quote me but I can’t remember any Asian characters in these books.
The Night Tiger and The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo? She was born in the Philippines and identifies as Malaysian. I don’t think those books are about being Asian, but they do depend on lore/mythology in Malaysia.
I think The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee fits this bill.
The Summer I Turned Pretty series by Jenny Han. The main character’s race is never specified (there’s a white girl on at least one version of the cover), though they did make her Asian in the Amazon show.
Are we counting South Asia, and being Asian-Canadian? If so, I recommend Michael Ondaatje.