“Real Americans ” by Rachel Khong
OFF THE SHELF
“Real Americans ” by Rachel Khong
We thoroughly enjoyed Real Americans. We were especially drawn to the novel’s multi-generational structure and the thoughtful exploration of identity, heritage, and the American experience. The characters, particularly Lily and Nick, felt well-developed and relatable.
May (also known as Mei) revealed how her past decisions shaped the lives of her daughter and grandson. Through her experiences, we were invited to consider how the pursuit of progress and the desire to escape one’s past can impact future generations. Only by reading the final phase of Real Americans does one fully understand the emotional weight carried by Lily – how being denied both her true genetic identity and meaningful parental love left her feeling incomplete, possibly too damaged to experience a normal, loving relationship. This added a poignant dimension to her character and deepened our appreciation of the novel’s emotional complexity.
These themes around family legacy and scientific ethics sparked deep discussion in our group. However, we did find some elements of the plot implausible – especially the connection between May and Matt’s father. While we understood the thematic intention behind this link, it felt a bit too coincidental and took us out of the story at times.
Still, the novel provided plenty of material for reflection and conversation, making it a strong choice for us – and we gave it a score of 8/10.