I think I saw this book mentioned in a magazine. The Amazon review says it's funny. I'm a bit tempted now. Esp. since I see it's written by a Kevin Kwan and set in Singapore and involves palaces, yet the review says it's about Mainland and ABC Chinese.
I mean to be quite honest, when *I* think about Chinese - I think about people trying to ward off the tax collector by wearing moth-eaten grey sweaters and then just heaping on their diamonds, jade, and gold over the moth sweaters for weddings... which appalled my grandma's delicate sensibilities. No Family Associations for her...
