Beth reads fiction!! Chick lit/culture clash

I don't read fiction a whole lot, except for cozy mysteries. But occasionally I venture in to other kinds of fiction. Recently I read a book that I'd call "chick lit." Broadly speaking, the subgenre features women in their 20's and 30's, and chronicles their adventures in love and careers. They're breezy and humorous. Think Bridget Jones Diary. Oh, and they often have bright pink covers.

In Full Bloom by Caroline Hwang (New York: Dutton, c2003) was recommended to me by a friend who knew I was interested in reading about culture clashes/children of immigrants. The protangonist, Ginger Lee, is a second generation Korean-American who's recently quit grad school (at UW-Madison, no less) and is now working as a secretary for a friend who's an editor at a fashion magazine. Ginger's mother arrives from Milwaukee one day, unannounced, to help find Ginger a husband, preferably a Korean husband. Meanwhile, Ginger is pulled into a power struggle at work.

What initially intrigued me about the book was the work setting at a fashion magazine. Some of those behind the scenes details were interesting, but what I liked much more was the relationship between mother and daughter, and the humor in the book. I think Ginger's experiences as a daughter of immigrants also distinguish the book a bit. Ginger is far from the perfect feminist heroine, but the book does raise some interesting issues, as well as make you laugh.

Okay, spoiler alert: don't read this till you've read the book.
So, Ginger is more passive than she ever realizes, even to the end when she's gained some spunk. She's far from consistent. However, these are the aspects of her character I could really relate to! The aftermath of the reunion with her brother is glossed over--maybe Hwang's saving that for a sequel?? The machinations at the office were hard to follow at times. Overall, though, this was a fun and sometimes moving read.