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Overall, what did you think of Real Americans? (no spoilers, please!)
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27
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164
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June 23, 2025
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Why do you think May was disappointed in Lily's choice to quit her job at the magazine and financially rely on Matthew in the early years of their relationship?
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21
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81
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June 23, 2025
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In the prologue, May swallows an ancient lotus seed. In what ways did this action affect the course of May's life and, by extension, Lily's and Nick's? Do you think that if she hadn't swallowed the seed, the succeeding events would have transpired?
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8
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46
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June 23, 2025
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Another theme that appears is that of luck. How does May's concept of luck contradict, or even explain, her belief in biology and the concept of manufacturing a human being to eliminate genetic diseases and, essentially, create a perfect human specimen?
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6
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35
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June 23, 2025
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Structure of the novel, Real Americans
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6
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32
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June 23, 2025
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Why do you think Khong decided to write in the perspectives of these three characters? Did you notice any shifts in how they're portrayed among the different segments (e.g., how is May characterized from Lily's perspective versus how May tells her story)?
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13
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42
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June 23, 2025
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Wondering About Matthew
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8
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47
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June 23, 2025
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Toward the end of her segment, Lily promises to give Nick what she didn't receive growing up from her parents. Based on Nick's characteristics, in what ways do you think she achieved that? What are some traits that Nick has that point to Lily's influence?
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6
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29
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June 23, 2025
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Do you think May and Otto's attempts at manipulating genetics were successful? In what ways did their attempts to prioritize Matthew's DNA succeed? What do you think Khong is trying to say here about how a person grows and develops traits?
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10
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48
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June 23, 2025
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Nick recruits Matthew in a scheme to thwart Levi's plans for the startup company. What has Nick learned from his own conception and experiences with Big Pharma that influenced this choice?
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6
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33
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June 23, 2025
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Lily and Nick each experience presuppositions and microaggressions about their identities based on how they look. In what ways do these presuppositions clash with how they perceive themselves? What do you think Khong is saying regarding "Americanness"?
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8
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45
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June 23, 2025
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Lily was raised as an American without much knowledge of Chinese culture. In what ways does she yearn for a greater understanding of her heritage? Do you come from a specific cultural heritage, and if so, how much were educated about it as a child?
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9
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45
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June 23, 2025
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What audience would you recommend Real Americans to? Is there another book or author you’d recommend that you feel has a similar theme or style?
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12
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76
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June 23, 2025
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What differences did you see between Nick's and Sam's upbringings? In what ways does Sam represent the opposite of what Lily and Matthew wanted for Nick? Do you believe Nick sees Sam as the person he would have been if his parents had stayed together?
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11
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37
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June 23, 2025
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A running occurrence in this book involves secrets and lies that, although well intentioned, cause fault lines between family members. Where in the book do you see that trying to manufacture a perfect life leads to deep rifts between parent and child?
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9
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53
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June 23, 2025
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How does the title of the book reflect on real Americans?
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16
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80
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June 23, 2025
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In what ways did growing up in the era of Maoism mobilize May to seek refuge in America? What are the social and political differences between these two specific cultures that might have influenced her choices?
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6
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22
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June 23, 2025
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"To rebel is unjustified. Purge bourgeois thinking, destroy the 4 olds: ideas, custom, havits and culture. Work hard . Work harder." This is might be a reflection of America today. How does this story give us a warning to rise above the noise?
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3
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21
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June 23, 2025
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When Lily visits Beijing, she realizes that she feels foreign even though everyone around her looks like her. Do you feel it’s common for many American-born ethnic minorities to face this kind of identity crisis? How does this mirror Nick's perspective?
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5
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24
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June 23, 2025
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Jenny, Matthew and Lily's maid, instantly builds rapport with May when they meet after Nick's birth. Do you think Lily is jealous of their chemistry, and if so, why?
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16
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46
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June 23, 2025
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By the time he reaches college, Nick has developed a relationship with his father, but later it's clear he breaks off this relationship. Why do you think this occurred, and what were the factors that ultimately made Nick go no-contact with his father?
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14
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65
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June 23, 2025
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How do you think money and socio-economic status effects the characters and their choices (of lack of choices) throughout the novel?
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1
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12
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June 23, 2025
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The lotus flower appears as a symbol of the consistency of time. How does this connect with the three main narrators' desire to manipulate time? In what ways do you think May admires the lotus flower for its inherent characteristics related to time?
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3
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15
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June 23, 2025
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Nick's relationship with father
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3
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20
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June 23, 2025
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In the final chapter, May reflects on her obsession with time. How do Chinese and American cultures differ in their ideologies related to time and productivity? In what ways does life in America perpetuate a future-focused worldview and lifestyle?
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3
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11
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June 23, 2025
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In what ways do you think May regrets obsessing so much over maximizing her time? What kind of life do you believe May would have had without these anxieties over time?
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4
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21
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June 23, 2025
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About the Real Americans by Rachel Khong Discussion category
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2
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28
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June 23, 2025
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