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Overall, what did you think of Real Americans? (no spoilers, please!)
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25
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109
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May 29, 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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20
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73
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May 29, 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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7
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36
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May 29, 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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5
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30
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May 29, 2025
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Structure of the novel, Real Americans
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5
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25
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May 29, 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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12
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42
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May 10, 2025
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Wondering About Matthew
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7
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42
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May 9, 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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5
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26
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May 9, 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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9
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42
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May 9, 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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5
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23
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April 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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7
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44
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April 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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8
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33
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April 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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11
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52
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April 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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10
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28
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April 22, 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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8
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50
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April 22, 2025
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How does the title of the book reflect on real Americans?
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15
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60
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April 22, 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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5
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20
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April 22, 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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2
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20
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April 21, 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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4
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24
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April 21, 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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15
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46
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April 21, 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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13
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59
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April 14, 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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0
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12
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April 14, 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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2
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10
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April 13, 2025
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Nick's relationship with father
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2
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13
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April 10, 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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2
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10
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April 5, 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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3
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10
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April 5, 2025
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About the Real Americans by Rachel Khong Discussion category
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1
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25
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April 18, 2025
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