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?

Book Clubs Real Americans BookBrowse Discussion
1

Another theme that appears is that of luck: Lily describes growing up with four-leaf clovers in her family home, and in chapter 2 of May’s segment, May reacts sourly to gifts that she perceives as unlucky. How does this contradict, or even explain, May’s staunch belief in biology and the concept of manufacturing a human being to eliminate genetic diseases and, essentially, create a perfect human specimen?

2

This part of the story was underdeveloped or else I didn’t grasp the full extent of May’s work. What was the purpose in altering the DNA that produced Nick? Neither Lily nor Matthew had serious genetically coded diseases, did they? Was the intent to negate the Chinese code so the child would be more Caucasian? And if so, why would May want this? I’m anxious to read others’ thoughts.

3

@NanK I think that’s why Lily cut off ties with her mom. There was no reason for May to alter Lily’s DNA other than to prove she could. Lily was basically a lab rat. Matthew wasn’t experimented on; it was his older brother (can’t remember his name). They were concerned about him because his mother committed suicide and he was exhibiting similar depressive symptoms. And that’s why May initially felt their experiment was a failure, since Lily ended up being unable to conceive and the brother ended up killing himself anyway.

I was surprised the author didn’t condemn May and Otto more for this. When you think about it, it’s pretty horrific that they would run their experiment on humans. Totally unethical.

1 Like
4

Some of what we believe of luck is part of our individual being, from our relatives and ancestors. 4 leaf clovers is a great example, not walking under a ladder or not giving knives as a gift. We all have these passed on generational and societal luck and disfortune tales in our families and when we hear then and see them as a child, they are ingrained in us, no matter how hard we try to erase. Yes, May and Charles are United States citizens, but their heritage is China, and that cant be erased.

5

I agree as I read this interesting book, I always found myself asking why? Altering Lily’s DNA was very horrific, the very thought of doing it on your own flesh and blood truly disturbed me. Look at what she dd, Lily ending up having trouble in conceiving Nick and Matt lost his brother who ended up killing himself in spite of the change. I, too, found it unethical.