Customer Reviews

Dress Like a Boy

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I love this book. I'm not Asian American, but I bought this book out of a friend's recommendation from the bay area. I was looking for a smart gay novel to read, and it blew me away.

There's quite a bit of gay sex (well, I'm gay and I find it quite exciting) in the book, but it's not really about sex. The novel deals with a poignant sense of profound loss and desire... somewhat tragic.

I'm sort of from the same generation of the writer (or the protagonist at least) and it's very nostalgic. I look forward to Mr. Lee's next novel : ) Definitely a fan.

Quentin Lee, film director of, "Flow", "Shopping For Fangs", and, "Drift", has crafted an powerful first novel with, "Dress Like A Boy". The story is about a student at U.C. Berkeley, who is Gay and Asian. It is a complex tale involving Edward Ng, a native of Hong Kong, and the relationships that he has with his openly bisexual boyfriend, his closeted bisexual cousin, and various other family members and friends. The novel weaves back and forth between the present and the past, and Hong Kong and the United States to help explain why Edward Ng gets involved with, and then remains in a number of complex relationships. The author is also somehow able to tell his story in a way that would enlighten someone unfamiliar with the experiences of Gay Asian men, but in way that might also help to empower a Gay Asian reader of the work. Edward Ng is insecure, and thus he does come off as heroic, but that is explained by his restrictive and unsupportive upbringing, and the fact that he is Asian in a society that does not make much room for anyone who is not White. In the end the main character rises up like a phoenix, although meekly, realistically, and humorously from the wreckage of his life. I had expected Quentin Lee to conclude his tale like Charles Webb had done in his novel, "The Graduate", but instead chooses to keep his tale fresh and original. Having finished a novel that I could not put down, I smiled remembering that this was Lee's first work, and that more would likely come! ...

This book was a present from two friends. One who wrote this fine book (who I'd love to meet one day and get it signed) and the one who gave it to me. At first I wasn't interested in reading it, but while trapped on a plane with a talkative passenger, I ripped into Dress Like a Boy. I was moved. I can believe this is suppose to be the authors first novel. He captures a moment in time that feels as if I was living through it with the character. Vivid. Funny. Sad. I highly recommend this to all my friends, but they can't borrow my copy.

From the moment i started the first page, I became hooked. The book is so well written, and so touching for all of us who've ever felt a sense of alienation with the world. I couldn't put the book down for the two short days that I was reading the book. A truly awesome book, one of the most memorable that I've ever read. If only I had enough literary skills to put into words the emotions it brought out in me.

there is a lot of sex in the book. obviously the writer wants to sell "oriental" sex. but paradoxically, the sex scenes are not sexy enough. often they even make me yawn. maybe this book needs more psychological depth to become more sexy? anyway, i hope the writers at large can know that they cannot depend on sex sepectacles only.

This books reminds me of the tedious Asian American cliche, except that it is gay-themed. Nevertheless, meanwhile, this gay book also reminds me of all the cliche gay novels we find everywhere. Kind of embarrassing/embarrassed position for the book: not gay enough, and also too gay at the same time. Somehow this book is another clone among the gay market. Maybe the rice queens will get thrilled by this book. But any serious reader will be irritated by the pretentious tone and style of the book. The writer tries to be smart in grammar, but it is not a big deal. Repetition of some word choices is also alarming and annoying. (By the way, as a Berkeley student, I loathe how the book SELLS Berkeley's halo. So snobbish)

Dress Like a Boy have been writen by my BROTHER. I am so PROUD of him. =) KEEP IT UP BRO! =)))

This book is superficial. Trying to make out much from little. Yet how can one milk a thin book that much? Also, iUniverse is really having something wrong with bounding. The books from it are not solid enough.

i am not talking about the quality of the contents of the book. i am talking about the book as a book. in terms of art design, printing, and BINDING, this book is terrible. i dont know why this publishing house is so under-qualified. the BINDING of the book is especially awful. the pages fall off so easily.