American Knees is an intense comic novel by Shawn Wong that sheds light on the life of a foreigner in America. In the book, Wong describes the life of Raymond, a Chinese American who lives and works in the United States. Raymond takes pride in being Chinese and hates being referred to as a Chinese American. According to him, you are either Chinese or American, but not both.
While attending a friend’s party, Raymond meets Aurora, a half Irish and half Japanese girl. Both Raymond and Aurora feel alienated being the only Asians in the party. After dating for a few weeks, Aurora moves in with Raymond in San Francisco. There she works as a professional photographer for a local newspaper. As the couple gets to know each other, Aurora realizes that Raymond has an issue with identifying himself with more than one origin. After a few fights, Aurora breaks up the relationship.
In writing the book, Wong outlines the burden of identity that comes with being born into or moving to a foreign country particularly the United States. However, Wong refuses to imbue his work with heavy political views and agendas. Instead, he uses a playful and cheesy style of getting his points across. The protagonist in the story, Raymond, is a funny, sensitive, and sardonic character. His relationship with Aurora gives the reader a valuable psychological acumen into the lives of Asians living in America.
