Lies and Weddings

Kwan (Sex and Vanity) returns with another gossipy tale of riches, privilege, and racism. On the surface, this is the classic story of a titled family seeking to snag nouveau riche money through strategic marriage—even though the high-society heir loves the unwealthy girl next door. The deeper story examines how classism mixes with racism to create a potent self-loathing that can destroy generations. Kwan’s sprawling cast is often ridiculously over the top, but they are shown to be products of their circumstances. Jing Lusi narrates the whole thing, from the omniscient narrator to each side character and even the footnotes in between. Many of Lusi’s voices enhance Kwan’s characterizations and break stereotypes, allowing listeners to glimpse layered personalities beyond the facades. Together, Kwan and Lusi demonstrate the humanizing side of even the petty or villainous characters, ensuring that the novel’s lesson isn’t just that prejudice is harmful but that it’s a trap that limits the world of both perpetrator and victim.