Shawn Wong, in his novel American Knees, explores some of the problems faced by a young Chinese-American as he attempts to work, live and love in the United States. As the book begins, Raymond Ding is being divorced by his wife Darleen, a situation which cuts him off not only from her but from the relative cultural stability his association with her family has previously provided him. Although the book certainly attempts to examine important racial and gender issues, Wong's inconsistency as a writer and his lack of control over his material limit the effectiveness of this important examination.
At times, the book's comic tone produces an almost farcical reality, as in the opening scene which focuses on the divorce and is intended to establish a foundation for what is to follow (11-14). At other times, the discussions about serious issues seem more like seminars among sociological experts than genuine conversation among real people, as in the exchange between Brenda and Aurora about ethnic and gender conflict (101-102). The fact that Wong has Brenda actually ask if the conversation is a "panel discussion" (102) does not diminish the fact that it sounds like just such a panel discussion. And at other times, the author's attempts to write in a brusque style, particularly with regard to sexual relations, comes off as forced or overly earnest (179-181).
These inconsistencies and weaknesses in style and tone weaken the overall impact and confuse the reader as to the writer's intentions. The general effect of the author's clashing styles and tones is a curious authorial detachment which prevents the reader from becoming fully involved in the book, its characters, their relationships, and their embodiment of the ethnic and gender conflicts Wong means to explore. These drawbacks are unfortunate because, again, Wong is examining crucial problems in American society with respect to ethnic and gender bias and misunderstanding. Wong is c...