Rich People Problems

The author, Kevin Kwan, reveals much about his characters through the objects that they possess. How are certain characters’ class statuses (e.g., old money versus new money) revealed through their possessions? Why do you think Kwan employs this motif to describe certain characters?

Which character undergoes the most profound evolution? Why? Why do you think other characters remain static and unchanged?

What key points does the novel make about class? How is class status both related and unrelated to money? Explain.

Rich People Problems is a bestselling work of popular fiction. How does it differ from works of literary fiction that similarly deal with class? What devices does it employ that make the novel more digestible to the masses?

Though the author uses international symbols of materialism to exhibit the wealth of his characters (e.g., fashion, vehicles), how does he also present the uniqueness of Singaporean culture—and, particularly, that which is accessible to the wealthy—through his descriptive narrative?

How do the relationships of Nick and Rachel and Astrid and Charlie both correlate with and contrast with that of Su Yi and Jirasit?

Despite the ultramodern and sophisticated lives that the characters lead, they are also traditional and even regressive in their views. Which characters are most exemplary of this tendency and why?

Is Kitty Pong a sympathetic character? Why, or why not?