Comment on major theme

Kim explores the idea of the American Dream, and how untenable it can be for some immigrants. The pressure to succeed is enormous, as evidenced by Janine's compulsive goal setting. Janine's angst also stems from being caught between two cultures as she "tries to escape Asian gender stereotyping" and "becomes a cliché: the overachieving Asian geek" (138). She worries that Matt married her because she is Asian and feels inferior at times in the face of white America.