This is the kind of book that requires a delicate balance between preachiness and storyline. Obviously, the book is designed to explore racial issues, so there will be a certain amount of exposition on those issues. But in this first chapter, I couldn't help but feel that the author hadn't quite worked out the balance between including those issues while maintaining the flow of the story. The reader spends a lot of time in Raj's head while he passes judgment on everyone that comes before him, while simultaneously feeling that judgment is being passed on him. Isn't it just as possible that people don't like him because he's sort of a judgmental asshole rather than based on his race?