By J. Maarten TroostRated 5 Stars
From: Library
FROM BOOK LIST:
Troost, who entertained readers in The Sex Lives of Cannibals (2004) with tales of life on a South Pacific island, now turns his attention to China. Settled in Sacramento, California, with his wife and two sons, Troost gets restless and floats the idea of moving his family to China. His wife is amenable, so he sets off to scout ahead. What he finds in Beijing is a crowded, smoggy city where something as simple as taking a walk can be a dangerous proposition, given the hazardous traffic. Troost visits one burgeoning industrial city after another, finding immense crowds, odd cuisine, piteous beggars, and masseuses offering sexual favors. He also discovers a country that firmly believes that it's on the edge of something big; in spite of a great divide between poor and rich, China is undergoing a tremendous push toward modernity. Troost's crisp, engaging prose invites the reader to experience his adventures right alongside him. At turns meditative, whimsical, humorous, and shocked, Troost is an excellent guide to the vast, multifaceted country that is modern-day China.
2 comments:
Thanks for posting this great review. I recently listened to the audio version of The Sex Lives of Cannibals and thought it was great. I have Getting Stoned With Savages and Lost on Planet China and can't wait to get to them.
I'm so glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did. Troost is always entertaining and sure gave me an eye-opening view of China.
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