My Year Abroad | 
So far, it‘s been a real chore to read. I‘ve been trying too hard to understand all of the details in each paragraph, not always being successful. *sigh*
I‘m getting disappointed in this story.
I‘m having some difficulty with this novel. This book seems overwritten. There is so much verbiage tucked into every paragraph that I find it hard to concentrate on the more general story. I like the simpler, earlier novels of this author so much better than this one. I‘m going to continue...and see where this story takes me. I hope I‘m not disappointed.
So I started this book last night. I totally forgot how much I love this author‘s writing. He squeezes so much into every paragraph. He was writing about a town called Dunbar Village, which to me seemed an exact replica of the town of Princeton, New Jersey, even with its gelato store. I had to look this information up, but, yes, Chang Rae Lee, did once teach at Princeton University. Aha!
I found this at the library today. I actually spent some time there, masked, of course. I grabbed this new book because I like this author. I felt sad, though, at how empty the library is these days. :(
pickHere's a sample of my inner voice while reading this: 'wow!amazing!...erm.what?ok...WTF!?...brilliant!...hm where is this going?...W.T.ACTUAL.F just happened!?'
Lee is a beautiful & brutal writer & there is no one better at capturing a certain flavor of 21st century experience. But oh boy, there's A LOT to unpack here. Whiteness, masculinity (& white masculinity), orientalism & particularly Asia as a stage for adventure & 'finding yourself.'
pickI loved this apprentice story. The plot structure pulled me in, and the characters were amazing. I was completely enthralled with this book.
pickLiked but did not love this novel about a young (White, American) man who accepts a haphazard job offer from a wealthy and eccentric Chinese man, and ends up doing work he never imagined (both good and bad) around Asia.
I was on a book buying ban.
so-soThis one just didn‘t work for me. Some of the writing is lovely and pieces of the story are riveting. But overall, it seems to just go on and on rather pointlessly. My mind kept wandering and, even though I just finished it a few hours ago, I barely remember it. A small annoyance is also that the audio reader went with “hick” for any regional US accent, and that just isn‘t accurate.
pickThe young Tiller is mesmerized by businessman Pong. The feeling seems mutual and Pong takes him on a business trip to #China. A second storyline is set afterwards, while Tiller is living with a woman under witness protection and her young son. Unfortunately the book didn‘t grab me as much as I expected to. In parts it‘s brilliant but it is sooo long. The endings of both storylines are memorable though!
#Indiespensable #ReadingAsia2021 🇨🇳
pickFantastic book, very funny, until suddenly it wasn‘t. Lee has such a stunning way with words - I laughed out loud at his quips more than anything I‘ve read in years. A fresh and vibrant take on the Bildungsroman, that genre that never gets old.
pickThe beginning of the mentorship of Tiller by Pong was completely riveting!! Through the middle, when they were in China, parts were incredibly striking in their imagery, but other parts were a bit dull. The ending was unexpected, violent, and memorable.
The parallel timeline where Tiller was living with Val and Victor after returning from China...in some ways, it‘s the perfect foil, but was it needed? 🤔
Fascinating #audiobook! 4⭐️
I‘m a little over ⅓ in to this novel that I‘m finding wonderfully complex and thoughtful. In one timeline (the advertised one), Tiller is taken in by Pong, a very savvy Chinese chemist/businessman. (They are just now making it to Asia.) In the other timeline (after returning from Asia), he is living with a woman and son who are in witness protection. I‘m excited to continue learning how it all comes together. I think you‘ll enjoy this @BarbaraBB !
From Parnassus Books: ⭐Book Love in the Air: 18 Bookseller Favorites for February ⭐
https://parnassusmusing.net/2021/02/03/staff-picks-february-2021/
I am excited for the tagged book, which is not in my usual choice profile, which I'll be receiving from the February First Editions Club.
Book idea for #readingasia2021 about travels across Asia
Read excerpts here: https://lithub.com/my-year-abroad/
Taking a chance on a new narrator with this preorder! 😬🎧
As far as #readingasia2021, the author is South Korean, but from what I‘ve read, the book takes place in a few Asian countries.
And for you print readers, this is Powell‘s February indiespensible. 👍🏻📚
2/2 is going to be a good day...two new release preorders and #bookspin!
