In Shanghai

by Petra Quaedvlieg
2009, China

I received this book last Saturday as a gift to take with me to China, but somehow I already finished it before ;-). So I guess it didn't make it into my suitcase lol.

It's a recent book about life in Shanghai which makes it rather interesting for me to read. I was not completely hooked by the writer's style but as she did have quite some interesting bits to tell I loved reading it anyway.

I must say I already recognized a lot from what she told about Shanghai but got to learn some new aspects of life in Shanghai as well (some positive and some making me nervous ;-).

What makes this book very interesting to me are the meetings with Chinese women who lived all around the world and who - for various reasons - have come back to China to live there - temporarily or more permanent. We get to know these women and their luggage. How they lived in China before and why they left, their feelings (positive and negative) at their return 'back home'. Very intriguing stories.

Besides these stories you get to know more about life in Shanghai for Quaedvlieg herself, a foreigner to the Chinese country and culture who doesn't have any Chinese luggage before arriving. She tells about her struggles and likings and how she reflects life in China.

All in all I liked reading this book in preparation for my Chinese chapter in life.

Leaving Mother Lake

Land van de dochters

by Yang Erche Namu

written down by Christine Mathieu

2002/2008, China

A fascinating story about the Moso people, one of China's minority groups, living in south west China. There where the women dominate and daughters are most important. The women don't have husbands (but so called 'walking marriages') and lead a different life than the ordinary 'picture perfect'.

Namu's voice has been interpreted by Mathieu, which gives it a subjective point of view of course, but I must say it still is quite believable as memoir.

The Moso people have a unique matrilinear culture which sounds intriguing enough in itself; Besides this the reader will learn all about Namu's journey through life from her childhood to her coming of age and her eagerness to get to know the big wide world outside her own culture and leaves it to become a famous singer.

I found the story absolutely fascinating because you learn so much about yet another piece of Chinese culture. It's a very interesting biography which makes me longing to know more about it and I might even try to visit this part of China one day.

Factory Girls

Fabrieksmeisjes

by Leslie T. Chang

2008, China/USA

Very impressive book and a real page turner!

I already knew a bit about the factory girls as the husband visited several factories like that and I heard about the enormous amounts (> 50.000 is very well possible) of girls working and living there. It was very intriguing to get a more inside look on it through this book.

I think the writer did do great research in the lives of the factory girls. She brings this unknown world so close! And therefore it gives an intimate look into a life most western people didn't even know it would exist.

Young girls from rural China migrate to the cities to go working. Most of them without education, no experience whatsoever, changing jobs like clothes to get a better one. They take risks, make friends but loose them again once they go, they rely on their mobile phones completely and struggle day by day through work, family relations and expectations and the future. But they also enjoy their freedom in the city, away from traditional life with the many obligations and learning through life and education. So it's a complex world.

Developments in China go incredibly fast and things are changing all the time. This book definitely gives great insight in this particular side of Chinese culture. And I found myself very hungry to read the words in this book! So interesting!

Eat Pray Love

by Elizabeth Gilbert

2006/2007, UK

I *loved* it! From beginning to end! Of course I know not everyone has the chance to live life like that but it's a book that gets you thinking...

The book is divided in three parts: Italy (eat), India (pray) and Indonesia (love). It's about the writer's journey through life after divorce, when she starts looking for the things she missed in life sofar: pleasure, devotion and balance.

She travels to Rome where she spends some months learning Italian and enjoying the food. I recognized a lot in her Italian stories. In my early twenties I had my own French in France experience so I did smile a lot about her report. I loved how she loosened up and learned to enjoy life the Italian way.

She goes to an ashram in India where it's her daily task to scrub floors and to meditate. I'm not great at meditating, but then again I think we just should take or make some time for it. I think it can give a lot of inspiration. Her spiritual journey was an interesting one to follow.

And after that she travels to Indonesia to look for a medicine man who once had invited her to come and learn from him. I thought...why would you believe his invitation. Kind of found it stupid and naive to search for him after all those years without even knowing him all that well. But I must say it was rewarding after all...they did learn from eachother and she really had to find (and found) her balance in life.

All in all it's a book I read impatiently but at the same time I had to put it away several times to think about the struggles she has and the steps she takes, the things she learns during her journey. It was intriguing and I recognized a lot. I loved the depth in the book - which I had not expected - and I like reading about inward journeys... very inspirational!

I'm already curious to her other works!

Lucky girls

by Nell Freudenberger

2003/2005, USA

Of course the cover of this book was the first thing that draw my attention...

The book contains a number of short stories. I'm not an avid reader of short stories...prefer a longer one in which I can completely absorb myself, but the setting in Asia made me eager to give it a try.

The stories are good in itself... I enjoyed reading them and I found myself liking the characters and wanting to get to know them better. So the writer definitely knows how to build up a character. What annoyed me was that the endings of the stories were a bit out of nowhere and in that way it kept being a bit shallow. So for me it could have been worked out more.

The last story could not really hold my attention, my mind kept wandering which was disappointing as it is what the book ends with. In that way it wasn't one of those books of which you are sorry that it is finished ;-).

All in all I'm not totally convinced of this writer yet, but am curious to her second book which apparently is based on her Chinese travel experiences.

The HEMA is the only thing I miss

Ik mis alleen de HEMA

by Manon Sikkel & Marion Witter

2006 , Netherlands

Loved reading this book. I read it for the first time a few years ago as I bought it for my girlfriend who emigrated to Australia at that time. As it was my second girlfriend who moved to another country I was interested in the stories of emigrants and bought one for myself as well.

Decided to read it again because of our own removal coming up soon. I thought it would be different to read it again with that in mind. And it is.

The HEMA is a low-budget chain of department stores here in the Netherlands. And most Dutch are very fond of it. And apparently it's the only thing one would miss when moving abroad. I don't know yet, still have to find out that one ;-).

The book contains stories from people who did move to another country with or without happy endings. It's very interesting to read their reports. Reading some stories I couldn't help thinking why on earth did they undertake this adventure in the first place? but then again maybe people will think that about us as well ;-), but when reading other stories I felt like going away immediately.

Besides the stories there is a part with emigration information and links. I think the book comes in very handy when having plans to move abroad. Even when it's to a neighbour country like Belgium, because apparently this turned out to be one of the most difficult removals in the book. The one you would think it would be the easiest one because it's just around the corner ;-).

Three men and one woman

Drie mannen en een vrouw

by Maira Papathanassopoulou

2000/2006, Greece

When you feel like a little chicklit in between this is a lovely book. I read it in my hammock in between some China preparation and I felt like some light reading. It is!

The story in itself is an interesting one, but seen afterwards I would have chosen the English version instead of the Dutch as I didn't like the translation so much.

Her first book Judas was a great kisser impressed me and that's why I choose her next book. Must say this one was a little more shallow and therefore a bit weak to my opinion. Even for a chicklit. So I was a tad bit disappointed.

Ah well, an easy summer read, just perfect for in the hammock!