5 Great Books by Hong Kong Authors
10-5-16
Just like you should support Hong Kong's local artists, you should do your best to support Hong Kong's writers. There are several voices that have written unique and captivating reads that you should definitely check out. We highly recommend these books and lucky for you, most of them are also available in e-book, for those that need Kindle reads for their summer vacations.
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The Queen of Statue Square edited by Marshall Moore and Xu Xi
What does it mean to be a ‘Hong Kong person’? Once a British colony, now a semi- autonomous Special Administrative Region of China, Hong Kong is something of a mystery even to itself. In this collection of short stories, eight writers explore the questions of what it means to be in and from Hong Kong. They also explore HK's past, present and future...
Irreverent Poems for Pretentious People by Henrik Hoeg
Hoeg's debut collection of poems ranges from sardonically humorous to genuinely moving. The collection plays fast and loose with both language and form as it explores, among other things, linguistics, history, relationships and the absurd. It was awarded a publication prize in the competition for the International Proverse Prize 2015. Henrik's wit and wordsmithing shouldn't be missed.
Gweilo by Martin Booth
Martin Booth found himself with the whole of Hong Kong at his feet when his father was posted there in the early 1950s. Unrestricted by parental control and blessed with bright blond hair that signified good luck to the Chinese, he had free access to hidden corners of the colony normally closed a small child. Befriending rickshaw drivers and stallholders, he learnt Cantonese, sampled delicacies such as boiled water beetles and one-hundred-year-old eggs, and participated in colourful festivals. He even entered the forbidden Kowloon Walled City in this moving memoir that recently became a stage play.
The Expatriates: A Novel by Janice Y.K. Lee
After her smash success, The Piano Teacher, Lee explores the complex world of #expatproblems. Mercy, a young Korean American and recent Columbia graduate, is adrift after a terrible accident. Hilary, a wealthy housewife, is haunted by her struggle to have a child. Meanwhile, Margaret, once a happily married mother of three, questions her maternal identity in the wake of a shattering loss. E ach woman struggles with her own demons and their lives collide. Atmospheric, moving, and utterly compelling, The Expatriates confirms Lee as an exceptional talent and one of our keenest observers of women’s inner lives.
Lulu the Hong Kong Cat by Ellen WY Leou
We wanted to recommend this book as it is one of our favorite children's books set in HK about an adorable cat named Lulu, who escapes the apartment and goes on an adventure. Unfortunately, the book is out of print on Amazon, but we found out if you contact the author at her personal website she's happy to help you find a copy. There are still a few copies of the first Lulu book available in Bookazine at the Prince's Building. (We saw it last week!)
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