Daren
A novella from New Zealand author FE Beyer, his third major publication, this time set in early 2000s Shanghai. The story takes place over a short period (a month perhaps) following protagonist Kurt - a 24 year old Australian teaching English as a second language.
While I have not participated in the experience of teaching English as an ex-pat, this reads as a very authentic descriptions of that life - the isolation factor, minor debauchery, Chinese girlfriends, the repetition of teaching life, the expat community.
As the blurb outlines, when his friend and fellow teacher Reece abruptly leaves Shanghai for Indonesia, Kurt takes over his apartment, and inherits his Chinese girlfriend. While she is convenient, she comes with her own problems which threaten to also become inherited. Kurt is also juggling his discomfort at not being an interesting enough teacher, and his guilt at visiting 'hairdressers'.
Very good.
4 stars
A novella from New Zealand author FE Beyer, his third major publication, this time set in early 2000s Shanghai. The story takes place over a short period (a month perhaps) following protagonist Kurt - a 24 year old Australian teaching English as a second language.
While I have not participated in the experience of teaching English as an ex-pat, this reads as a very authentic descriptions of that life - the isolation factor, minor debauchery, Chinese girlfriends, the repetition of teaching life, the expat community.
As the blurb outlines, when his friend and fellow teacher Reece abruptly leaves Shanghai for Indonesia, Kurt takes over his apartment, and inherits his Chinese girlfriend. While she is convenient, she comes with her own problems which threaten to also become inherited. Kurt is also juggling his discomfort at not being an interesting enough teacher, and his guilt at visiting 'hairdressers'.
Very good.
4 stars