Ninety-nine years of colonial rule are ending as the British prepare to hand over Hong Kong to China. For Betty Mullard and her son, Bunt, it doesn...
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reviews
Sep 27, 2011
Patrick
rated it: 
Paul Theroux’s Hong Kong handover novel Kowloon Tong is a bit of a satire, a bit of an allegory, and a bit of a thriller. Well, it’s not much of any of these things, hence my dissatisfaction with it. I wish he would have taken any of these possible motifs and developed them more fully. And, to be honest, it wasn’t much of a thriller, there's no resolution. I don’t think it was as good as his other fictional efforts like My Secret History and My Other Self. Nor does it have the energy or life of
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Dec 12, 2010
Jim
rated it: 
Why do I think that Theroux, in naming his lead character "Bunt", was one letter away from what he really wanted to call him? And I don't mean "Dunt". This novel was Theroux's take on the handover of Hong Kong to China from the British. Basically, the story was about how we've been shagging the colony for years, exploited her citizens, pissed on her culture and wished we'd made it Southend on Sea. Now we were faced with an unsmiling, brutish, military regime who'd tolerate no
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Aug 07, 2011
The theme of our recent reading group meeting was books set in HK, so I thought I'd use this as an excuse to read some of Theroux's fiction. It was not a fantastic book, but overall I quite enjoyed it. The characters are unattractive and some quite sinister. It paints an interesting picture of the mood of HK at the time of handover - difficult to imagine it from the standpoint of HK now. I tend to enjoy Theroux's writing regardless of whether the subject matter is to my taste or not, and this wa
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Jul 20, 2011
Sophie
rated it:
There's a great story in here, but the telling doesn't seem to do it justice. Reviewers have described it as a thriller. It certainly could have been: it has greed, violence, mysterious disappearances and an exotic setting to boot. Why then did I not feel thrilled at any point during the reading of it? Where was the tension and suspense? On the plus side, some of the psychology is very well-observed, and I have found myself thinking about it since finishing reading it - perhaps the aftertaste is
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Oct 31, 2010
Ed
rated it:
Ultimately a disappointment, this novel started fast and petered out with an ending that challenged believability.
I rated it as high as I did because the writing and descriptions were up to Theroux's standards. The plot, however, leaves a lot to be desired.
The characters are somewhat stereotyped but not as badly as some other reviewers thought. They are more likely composites, created to emphasize their failings.
I have met ex-pats who refuse to eat Chine More...
I rated it as high as I did because the writing and descriptions were up to Theroux's standards. The plot, however, leaves a lot to be desired.
The characters are somewhat stereotyped but not as badly as some other reviewers thought. They are more likely composites, created to emphasize their failings.
I have met ex-pats who refuse to eat Chine More...
Mar 29, 2011
William
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 31, 2008
Ami
rated it:
Not at all a bad read. Interestingly enough, I was in Hong Kong in 1996, before the "Chinese take-away", as Theroux refers to it in the book. The story was a quick, easy read and didn't get boring. However, my problems with this book stem from the fact that (1) Theroux naively attempts to explain a culture that is foreign to him and thus makes overgeneralizing statements that end up trivializing the culture he sets out to explain and share and (2) I felt it was a bit too similar to the
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Jan 04, 2009
Aaron
rated it: 
This was a good one. Nice depiction of privilege, Hong Kong underbelly and the rise of China relative to the old colonial ways.
Apr 19, 2011
Nivedita
rated it:
Reminded me vaguely of Confederacy of Dunces. Well written, but left me disturbed with a sour aftertaste and too many unanswered questions.
Aug 30, 2009
Gesmer
rated it:
Sad, tragic and bizarre - agree with comments on the somewhat weak ending. Do (did) Brits in HK really talk like that?
Jan 24, 2010
Tara
rated it:
Shady Chinese man buys English Hong Konger's factory in pre-1997 Hong Kong.
Dec 06, 2008
Stephanie
rated it:
i enjoyed it though i wouldn't highly recommend it. i didn't like the ending, and thought the plot a little too simplistic. and.. for some strange reason i really felt like it was set about 10 years before 1997. maybe his descriptions and perceptions of the expats (not necessarily the chinese) were just a little too archaic? but i do like paul theroux and it was refreshing to read one of his books of fiction.
Mar 14, 2009
Jim
rated it:
Very good book by a master writer. Theroux writes fluidly in a seemingly effortless way.
Oct 25, 2011
Larry
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 16, 2009
Duncan
rated it:
Ridiculous!!!
Unlikely characters, behaving in unlikely ways, in a place that was Hong Kong in name only. Theroux is one of my favourite writers, but this was weak from beginning to end. Additionally it was poorly researched - and I felt merely a literary attempt to cash in on the HK 1997 handover.
As another review put it - stick to the travel writing.
Unlikely characters, behaving in unlikely ways, in a place that was Hong Kong in name only. Theroux is one of my favourite writers, but this was weak from beginning to end. Additionally it was poorly researched - and I felt merely a literary attempt to cash in on the HK 1997 handover.
As another review put it - stick to the travel writing.
Jan 12, 2010
Scott
rated it:
I really enjoyed this one from Theroux, a redemption of sorts. The only other book I've read by Theroux was Chicago Loop (and, yes, I did want to kill myself after reading it). The unfolding of Kowloon Tong reminded me of Graham Greene for some reason.
Rating 4.3
Rating 4.3
Mar 11, 2008
Shannon
rated it: 
having absolutely no idea about Hong Kong history, this was enlightening – especially since the history is so recent! As always Theroux’s storytelling is amazing and you always feel like you’re there, a fly on the wall or a bird on someone’s shoulder
Jan 21, 2009
Katie
rated it:
If this book turns out to be any good, I may have found a bunch of books to read.
Feb 07, 2012
Feb 05, 2012
Feb 03, 2012
