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South China Morning Blues
From Canton to Hong Kong, the booming megalopolis of the Pearl River Delta has endless stories to tell. Who finds themselves in rapidly changing 21st-century China? There's Marco, a businessman with a penchant for call girls; Danny, a culture-shocked young traveler; Sheila, a local club girl caught up in family politics; Terry, an alcoholic journalist; and Ting Ting, an artist with a chip on her shoulder. Their lives intertwine in unexpected ways.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
4 people are currently reading
597 people want to read
About the author
Ray Hecht
19 books433 followersRay Hecht was raised in America, from the Midwest to the West Coast, on a starchy diet of movies and comics and science fiction paperbacks. Mostly writing about such states as California and Ohio, and such provinces as Guangdong. Lived in Shenzhen, China since 2008, that Special Economic Zone & Hong Kong-bordering chaotic city of the future, occasionally partaking in freelance journalism for various local publications. Ray now lives in Taiwan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 30, 2016
South China Morning Blue has been divided into three parts
Shenzhen
- A place in south of china which is growing abruptly and localities are not able to cope up with the up-gradation of the place This part describes what foreigner does as soon as they landed into China. How they react to new culture how they get adjusted.
Guangzhou
- Another place in south of china where is three largest city in China and more of like cosmos. Guangzhou is full of foreigners so this part describes how Whites aren't limited to teaching only English, There are quite a few other odd jobs which are like cake walk for them for instance drug fueled Model. Best part of the book according to me :)
Hong Kong
- As per book (not my words) It's intriguing to think about this small country with no natural resources and a cultural derived from China, full of violent samurais and sexual deviance.
South China Morning Blues is a tale of 12 different characters each are from different background, different profession & different perspective and how their lives intertwine in unexpected way as they delve deeper into their surroundings and in the process they learn more about themselves.
As I am living in china for past 4 years (in Guangzhou for past 2 years)and I have came across quite a few foreigners especially English Teachers basically whites, Chinese struck in family politics, culture shocked travelers. As i have met across such characters so i was able to correlate with the book.
It also describes Art (to much deeper level to me, actually quite insightful to me expressionism, cubism, Matisse, Fauves, Pollack) psychedelic mushrooms, sex, herbs, drugs, parties,travel last but not least what China is famous for fake product oops Massages (with or without happy ending) ;)
This book seems to me like art movie, where different characters met at the end and understand themselves in the end.
Talking about narration and story telling, it is written in quite a lucid way and story telling is amazing.
As a ritual the lines which i liked about the book.
"No one remain the same person for very long. We keep changing, and our stories get muddier."
"Each and every one of us has an entire universe inside our heads, and it doesn't mean anything. We squander it, we try our best, and if we can fit just a little bit of love and wonder then I guess it's all worth it in the end."
South China Morning blues is a very special book to me, because I believe it is very tough to find a book which will describe the places you visit or pass through on daily basis or frequently. For someone who is living in China will surely enjoy this book. For other why not give it a shot :)
Overall rating - 4/5
Shenzhen
- A place in south of china which is growing abruptly and localities are not able to cope up with the up-gradation of the place This part describes what foreigner does as soon as they landed into China. How they react to new culture how they get adjusted.
Guangzhou
- Another place in south of china where is three largest city in China and more of like cosmos. Guangzhou is full of foreigners so this part describes how Whites aren't limited to teaching only English, There are quite a few other odd jobs which are like cake walk for them for instance drug fueled Model. Best part of the book according to me :)
Hong Kong
- As per book (not my words) It's intriguing to think about this small country with no natural resources and a cultural derived from China, full of violent samurais and sexual deviance.
South China Morning Blues is a tale of 12 different characters each are from different background, different profession & different perspective and how their lives intertwine in unexpected way as they delve deeper into their surroundings and in the process they learn more about themselves.
As I am living in china for past 4 years (in Guangzhou for past 2 years)and I have came across quite a few foreigners especially English Teachers basically whites, Chinese struck in family politics, culture shocked travelers. As i have met across such characters so i was able to correlate with the book.
It also describes Art (to much deeper level to me, actually quite insightful to me expressionism, cubism, Matisse, Fauves, Pollack) psychedelic mushrooms, sex, herbs, drugs, parties,travel last but not least what China is famous for fake product oops Massages (with or without happy ending) ;)
This book seems to me like art movie, where different characters met at the end and understand themselves in the end.
Talking about narration and story telling, it is written in quite a lucid way and story telling is amazing.
As a ritual the lines which i liked about the book.
"No one remain the same person for very long. We keep changing, and our stories get muddier."
"Each and every one of us has an entire universe inside our heads, and it doesn't mean anything. We squander it, we try our best, and if we can fit just a little bit of love and wonder then I guess it's all worth it in the end."
South China Morning blues is a very special book to me, because I believe it is very tough to find a book which will describe the places you visit or pass through on daily basis or frequently. For someone who is living in China will surely enjoy this book. For other why not give it a shot :)
Overall rating - 4/5
September 26, 2015
I loved this book from start to finish. Ray Hecht does a fabulous job intertwining twelve characters in southern China and Hong Kong.
I was interested in reading the book because of the locales in which it takes place, but quickly found myself attached to the characters and their stories. I read the book on Kindle, so didn't have the luxury of flipping back to the list of characters and their corresponding Chinese zodiac symbol, but that didn't stop me from keeping the characters straight. I'm not sure other authors could have pulled that off so well. Some of the characters overlap in the different sections (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong), but Hecht does a great job making sure the reader can keep up. I also thought he captured the spirit of each place he writes about and the issues that define these places.
If you know China at all, you will appreciate the characters and settings. And if you're a China novice, you'll understand more about a huge area that is often overshadowed by Beijing and Shanghai. I would recommend this book to everyone.
I was interested in reading the book because of the locales in which it takes place, but quickly found myself attached to the characters and their stories. I read the book on Kindle, so didn't have the luxury of flipping back to the list of characters and their corresponding Chinese zodiac symbol, but that didn't stop me from keeping the characters straight. I'm not sure other authors could have pulled that off so well. Some of the characters overlap in the different sections (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong), but Hecht does a great job making sure the reader can keep up. I also thought he captured the spirit of each place he writes about and the issues that define these places.
If you know China at all, you will appreciate the characters and settings. And if you're a China novice, you'll understand more about a huge area that is often overshadowed by Beijing and Shanghai. I would recommend this book to everyone.
May 8, 2024
3.5 stars... Hecht's cocksure novel deftly captures the anxious, narcissistic ESL Laowai scene against the backdrop of modern China's simultaneous economic rise and social decay... It was refreshing to read these character-driven narratives that uncannily expressed so much of my reality in China. They communicate many essential truths about the soul-testing experience here... Hecht's admiration of Irvine Welsh is evident in the book's structure and tone, yet it's tamer in spirit. The various voices didn't achieve quite enough individual nuance for me, and their journeys lacked some depth and eloquence that would have taken this to another level. At times it seemed like the book meanders on shallow murky waters like the Pearl River Delta on which it's set... Ultimately, SCMB scores with an edgy, cynical wit and is candy for anyone who's done some hard time on the Mainland...
August 2, 2016
I received and ARC copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Gist: Something about this book is bloody brilliant, but I can't exactly tell what it is. I liked it but I also hated it.
I actually rated the book at 3.5 based on my parameters, but Goodreads doesn't allow half stars so I rounded up. I'm issuing a tepid recommendation of South China Morning Blues.
To be honest, I was a bit confused by this book, and within 30 pages (the number of pages I commit to before deciding to give up on a book) I was ready to quit. As someone who has lived in Shanghai for a few years and who has grown quite fond of China and Chinese culture, the complaints about and blatant disrespect towards China and its people really turned me off. To make matters worse, this book is drenched in descriptions of sexual activities, which is the last thing I wanted to read just after Ramadan, and is something I try to avoid in general. Because I agreed to read and review the novel, I pressed on.
South China Morning Blues is actually three separate books, with separate plots and characters that don't mix until the third book (actually, there may have been some mixing partway through the second book). At times I had a hard time keeping track of the characters and figuring out their relationships with one another. In this respect, those who can't read Chinese would benefit from keeping the Dramatis Personae on hand. Bookmark the page and keep returning to it if you have too. Even with the ability to remember who was whom based on the Chinese, I still got lost from time to time.
Despite the difficulty of creating and developing 12 different characters, Hecht manages the task fairly well. Hecht doesn't attempt to create twelve fully-fledged characters. Rather, he allows secondary personalities to be involved on the story while heavily leaning on the main actors. He doesn't arbitrarily focus on characters. Instead, he develops the lesser characters only as instruments to further the plot of the novel.
Throughout the novel there are a few instances of forced symbolism (I won't include them here so as to avoid turning people's subconsciouses towards them), and I was a little irritated by the stereotypical characters. I must admit, though, that part of my irritation stemmed from being well acquainted with the stereotypes presented: alcoholic writers, unqualified stoner English teachers, and lewd business men. The gratuitous sex scenes definitely hindered the novel. For the most part, the plot could have been advanced without them.
While I'm not in love with the book, it was a good, light read. I was surprised by a few of the events in the novel; towards the end I felt sorry for some of the characters I initially hated. Eliciting such a reaction shows craftiness on Hecht's part, and it is one of the reason I gave the book such a high rating. South China Morning Blues is a novel I might read again some time in the distant future, but it's not something I'd keep on my favorites shelf.
Gist: Something about this book is bloody brilliant, but I can't exactly tell what it is. I liked it but I also hated it.
I actually rated the book at 3.5 based on my parameters, but Goodreads doesn't allow half stars so I rounded up. I'm issuing a tepid recommendation of South China Morning Blues.
To be honest, I was a bit confused by this book, and within 30 pages (the number of pages I commit to before deciding to give up on a book) I was ready to quit. As someone who has lived in Shanghai for a few years and who has grown quite fond of China and Chinese culture, the complaints about and blatant disrespect towards China and its people really turned me off. To make matters worse, this book is drenched in descriptions of sexual activities, which is the last thing I wanted to read just after Ramadan, and is something I try to avoid in general. Because I agreed to read and review the novel, I pressed on.
South China Morning Blues is actually three separate books, with separate plots and characters that don't mix until the third book (actually, there may have been some mixing partway through the second book). At times I had a hard time keeping track of the characters and figuring out their relationships with one another. In this respect, those who can't read Chinese would benefit from keeping the Dramatis Personae on hand. Bookmark the page and keep returning to it if you have too. Even with the ability to remember who was whom based on the Chinese, I still got lost from time to time.
Despite the difficulty of creating and developing 12 different characters, Hecht manages the task fairly well. Hecht doesn't attempt to create twelve fully-fledged characters. Rather, he allows secondary personalities to be involved on the story while heavily leaning on the main actors. He doesn't arbitrarily focus on characters. Instead, he develops the lesser characters only as instruments to further the plot of the novel.
Throughout the novel there are a few instances of forced symbolism (I won't include them here so as to avoid turning people's subconsciouses towards them), and I was a little irritated by the stereotypical characters. I must admit, though, that part of my irritation stemmed from being well acquainted with the stereotypes presented: alcoholic writers, unqualified stoner English teachers, and lewd business men. The gratuitous sex scenes definitely hindered the novel. For the most part, the plot could have been advanced without them.
While I'm not in love with the book, it was a good, light read. I was surprised by a few of the events in the novel; towards the end I felt sorry for some of the characters I initially hated. Eliciting such a reaction shows craftiness on Hecht's part, and it is one of the reason I gave the book such a high rating. South China Morning Blues is a novel I might read again some time in the distant future, but it's not something I'd keep on my favorites shelf.
December 9, 2015
South China Morning Blues weaves together the stories of twelve young men and women living in three cities in southeastern China: Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. The characters are Chinese and American, with one Canadian and one African. Still in their twenties, they’re struggling to find their way in a rapidly changing world.
The first character we meet, Marco, is a sleazy American businessman who likes to show off and pick up girls. Since he can’t be bothered to learn Chinese, his Chinese protégé, Jackie, takes advantage of him and steals his clients. After losing his job, Marco starts a new business, a club that caters to expats. When he falls in love with and marries a Chinese woman, he’s challenged to become his better self.
Sheila’s parents are from another generation. They don’t understand a modern Chinese career woman like her. Eventually Sheila will realize that even though she’s modern in some ways, the Chinese duty to sacrifice for family obligations is still deep inside her.
Terry is an American-born Chinese, an ESL teacher, a writer, and an alcoholic. To impress his Chinese girlfriend, Ting Ting, he finally cleans up his disgusting apartment. We can only hope that Ting Ting will inspire him to clean up his act too.
These are only five of the twelve characters in South China Morning Blues. They speak in their own voices about their longing, loneliness, and confusion. They tell us about their hunger for adventure, money, love, and sex, and their desire for success and meaning.
Each of them represents an animal in the Chinese zodiac. Marco, for example, is the tiger; Jackie is the rat; Sheila is the hare; Terry is the monkey; and Ting Ting is the Dragon. The author uses the Chinese character for each animal to indicate a change in point of view. If you don’t read Chinese and you want to be sure who is speaking, you might want to make a cheat sheet.
Having twelve main characters gives us a broad view of what it’s like to be a twenty-something expat or young Chinese living in a modern Chinese city. With so many characters, maybe it’s inevitable that not all of them reach satisfying conclusions to their stories. Most of them do though.
The first character we meet, Marco, is a sleazy American businessman who likes to show off and pick up girls. Since he can’t be bothered to learn Chinese, his Chinese protégé, Jackie, takes advantage of him and steals his clients. After losing his job, Marco starts a new business, a club that caters to expats. When he falls in love with and marries a Chinese woman, he’s challenged to become his better self.
Sheila’s parents are from another generation. They don’t understand a modern Chinese career woman like her. Eventually Sheila will realize that even though she’s modern in some ways, the Chinese duty to sacrifice for family obligations is still deep inside her.
Terry is an American-born Chinese, an ESL teacher, a writer, and an alcoholic. To impress his Chinese girlfriend, Ting Ting, he finally cleans up his disgusting apartment. We can only hope that Ting Ting will inspire him to clean up his act too.
These are only five of the twelve characters in South China Morning Blues. They speak in their own voices about their longing, loneliness, and confusion. They tell us about their hunger for adventure, money, love, and sex, and their desire for success and meaning.
Each of them represents an animal in the Chinese zodiac. Marco, for example, is the tiger; Jackie is the rat; Sheila is the hare; Terry is the monkey; and Ting Ting is the Dragon. The author uses the Chinese character for each animal to indicate a change in point of view. If you don’t read Chinese and you want to be sure who is speaking, you might want to make a cheat sheet.
Having twelve main characters gives us a broad view of what it’s like to be a twenty-something expat or young Chinese living in a modern Chinese city. With so many characters, maybe it’s inevitable that not all of them reach satisfying conclusions to their stories. Most of them do though.
August 1, 2016
I was a bit confused at the beginning, not sure who was who. Once I got a clear understanding of each character I enjoyed following their story and especially when their stories crossed each other's. I also enjoyed discovering life in China, it felt real.
June 7, 2016
What is nice and what is nasty? When we wander through life we tend to consciously divide the people we meet into two camps: nice guys and assholes. Probably no other social classification is as clear cut once we move away from fixed biological terms like race, gender and age (though in this day and age even that is debatable). We all know who the nice guys and the assholes are: just look around the office you perhaps work in. Nice guys will be those stand-up chaps who share resources, participate in the social events, and always have a good word to say about anyone. Assholes, on the other hand, tend to be rude and often vindictive. We all want to be seen as nice guys, right?
This classification seems to be a general rule within western culture, though I have strong doubts that it exists so clearly within others. Western cultures tend to praise nice behaviour - after all, our whole current liberal political climate is just one long spiral of virtue signalling. Being nice and "doing the right thing" is seen as a virtue. In other cultures, perhaps less so. There is undoubtedly a strain within Chinese culture that respects nastiness and cunning, though it gets painted over by nice words like "harmony" and "entrepeuniaral". The Middle East certainly doesn't respect nice guys like the West does. Anybody who has ever had any dealings with Iranians will know of their deep respect for anybody who displays the characteristic of zerangi - which roughly translates as "cleverness" or "cunning". Zerangi can be either ethical or unethical, but it really doesn't matter. In Iranian culture the nice guy who loses is viewed with less respect than the zerangi man who cheated him. Turkey has a similar cultural respect for craftiness too - it's called Byzantine politics for a reason, kids.
In a very roundabout way, this brings me to Ray Hecht's book South China Morning Blues published by Blacksmith Books. This was a book that I struggled immensely with. It's not a bad book, it is cleanly written and will appeal to many people for sure, but I just couldn't get into it. The book follows twelve characters - male and female, Chinese and foreign - and their lives within the Pearl River Delta cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The book features sex, drugs and rock n' roll (well, dance music at a rave to be exact), yet it left me cold. Ray Hecht comes across as a decent guy on his blog, in his writing and in the interviews he has held... and I think that is the problem. He is a nice guy writing about nasty things, and it shows.
For what it is worth, I don't consider myself a nice guy. I'm cynical, selfish and anyone who has read one of my blog posts will know that I don't mind being offensive. I have been in the world that Hecht describes in South China Morning Blues and left it feeling sickened. The events within the book seemed to me to be a nice guy's observation of decadence but the observations of a guy who never truly experienced it deeply - like Edward Gibbon writing about the last days of Rome. Hecht tells us stories of drug overdoses and empty sex, though I never felt any real emotion within those stories. There was a lack of the horror that should be there once you have reached rock bottom.
Part of this might be a style issue. Again, there are two types of people: those who love purple prose and convoluted description, and those who prefer a spartan style. I am the former while Hecht is obviously the latter. It's HP Lovecraft versus Ernest Hemingway. Hecht favours a minimalist writing style with straightforward descriptions of the world he creates. To his credit, he "shows" rather than "tells", thus avoiding the traps that a lot of writers fall into. Nobody can accuse South China Morning Blues of drowning in adverbs. However, this Hemingway school of writing has always rung flat with me and I found many of the scenes in the book lacking in local detail or colourful description.
The twelve characters in the book are all aligned with animals from the Chinese zodiac and share the same characteristics. This is explicitly stated in the final part of the book when each character's chapter heading is given a phrase like "I am loyal" or "I am resilient". A lot of the characters certainly seem to share autobiographical elements with Hecht as well. There is an English teacher who drifts through life without purpose, a journalist with an alcohol problem who moves from one assignment to the next, and an aspiring artist who craves attention. I mention these characters because it brings me back to my primary problem with the book: I just didn't like these characters. Since I'm an asshole these characters just struck me as lazy, undisciplined and narcissistic. I've met thousands of these types of people and I really don't care for them. The only character that I had any respect for was the "bad guy" of the book Marco who is the Tiger character. Marco is a businessman who sleeps around and is the characteristic selfish expat with no concern for the world around him. Yet I liked his determination and honesty. Even when he loses all of his business to his zerangi Chinese business partner, he picks himself up, gets married and starts another business. Unfortunately the book punishes him by throwing his new wife into a seemingly incurable coma. I felt more compassion for him than all the other characters combined who spend most of the book in a hangover and wondering why the world doesn't pay them enough attention. However, like I said, I am certain that I hold the minority view. Most people will identify with these people and find their journeys interesting. For me though, it was a series of tales about narcissists without any bigger picture. Yet this is my problem, not the book's problem. In fact, there was a (great) line within the book that described perfectly how I felt about it:
"It's an anticlimactic story. I wonder why I even tell it. It's self-destructive, solipsistic and beneath my education and ambition."
The honest answer is, probably, yes. If you're new to China then the book does a superb job of introducing the flotsam and jetsam that one will encounter living in the country. The characters motivations and desires all ring true. If you're a "nice guy", teaching or DJing in China or perhaps with just an interest in the country, you'll enjoy the ups and downs of the protagonists and the situations they find themselves in. There is something for everyone to relate to in the book: loneliness, self-doubt, fear of the future. It's only cynical old assholes like me (and maybe Isham Cook) that will have trouble finishing this novel. Like Marco the Tiger character, we are the "weird old guys" who everybody else thinks has a strange minority opinion.
It's a good thing that there are people like Ray Hecht and books like South China Morning Blues out there to capture the zeitgeist of the age. They don't tell my story, but they tell a story: a different person's interpretation of life, China and what's important. As the author says in the final chapter of the book, the twelve characters featured in South China Morning Blues have different viewpoints and inhabit different universes. What is true for one is not true for another. I might live in a different universe to Hecht, but what he has written is true for his universe. And it might be true for yours too. It really depends whether you consider a nice guy or an asshole.
This classification seems to be a general rule within western culture, though I have strong doubts that it exists so clearly within others. Western cultures tend to praise nice behaviour - after all, our whole current liberal political climate is just one long spiral of virtue signalling. Being nice and "doing the right thing" is seen as a virtue. In other cultures, perhaps less so. There is undoubtedly a strain within Chinese culture that respects nastiness and cunning, though it gets painted over by nice words like "harmony" and "entrepeuniaral". The Middle East certainly doesn't respect nice guys like the West does. Anybody who has ever had any dealings with Iranians will know of their deep respect for anybody who displays the characteristic of zerangi - which roughly translates as "cleverness" or "cunning". Zerangi can be either ethical or unethical, but it really doesn't matter. In Iranian culture the nice guy who loses is viewed with less respect than the zerangi man who cheated him. Turkey has a similar cultural respect for craftiness too - it's called Byzantine politics for a reason, kids.
In a very roundabout way, this brings me to Ray Hecht's book South China Morning Blues published by Blacksmith Books. This was a book that I struggled immensely with. It's not a bad book, it is cleanly written and will appeal to many people for sure, but I just couldn't get into it. The book follows twelve characters - male and female, Chinese and foreign - and their lives within the Pearl River Delta cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The book features sex, drugs and rock n' roll (well, dance music at a rave to be exact), yet it left me cold. Ray Hecht comes across as a decent guy on his blog, in his writing and in the interviews he has held... and I think that is the problem. He is a nice guy writing about nasty things, and it shows.
For what it is worth, I don't consider myself a nice guy. I'm cynical, selfish and anyone who has read one of my blog posts will know that I don't mind being offensive. I have been in the world that Hecht describes in South China Morning Blues and left it feeling sickened. The events within the book seemed to me to be a nice guy's observation of decadence but the observations of a guy who never truly experienced it deeply - like Edward Gibbon writing about the last days of Rome. Hecht tells us stories of drug overdoses and empty sex, though I never felt any real emotion within those stories. There was a lack of the horror that should be there once you have reached rock bottom.
Part of this might be a style issue. Again, there are two types of people: those who love purple prose and convoluted description, and those who prefer a spartan style. I am the former while Hecht is obviously the latter. It's HP Lovecraft versus Ernest Hemingway. Hecht favours a minimalist writing style with straightforward descriptions of the world he creates. To his credit, he "shows" rather than "tells", thus avoiding the traps that a lot of writers fall into. Nobody can accuse South China Morning Blues of drowning in adverbs. However, this Hemingway school of writing has always rung flat with me and I found many of the scenes in the book lacking in local detail or colourful description.
The twelve characters in the book are all aligned with animals from the Chinese zodiac and share the same characteristics. This is explicitly stated in the final part of the book when each character's chapter heading is given a phrase like "I am loyal" or "I am resilient". A lot of the characters certainly seem to share autobiographical elements with Hecht as well. There is an English teacher who drifts through life without purpose, a journalist with an alcohol problem who moves from one assignment to the next, and an aspiring artist who craves attention. I mention these characters because it brings me back to my primary problem with the book: I just didn't like these characters. Since I'm an asshole these characters just struck me as lazy, undisciplined and narcissistic. I've met thousands of these types of people and I really don't care for them. The only character that I had any respect for was the "bad guy" of the book Marco who is the Tiger character. Marco is a businessman who sleeps around and is the characteristic selfish expat with no concern for the world around him. Yet I liked his determination and honesty. Even when he loses all of his business to his zerangi Chinese business partner, he picks himself up, gets married and starts another business. Unfortunately the book punishes him by throwing his new wife into a seemingly incurable coma. I felt more compassion for him than all the other characters combined who spend most of the book in a hangover and wondering why the world doesn't pay them enough attention. However, like I said, I am certain that I hold the minority view. Most people will identify with these people and find their journeys interesting. For me though, it was a series of tales about narcissists without any bigger picture. Yet this is my problem, not the book's problem. In fact, there was a (great) line within the book that described perfectly how I felt about it:
"It's an anticlimactic story. I wonder why I even tell it. It's self-destructive, solipsistic and beneath my education and ambition."
The honest answer is, probably, yes. If you're new to China then the book does a superb job of introducing the flotsam and jetsam that one will encounter living in the country. The characters motivations and desires all ring true. If you're a "nice guy", teaching or DJing in China or perhaps with just an interest in the country, you'll enjoy the ups and downs of the protagonists and the situations they find themselves in. There is something for everyone to relate to in the book: loneliness, self-doubt, fear of the future. It's only cynical old assholes like me (and maybe Isham Cook) that will have trouble finishing this novel. Like Marco the Tiger character, we are the "weird old guys" who everybody else thinks has a strange minority opinion.
It's a good thing that there are people like Ray Hecht and books like South China Morning Blues out there to capture the zeitgeist of the age. They don't tell my story, but they tell a story: a different person's interpretation of life, China and what's important. As the author says in the final chapter of the book, the twelve characters featured in South China Morning Blues have different viewpoints and inhabit different universes. What is true for one is not true for another. I might live in a different universe to Hecht, but what he has written is true for his universe. And it might be true for yours too. It really depends whether you consider a nice guy or an asshole.
May 24, 2016
There isn’t much of a story in South China Morning Blues. It is instead of the “slice of life” genre. It is a composite novel consisting of several interlocking narratives. The title is a play on a real Chinese news source, and like a newspaper, there is no real story to be read from connecting all the individual articles together, which misses the mark of a composite novel.
The sole point of interest in this novel is its setting- 21st century China. Each character of the novel represents one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. They come across as flat caricatures with little to no redeemable qualities, which is veering on insulting to foreigners and natives living in China. Of the cliched characters, there is: a drunk writer, a philandering businessman, a pseudo-intellectual stoner, a sex-crazed independent woman, an aloof artist, a drug-addled model, a naive college grad, a black drug dealer, among others.
Though the novel spans several years, there isn’t much character development, save for the businessman that abruptly gets married and is suddenly a devoted husband, but this doesn’t change the story line.
The writing is very simple, and full of exposition. Each narrative is full of “I feel” and “I think.” When Hecht does attempt prose that is more poetic, it comes across as clumsy and awkward. For instance:
"When I open my laptop like a flower’s petals blooming, it fails to turn on automatically like it usually does,”
and,
"I walk outside in the still darkness and return home, and have a real nice sleep. After walking outside into the still-darkness, I return home and dive into a really nice sleep."
It’s difficult to guess who the intended audience is. Perhaps SMCB is for Chinese learning English, due to the brusque matter-of-fact writing style. Plus the title headings are written solely in Chinese for no apparent reason, except for that the headings are Chinese zodiac signs. The Chinese headings would be a bit opposing to a non-Chinese reader with just a slight interest in a Chinese cultural book.
My main problem with this book arrived in the final chapters. Isn’t the point of a composite novel that the separate narratives are supposed to come together to form a bigger picture for the reader to dissect and take away? Why then does one character suddenly become omniscient in the end chapter, summarizing the stories of the other characters- some that she has never even met before? This came off as lazy, as if Hecht wanted to write a longer book but had deadlines to meet.
The intended takeaway from this novel, just in case the reader is too dense to get it, is explicitly written in the final paragraph: "Each and every one of us has an entire universe inside our heads, and it doesn’t mean anything. We squander it, we try our best, and if we can fit just a little bit of love and wonder then I guess it’s all worth it in the end. I guess it’s all working out.”
Too bad this book had so scant amounts of both love and wonder.
The sole point of interest in this novel is its setting- 21st century China. Each character of the novel represents one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. They come across as flat caricatures with little to no redeemable qualities, which is veering on insulting to foreigners and natives living in China. Of the cliched characters, there is: a drunk writer, a philandering businessman, a pseudo-intellectual stoner, a sex-crazed independent woman, an aloof artist, a drug-addled model, a naive college grad, a black drug dealer, among others.
Though the novel spans several years, there isn’t much character development, save for the businessman that abruptly gets married and is suddenly a devoted husband, but this doesn’t change the story line.
The writing is very simple, and full of exposition. Each narrative is full of “I feel” and “I think.” When Hecht does attempt prose that is more poetic, it comes across as clumsy and awkward. For instance:
"When I open my laptop like a flower’s petals blooming, it fails to turn on automatically like it usually does,”
and,
"I walk outside in the still darkness and return home, and have a real nice sleep. After walking outside into the still-darkness, I return home and dive into a really nice sleep."
It’s difficult to guess who the intended audience is. Perhaps SMCB is for Chinese learning English, due to the brusque matter-of-fact writing style. Plus the title headings are written solely in Chinese for no apparent reason, except for that the headings are Chinese zodiac signs. The Chinese headings would be a bit opposing to a non-Chinese reader with just a slight interest in a Chinese cultural book.
My main problem with this book arrived in the final chapters. Isn’t the point of a composite novel that the separate narratives are supposed to come together to form a bigger picture for the reader to dissect and take away? Why then does one character suddenly become omniscient in the end chapter, summarizing the stories of the other characters- some that she has never even met before? This came off as lazy, as if Hecht wanted to write a longer book but had deadlines to meet.
The intended takeaway from this novel, just in case the reader is too dense to get it, is explicitly written in the final paragraph: "Each and every one of us has an entire universe inside our heads, and it doesn’t mean anything. We squander it, we try our best, and if we can fit just a little bit of love and wonder then I guess it’s all worth it in the end. I guess it’s all working out.”
Too bad this book had so scant amounts of both love and wonder.
November 11, 2015
Overall I found this book to be a decent read. As an expat currently living in Shenzhen, China (one of the 3 main settings of the book), the subject matter is naturally interesting to me, although I'm not sure the same can be said for those who aren't familiar with China. I imagine a lot of the things the various characters encounter might not be relatable to the average reader. There's the stereotypically over-sexed expat Marco, for instance, or the archetypal ESL teaching jobs that at least 3 or 4 characters seem to have. With my background knowledge, it's easy to take in stride and even enjoy some of these references in the book (I found Marco's inflated macho character entertaining, for instance), but I can see how they might put others off.
As a whole, the book weaves together the stories of 12 characters, each of whom represent one of the animals in the Chinese zodiac. This is an ambitious project, to say the least, and for the most part the author does his job deftly. I found myself caught up by the tales of a plethora of interesting characters, enjoying the relatively brief glimpses I got into their heads. Ting Ting, a spirited young artist hoping to make it big, and Terry, a Chinese-American writer who seems to be constantly under the influence of something or the other, are a couple of my favorites. Amber, a girl trying to find herself in the city, is another sympathetic character. I wouldn't have minded hearing more about their stories in place of more lackluster characters like the somewhat pathetic, girlfriend-seeking Danny.
In the end, this may be the greatest weakness of the book. Rather than honing in on a few strong, colorful characters, the author tries to do it all. The 12 characters, I assume, are meant to represent the contemporary "South China" experience. They come from all backgrounds--mainland China, North American, Cantonese, Chinese-American, and even a token African in the mix. Together, they represent the all-important 12-year zodiac cycle that has organized the traditional Chinese view of time for millennia. Being grouped together in this way suggests unity, but that impression is deceptive. In the end, South China Morning Blues gives us a bunch of disparate stories, most of which are entertaining while some fall flat. Don't read the book to get a comprehensive understanding of South China (if such a thing were possible anyway), or as Terry calls it, "Cantonland." Read it for the various human narratives it offers about living in China: the characters' triumphs and travails while trying to find their way through an increasingly urbanized, ever-developing landscape. In the end, that's the real story here.
As a whole, the book weaves together the stories of 12 characters, each of whom represent one of the animals in the Chinese zodiac. This is an ambitious project, to say the least, and for the most part the author does his job deftly. I found myself caught up by the tales of a plethora of interesting characters, enjoying the relatively brief glimpses I got into their heads. Ting Ting, a spirited young artist hoping to make it big, and Terry, a Chinese-American writer who seems to be constantly under the influence of something or the other, are a couple of my favorites. Amber, a girl trying to find herself in the city, is another sympathetic character. I wouldn't have minded hearing more about their stories in place of more lackluster characters like the somewhat pathetic, girlfriend-seeking Danny.
In the end, this may be the greatest weakness of the book. Rather than honing in on a few strong, colorful characters, the author tries to do it all. The 12 characters, I assume, are meant to represent the contemporary "South China" experience. They come from all backgrounds--mainland China, North American, Cantonese, Chinese-American, and even a token African in the mix. Together, they represent the all-important 12-year zodiac cycle that has organized the traditional Chinese view of time for millennia. Being grouped together in this way suggests unity, but that impression is deceptive. In the end, South China Morning Blues gives us a bunch of disparate stories, most of which are entertaining while some fall flat. Don't read the book to get a comprehensive understanding of South China (if such a thing were possible anyway), or as Terry calls it, "Cantonland." Read it for the various human narratives it offers about living in China: the characters' triumphs and travails while trying to find their way through an increasingly urbanized, ever-developing landscape. In the end, that's the real story here.
June 24, 2016
South China Morning Blues is best described as a drama, with a touch of romance thrown in. Normally I don’t read this genre, but the subject does sound interesting and considering a couple of my stories take place in China, this book kind of doubles as research. There is a lot to like about how Hecht explores culture shock in this book.
The main focus of this book seems to be on southern Chinese culture and how different people see it differently. There’s a culture shocked ESL teacher and an aspiring model, both from North America, a businessman with questionable ethics, a talented young artist, a journalist and a number of other characters to offer different perspectives on their environment. Their lives interweave in interesting ways and toward the end, most of them intersect at a party in Hong Kong. In some ways it’s kind of a dark book, delving into themes of drugs, sex and to a lesser extent, greed, but by no means is this book depressing. Each of these characters feel fully developed, and each of them (save for the businessman) change over the course of the story.
My only real complaint is that it sometimes takes a while to figure out whose perspective you’re reading. The book is written entirely in first person perspective. Normally this works very well, especially when these characters are dealing with their personal struggles, not to mention showing different perspectives in some of the situations where they meet, but whenever there’s a chapter break or an interlude, it switches perspective and isn’t always clear to who’s. The characters do have their own unique voice and perspective, but some are more easily recognized than others.
Being someone who’s never been to China and doesn’t read too many dramatic novels, I don’t feel like I can say much more. That said, I enjoyed reading this, and would recommend South China Morning Blues to people interested in looking into Chinese culture, but would rather read fiction than non-fiction. It could also be an interesting read to those who have experienced culture shock themselves, even if their experience has nothing to do with China. Has this convinced me to read more drama books? Probably not. I do like my fantasy, science fiction and thrillers, but I would read another book from Hecht.
The main focus of this book seems to be on southern Chinese culture and how different people see it differently. There’s a culture shocked ESL teacher and an aspiring model, both from North America, a businessman with questionable ethics, a talented young artist, a journalist and a number of other characters to offer different perspectives on their environment. Their lives interweave in interesting ways and toward the end, most of them intersect at a party in Hong Kong. In some ways it’s kind of a dark book, delving into themes of drugs, sex and to a lesser extent, greed, but by no means is this book depressing. Each of these characters feel fully developed, and each of them (save for the businessman) change over the course of the story.
My only real complaint is that it sometimes takes a while to figure out whose perspective you’re reading. The book is written entirely in first person perspective. Normally this works very well, especially when these characters are dealing with their personal struggles, not to mention showing different perspectives in some of the situations where they meet, but whenever there’s a chapter break or an interlude, it switches perspective and isn’t always clear to who’s. The characters do have their own unique voice and perspective, but some are more easily recognized than others.
Being someone who’s never been to China and doesn’t read too many dramatic novels, I don’t feel like I can say much more. That said, I enjoyed reading this, and would recommend South China Morning Blues to people interested in looking into Chinese culture, but would rather read fiction than non-fiction. It could also be an interesting read to those who have experienced culture shock themselves, even if their experience has nothing to do with China. Has this convinced me to read more drama books? Probably not. I do like my fantasy, science fiction and thrillers, but I would read another book from Hecht.
May 27, 2016
OK, this book appeals to me because I'm an old China hand and I'm a sucker for reading about folks who make their lives here, both expats and natives. Ray Hecht's 12 character sketches manage to shine a light on nearly every single stereotype, predicament, conundrum, condition, contradiction, confusion and downright wackiness that foreigners are bound to come across while living and working in China.
Some of the character sketches are more developed than others (I think I would have liked to have heard more from John, for example) but all of them give a unique perspective on life in China, and a fairly accurate perspective as well. Of course, these are only 12 perspectives of the billion + that exist in this country but if you've never been here you'll get a better insight of life in a rapidly changing society. And if you have lived here or are currently living here for sure you'll likely see someone you know, or perhaps even yourself.
I have to admit that it took me a little while to warm up to the book. Some of the characters were not likeable for me and I thought that the dialogue was a bit stilted at times but Ray's writing seemed to get stronger in the last half of the book, especially Book 3 where all the character sketches are wrapped up. I seemed to hear more of Ray's voice here and got a feel for what living in China means to him. It's never black and white here, there's a lot of grey, and things are moving so fast that people have to change to keep up with an ever evolving society. It was nice to see Ray showing that adaptation to these changes in his characters and in the very last vignette I can hear what it means to him. And it was interesting to see that the book also validated my own thoughts about China and living/working here.
South China Morning Blues is a fairly brisk read but it's entertaining enough and well worth a venture, especially if you've been a China expat. I'd like to see more from Ray on China, perhaps a more fleshed out story that gets a little deeper into it's characters. It's clear that Mr Hecht knows his subject well enough.
10/10 will recommend to others I know here.
Some of the character sketches are more developed than others (I think I would have liked to have heard more from John, for example) but all of them give a unique perspective on life in China, and a fairly accurate perspective as well. Of course, these are only 12 perspectives of the billion + that exist in this country but if you've never been here you'll get a better insight of life in a rapidly changing society. And if you have lived here or are currently living here for sure you'll likely see someone you know, or perhaps even yourself.
I have to admit that it took me a little while to warm up to the book. Some of the characters were not likeable for me and I thought that the dialogue was a bit stilted at times but Ray's writing seemed to get stronger in the last half of the book, especially Book 3 where all the character sketches are wrapped up. I seemed to hear more of Ray's voice here and got a feel for what living in China means to him. It's never black and white here, there's a lot of grey, and things are moving so fast that people have to change to keep up with an ever evolving society. It was nice to see Ray showing that adaptation to these changes in his characters and in the very last vignette I can hear what it means to him. And it was interesting to see that the book also validated my own thoughts about China and living/working here.
South China Morning Blues is a fairly brisk read but it's entertaining enough and well worth a venture, especially if you've been a China expat. I'd like to see more from Ray on China, perhaps a more fleshed out story that gets a little deeper into it's characters. It's clear that Mr Hecht knows his subject well enough.
10/10 will recommend to others I know here.
January 14, 2016
I was given an advanced copy of this book by Ray himself in exchange for an honest review. I was enthralled to read that this book would take place in three different areas of China; Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. When I had first began reading this book, the lives of each of the characters immediately drew me in, especially when it came to the romantic entanglements that were specifically highlighted. I did find it confusing at times to understand whom was speaking however, quickly learned that at the beginning of the novel, this was explained by the zodiac signs assigned to each character.
I did find that there were quite a bit of sexual references, along with many cultural innuendoes regarding expats living in China. I had read Ray's previous book titled 'Pearl River Drama', and did wonder if some of the women mentioned in this book lightly touched upon the ones he had mentioned in his previous work. As was mentioned earlier, I would have liked if some of the main characters mentioned were described in more detail as I felt that I didn't fully get the closure that I would have liked for some of them. I felt that for majority of the time, Ray's writing was truly reflective of the characters themselves, and enjoyed reading on to see what their fate would be.
Overall, a truly intriguing look into the lives of expats and locals living in China, and the problems, along with triumphs, that they faced along the way. Ray gave excellent detail as to how the characters felt personally, which reflected positivity in his writing. Hope to see a sequel of some sort, with more focus on specific characters and how their lives turned out after this book was published.
I did find that there were quite a bit of sexual references, along with many cultural innuendoes regarding expats living in China. I had read Ray's previous book titled 'Pearl River Drama', and did wonder if some of the women mentioned in this book lightly touched upon the ones he had mentioned in his previous work. As was mentioned earlier, I would have liked if some of the main characters mentioned were described in more detail as I felt that I didn't fully get the closure that I would have liked for some of them. I felt that for majority of the time, Ray's writing was truly reflective of the characters themselves, and enjoyed reading on to see what their fate would be.
Overall, a truly intriguing look into the lives of expats and locals living in China, and the problems, along with triumphs, that they faced along the way. Ray gave excellent detail as to how the characters felt personally, which reflected positivity in his writing. Hope to see a sequel of some sort, with more focus on specific characters and how their lives turned out after this book was published.
December 16, 2016
This book about expats in China has primarily been an interesting read because it depicts many things that are a part of my life now (there were truly some uncanny parallels and coincidences) but I’m not sure how much appeal it would hold for someone who does not currently live in China. The 12 characters modeled on the Chinese zodiac are basically archetypes of the kind of people you can come across here. You have your ESL teachers, businessmen, Chinese women both progressive and traditional, a black drug dealer (probably the weakest one of them all) and their everyday lives are presented in great detail, how they spend their time, what kind of problems they face, whether they drink a lot or take drugs, or whether they clean their apartment regularly or are disgusting slobs.
Living in China as an expat sometimes feels like being in a limbo, on borrowed time, especially with the kinds of contradiction this country is ridden with; terrible poverty and unbelievable affluence coming hand in hand, people dressing in a modern way, using cell phones and technology but at the same time being of a traditional and closed mindset akin to something from two centuries ago. I feel like this book hasn’t really managed to delve deep into such complex issues, it was mostly concerned with ordinary lives and day to day dilemmas of the so-called real people. And I must admit, it managed to show those people in a really authentic way, they are really like that, they exist and I have met them. Personally I’m not the greatest fan of such slice of life approach but that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying the book for the most part.
Living in China as an expat sometimes feels like being in a limbo, on borrowed time, especially with the kinds of contradiction this country is ridden with; terrible poverty and unbelievable affluence coming hand in hand, people dressing in a modern way, using cell phones and technology but at the same time being of a traditional and closed mindset akin to something from two centuries ago. I feel like this book hasn’t really managed to delve deep into such complex issues, it was mostly concerned with ordinary lives and day to day dilemmas of the so-called real people. And I must admit, it managed to show those people in a really authentic way, they are really like that, they exist and I have met them. Personally I’m not the greatest fan of such slice of life approach but that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying the book for the most part.
November 20, 2015
An excellent portrayal of life in China, as people struggle with identity and ambition, an easy read even if you've never set foot in China, a familiar one if you have.
The book follows many people as their paths intersect and they live out their lives in 21st century China, beginning in Shenzhen, moving to Guangzhou and ending at a party at Lamma Island in Hong Kong.
I liked how the people changed. We meet Marco at the beginning, when he's a high-roller with delusions of grandeur who mocks his business partner's English name, "Jackie". By the time Jackie steals his clients and leaves him high and dry it's too late; Marco shows up in Shenzhen, several pounds heavier, humbled. He finishes in Hong Kong as a "weird old dude" Ting Ting meets on the ferry.
Everyone tells their own part of the story, identified not by name but by Chinese zodiacs. While this will throw some readers, it acts in part to separate you from their given names and see them instead as archetypes: roles we've played, role we've seen others play.
It's not just foreigners who take the spotlight. We see Sheila struggle with her family's expectations versus her own dreams. Lu Lu struggles too, opting for an unhappy marriage to both provide financial security and fulfill her family's expectations. She gives birth in Hong Kong, ensuring her baby's future and that her family can climb the ranks of status.
In short, this book is an accurate portrayal of life in China. Expat not, Chinese or not, you'll find much to enjoy here among the people, places and dreams of the Pearl River Delta.
The book follows many people as their paths intersect and they live out their lives in 21st century China, beginning in Shenzhen, moving to Guangzhou and ending at a party at Lamma Island in Hong Kong.
I liked how the people changed. We meet Marco at the beginning, when he's a high-roller with delusions of grandeur who mocks his business partner's English name, "Jackie". By the time Jackie steals his clients and leaves him high and dry it's too late; Marco shows up in Shenzhen, several pounds heavier, humbled. He finishes in Hong Kong as a "weird old dude" Ting Ting meets on the ferry.
Everyone tells their own part of the story, identified not by name but by Chinese zodiacs. While this will throw some readers, it acts in part to separate you from their given names and see them instead as archetypes: roles we've played, role we've seen others play.
It's not just foreigners who take the spotlight. We see Sheila struggle with her family's expectations versus her own dreams. Lu Lu struggles too, opting for an unhappy marriage to both provide financial security and fulfill her family's expectations. She gives birth in Hong Kong, ensuring her baby's future and that her family can climb the ranks of status.
In short, this book is an accurate portrayal of life in China. Expat not, Chinese or not, you'll find much to enjoy here among the people, places and dreams of the Pearl River Delta.
February 11, 2016
Ray Hecht's latest book is a natural evolution of his previous work. Having already started as a very competent writer in his early pieces and in his blog, he keeps improving his style with each book. What does not change is the author's interests in life: drugs, parties and sex. Sex mainly, to be honest. Now there's nothing wrong with that, but in my opinion R.H. lives in a limbo that is commercially uncomfortable. He writes books about the sexual interactions between men and women. They aren't light and frivolous "50 Shades" style, but he also doesn't make them sophisticated enough (in terms of the depth of the characters) to make them true literary tomes. So the reader is left with a "pièce de résistance" that is serious enough not to be dismissed as erotica but also not literary enough to vie for a place amongst great literary fiction. Living in this literary corner of his own the book is quite good and entertaining but it also leaves in the reader a feeling of "if the author had made it just a bit more profound the overall leap in quality would be huge". It is still a very much worthwhile read as it is, and I definitely recommend it.
July 19, 2016
South China Morning Blues is a novel that focuses on life in modern day China. I’ve never been to China, so I can’t verify it’s accuracy but the story was interesting and the characters and situations were quite believable. Many of the situations involve the ‘steamy underbelly’ of Chinese culture that has blossomed in highly populated, business centers within the country over the last decade or so. The story focuses on twelve characters, made up of both Chinese and American men and women. The common thread that runs through almost all of their lives is too much money in their bank account and too much time on their hands. As you can guess, this causes them to wander into a lifestyle of near constant drinking, drug use and sex. The author, Ray Hecht is a gifted writer and provides us with a story that lays out bread-crumbs for us to follow at a relaxing and constant pace. His writing style is very clean and understandable. He even provided a bit of ‘broken English’ for some of the Chinese character dialog, which provided a level of authenticity without being offensive. I read this book during my lunch break over a two week period and thoroughly enjoyed it.
January 7, 2016
I quite enjoyed reading this book. Great characters, parts are like the book/film trainspotting but in China with teachers. Worth a read for something different.
July 14, 2017
People have called China endlessly fascinating. But you could say the same about the expat scene here. In the seven-plus years that I’ve lived in this country, I’ve come across some real characters here – people I could have sworn were straight out of a novel.
I’m reminded of many of them after reading Ray Hecht’s new book South China Morning Blues, which features a motley cast of young expats and Chinese locals living across Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Through 12 distinct viewpoints, South China Morning Blues takes readers on a tour of the dark underside of the expat scene in China, culminating in a dramatic life-and-death situation that brings everyone together. It’s a fresh take on life in 21st century China and definitely worth a read.
I’m reminded of many of them after reading Ray Hecht’s new book South China Morning Blues, which features a motley cast of young expats and Chinese locals living across Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Through 12 distinct viewpoints, South China Morning Blues takes readers on a tour of the dark underside of the expat scene in China, culminating in a dramatic life-and-death situation that brings everyone together. It’s a fresh take on life in 21st century China and definitely worth a read.
July 8, 2016
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for a review. I am not very good at writing myself so I don't feel very comfortable judging. Still, I'll play my part.
Overall I'd say that I was not much into the book at the start, but that it gets better as it goes. Now I am pleased I've read it.
It's true that at the beginning I could not really care about the lives of these young expats and their alcohol/drug/sex fuelled escapism. I am a long-time expat myself, I feel I have been there and done (some) of that... But as I went, I started to enjoy the time lapsed structure of the book. It felt like following little islands of lives as they crash, link and separate, helplessly churned by the crazy raging flow of China's economic development. It can make their stories hard to follow at times, but as I continued reading, a growing sense of maturity starts to bubble slowly out of the characters and that's what held my attention. Now I am left with a longing to know more about the lives and desires of the Chinese people described in the book. They are the ones who ultimately matter when you try to figure out where this world is leading us.
And the book is well written, allowing me to take home some useful frames and highlights to depict better what it feels like to live here, in China, now. Amongst which:
- there is "somewhere in the region of one hundred and twenty million" (people living in the Pearl River Delta), "culture and identity can't keep up, and everything gets spread thinner and thinner".
- these "loser" (expats) who "enjoy these middle-class lives just for being born in English-speaking countries". (Guilty as charged even if not a native myself, just fluent enough, and white).
- (from a Chinese woman character about entering into a loveless marriage for wealth and moving alone to Hong Kong to give birth), "all this pain and loneliness will be worth it" (because) "one day she (her daughter) won't be simply Chinese, but something more".
Overall I'd say that I was not much into the book at the start, but that it gets better as it goes. Now I am pleased I've read it.
It's true that at the beginning I could not really care about the lives of these young expats and their alcohol/drug/sex fuelled escapism. I am a long-time expat myself, I feel I have been there and done (some) of that... But as I went, I started to enjoy the time lapsed structure of the book. It felt like following little islands of lives as they crash, link and separate, helplessly churned by the crazy raging flow of China's economic development. It can make their stories hard to follow at times, but as I continued reading, a growing sense of maturity starts to bubble slowly out of the characters and that's what held my attention. Now I am left with a longing to know more about the lives and desires of the Chinese people described in the book. They are the ones who ultimately matter when you try to figure out where this world is leading us.
And the book is well written, allowing me to take home some useful frames and highlights to depict better what it feels like to live here, in China, now. Amongst which:
- there is "somewhere in the region of one hundred and twenty million" (people living in the Pearl River Delta), "culture and identity can't keep up, and everything gets spread thinner and thinner".
- these "loser" (expats) who "enjoy these middle-class lives just for being born in English-speaking countries". (Guilty as charged even if not a native myself, just fluent enough, and white).
- (from a Chinese woman character about entering into a loveless marriage for wealth and moving alone to Hong Kong to give birth), "all this pain and loneliness will be worth it" (because) "one day she (her daughter) won't be simply Chinese, but something more".
December 15, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a free ebook from the author for reviewing.
This book portrays a wide array of perspectives on life in three cities in the South of China by telling snippets of the life of twelve different people. Their stories were interesting and felt real, and I certainly liked some characters more than others and hated the misogynistic views of some characters.
Overall I liked this book and would recommend checking it out, but there were some things that bothered me.
The chapters are named with the twelve Chinese animal zodiac signs, each one stands for a person. As a person who never read Chinese before I found it really hard to figure out who the chapters where about because I couldn’t remember the matching names for each Zodiac sign and couldn’t really be bothered to scroll through the whole ebook each time to try and figure out which Chinese letter stood at the beginning of each chapter.
Having a paper next to you with the chinese letters and character names would solve this problem though.
The language felt a little bit bleak in some paragraphs. The characters also felt a bit shallow at times due to the short periods of their lives that were described and the sometimes simple language. In retrospect both of these things probably come from the fact that this book has a lot of dialogue between native English speakers and Chinese people who learned it as a second language. (Also I was reading Lord of the Rings at the same time so that may have impacted my perception of language)
I think I would have enjoyed it more if there were fewer characters but longer stories about them as the storylines would have been less confusing to follow.
3.5 stars
This book portrays a wide array of perspectives on life in three cities in the South of China by telling snippets of the life of twelve different people. Their stories were interesting and felt real, and I certainly liked some characters more than others and hated the misogynistic views of some characters.
Overall I liked this book and would recommend checking it out, but there were some things that bothered me.
The chapters are named with the twelve Chinese animal zodiac signs, each one stands for a person. As a person who never read Chinese before I found it really hard to figure out who the chapters where about because I couldn’t remember the matching names for each Zodiac sign and couldn’t really be bothered to scroll through the whole ebook each time to try and figure out which Chinese letter stood at the beginning of each chapter.
Having a paper next to you with the chinese letters and character names would solve this problem though.
The language felt a little bit bleak in some paragraphs. The characters also felt a bit shallow at times due to the short periods of their lives that were described and the sometimes simple language. In retrospect both of these things probably come from the fact that this book has a lot of dialogue between native English speakers and Chinese people who learned it as a second language. (Also I was reading Lord of the Rings at the same time so that may have impacted my perception of language)
I think I would have enjoyed it more if there were fewer characters but longer stories about them as the storylines would have been less confusing to follow.
3.5 stars
May 29, 2016
3.5 stars. Note, I was given a copy of this by the author in exchange for a review.
The book is well written and entertaining and a fairly accurate portrayal of China today. The characters are presented a little flat and crude in some parts, which I assume was done to be more raw, but makes them seem more shallow than necessary. It's more human relationship focused than pure romance, which I liked, but sometimes it jumped around quite a bit and was slightly choppy. The chapters are named after the 12 zodiac, which does a good job of presenting each character/voice as a "type" of person rather than a specific one, but it can be confusing especially at the start when we're just getting acquainted with the voices (and also if you don't read Chinese characters). Overall a good read, especially if you're interested in knowing some of the gritty details about China and Chinese society today.
As a side note, if you haven't lived in China, then this book probably serves up a big dose of unbelievable, eye opening things about life in China today. If you have or currently do live here, it's nothing you haven't seen before. But to have it laid out so crude in words is also kind of disturbing. As I read SCMP, I found myself cringing more and more at the kind of foreigners that end up in the country today, and also at the lack of self worth Chinese women see in themselves. It's all a very sad reminder of the current state of society in China.
The book is well written and entertaining and a fairly accurate portrayal of China today. The characters are presented a little flat and crude in some parts, which I assume was done to be more raw, but makes them seem more shallow than necessary. It's more human relationship focused than pure romance, which I liked, but sometimes it jumped around quite a bit and was slightly choppy. The chapters are named after the 12 zodiac, which does a good job of presenting each character/voice as a "type" of person rather than a specific one, but it can be confusing especially at the start when we're just getting acquainted with the voices (and also if you don't read Chinese characters). Overall a good read, especially if you're interested in knowing some of the gritty details about China and Chinese society today.
As a side note, if you haven't lived in China, then this book probably serves up a big dose of unbelievable, eye opening things about life in China today. If you have or currently do live here, it's nothing you haven't seen before. But to have it laid out so crude in words is also kind of disturbing. As I read SCMP, I found myself cringing more and more at the kind of foreigners that end up in the country today, and also at the lack of self worth Chinese women see in themselves. It's all a very sad reminder of the current state of society in China.
October 4, 2015
Ray Hecht writes in incredible detail about the Pearl River Delta of China. This is basically Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan and Zhuhai. He really captures what makes it different from the North or Hong Kong. He also shows the new kinds of lives being lived by expats and Chinese in these cities, away from the traditional patterns and stereotypes or ill informed news stories. You can see a great deal of personal experience in Ray's work, and a real attempt at empathy with a vast range of characters and backgrounds.
This book would be very useful for anybody interested in living or travelling in this area. You might find a lot here that very few city guides would fail to deal with. You'd also get an impression of what you might be letting yourself in for.
As for the book and its style, I'd say there was an influence from Brett Easton Ellis or Douglas Coupland but with less literary flights of fancy and more attempts at documentary realism.
This book would be very useful for anybody interested in living or travelling in this area. You might find a lot here that very few city guides would fail to deal with. You'd also get an impression of what you might be letting yourself in for.
As for the book and its style, I'd say there was an influence from Brett Easton Ellis or Douglas Coupland but with less literary flights of fancy and more attempts at documentary realism.
December 7, 2015
When I started reading this book, it was a bit too hot for me and if I were to be honest here, as they say - it wasn't my cup of tea. When I was initially reading it, I was wearing a writer's hat, which wasn't right and once I changed to a reader's hat, then I started to like the book. This book not only depicts the way newcomers see things but also way they live in China and make the story as real as they were actually happening to them. The writing is simple, easy to understand by commons, and it has all the elements in it that a so called modern literature requires, and the writer has easily managed to achieve it. It has many complicated characters, mostly foreigners exploring the greatness of modern China, and only the talented writer from the outside like him can create such a nice work of modern writing. If you are interested on foreigners' life living in China, this should be the book to read and I highly recommend for you to check it.
August 19, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed South China Morning Blues by Ray Hecht. The stream of consciousness style was intriguing and captivating. So many stories were spun into one in this book in such a fluid and comprehensive manner that it is easy to get sucked in and hard to put down. As someone who has never visited China, I was able to feel like I was there due to the rich descriptions of each are that is explored. My only criticism is that I feel as though I'm some ways the book does not translate well into an e book because it it difficult to refer to the index in order to divine which character is speaking. However, I do feel that the author put forth his best efforts in giving each character a unique voice. I found this book to be well written and at the end there was a strong sense of unity. I was definitely sad to see it end and can't wait to read more from this author.
October 20, 2015
I was sent this book for free, by the author in exchange for an honest review. I found the character development great. There are many interesting characters, all with their story to tell and you get to feel that you really know them. I know nothing about the area that Ray has written about and his descriptions are vivid - I'm sure if you have been to these places you will recognize them. The stories are not all happy, but they make you want to read on. I enjoyed the book, and I would recommend it and will be looking for more by this author.
January 11, 2016
Won from goodreads
It's about life in China an easy read following the lives of quite a few people and the paths they take.
All the characters have a different story and you get to find out about them a few intertwine with the other characters.
Some belong there others are foreigners you get to learn about life in China for both parties the up and downs.
It's about life in China an easy read following the lives of quite a few people and the paths they take.
All the characters have a different story and you get to find out about them a few intertwine with the other characters.
Some belong there others are foreigners you get to learn about life in China for both parties the up and downs.
November 3, 2015
I got instantly hooked on this book! The characters are so familiar to any foreigner living in China, but at the same time so fascinating. It is a good description of modern life in big Chinese cities and of young people anywhere.
April 2, 2016
as a resident of China I can tell the many inaccuracies presented in the book. the ending seemed over-harsh and the characters too alike. but overall this is an amazing book as it is one of the first to document this "laowai" lifestyle in China.
December 11, 2019
I write a review. The review is negative, because the book isn't very good. I use simple language, employ no metaphors or descriptive language. I share details that would bore in any context, never mind the worthwhileness of actually writing these details down and leaving them in a final copy. I go shopping, I buy this, I buy that. I would quickly bore should a friend share these trivial details, yet somehow Hecht feels they should be included in the book. I give two stars, because jesus christ the writing is bad.
Like, seriously- the characters are flat, uninteresting, and they all have the exact same tone. The writing is high school level, the dialogue hackneyed, obnoxious, too many "dudes" and too much "totally!" Ultimately I just don't care, there is nothing interesting about any of these stories, there is zero development or overall plot- it's just a bad book. The focus on sex and drugs- I get it, it might be true to life, but I don't read so that I can meet more boring characters just like in real life, I read to get away from that, to find deeper truths. This book reads like the worst party you've been to, self-important uninteresting expats speaking loudly and signifying nothing.
And yet it gets 2 stars, not 1, because I do find it true to life. I do think it lends insight into the weird world you get amongst foreigners in China. So if you're looking to be an ESL teacher, if you're looking to live an easier life getting by just being a white face speaking English, sure, pick this book up. But if you've already been to China as a native speaker, why bother? You know this world yourself, there's no need for Hecht to poorly illustrate all the worst of the foreign community in China.
Like, seriously- the characters are flat, uninteresting, and they all have the exact same tone. The writing is high school level, the dialogue hackneyed, obnoxious, too many "dudes" and too much "totally!" Ultimately I just don't care, there is nothing interesting about any of these stories, there is zero development or overall plot- it's just a bad book. The focus on sex and drugs- I get it, it might be true to life, but I don't read so that I can meet more boring characters just like in real life, I read to get away from that, to find deeper truths. This book reads like the worst party you've been to, self-important uninteresting expats speaking loudly and signifying nothing.
And yet it gets 2 stars, not 1, because I do find it true to life. I do think it lends insight into the weird world you get amongst foreigners in China. So if you're looking to be an ESL teacher, if you're looking to live an easier life getting by just being a white face speaking English, sure, pick this book up. But if you've already been to China as a native speaker, why bother? You know this world yourself, there's no need for Hecht to poorly illustrate all the worst of the foreign community in China.
December 27, 2018
Intriguing storytelling that covers many different forms of expat, mainlander, & HKer life. It seems everyone in China has some "angle," and Hecht understands and presents each view very well.
If you aren't literate in traditional characters, you need to either bookmark the "dramatic personae" page or else copy it and use it as your bookmark, as narrators are changed rapidly and frequently, and are only identified by their representative word.
I'd be interested in reading more of what Hecht has to say about modern China.
If you aren't literate in traditional characters, you need to either bookmark the "dramatic personae" page or else copy it and use it as your bookmark, as narrators are changed rapidly and frequently, and are only identified by their representative word.
I'd be interested in reading more of what Hecht has to say about modern China.
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