What do you think?
Rate this book
I Spent 10 Years in Asia and All I Got Were These Lousy Stories
Translating for a Chinese businessmen looking to have a good time in Osaka’s sex district. Discussing the likelihood of North Korean soldiers masturbating while standing in the most heavily militarized border in the world. Desperately trying to prevent a drunken buddy making aggressive sexual advances on the fiancee of the guy whose party you’ve just crashed. Oh, and visiting a fake market in China. Because being a white guy in Asia is about more than just sex.
This collection of short stories sees a Brit from a small fishing village dropped into these situations...and more, as he tries to make sense of the crazy world that is East Asia.
After graduating college in his native England, Ryan J. King set out for the other side of the world to finish his education, both formally and informally - and boy, did he find it. Now, over a decade later, having studied in Japan and South Korea, and worked in China, he sits down and reflects on some of the strangest things that have happened to him during his time in Asia, with an intention to both entertain and to educate.
This collection of short stories sees a Brit from a small fishing village dropped into these situations...and more, as he tries to make sense of the crazy world that is East Asia.
After graduating college in his native England, Ryan J. King set out for the other side of the world to finish his education, both formally and informally - and boy, did he find it. Now, over a decade later, having studied in Japan and South Korea, and worked in China, he sits down and reflects on some of the strangest things that have happened to him during his time in Asia, with an intention to both entertain and to educate.
54 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2017
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Ryan J. King
1 book3 followersRyan King is a writer working across fiction, non-fiction and theatre, whose work is shaped by years living in Asia and a fascination with identity, belonging and hidden histories.
Born and raised in England, he has lived and worked across the United States, Japan, South Korea, and China, and has a background in education and entertainment. His first book (released January 2017) is a collection of short stories about his adventures across Northeast Asia.
Details of his other projects can be found on his website.
Born and raised in England, he has lived and worked across the United States, Japan, South Korea, and China, and has a background in education and entertainment. His first book (released January 2017) is a collection of short stories about his adventures across Northeast Asia.
Details of his other projects can be found on his website.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 26, 2017
Short, enjoyable collection of tales about life, work and cultural moments in Japan, Korea and China. Ryan goes into some funny episodes as a student and worker in East Asia.
As a friend of Ryan, I have to say that what doesn't come out in the book is just how amazing Ryan's language and adaption skills are. He's really found a unique ability to be a Western go-between between China, Korea and Japan. Definitely more stories and life lessons to be told here. Can't wait for the next collection!
As a friend of Ryan, I have to say that what doesn't come out in the book is just how amazing Ryan's language and adaption skills are. He's really found a unique ability to be a Western go-between between China, Korea and Japan. Definitely more stories and life lessons to be told here. Can't wait for the next collection!
January 15, 2018
An amusing blend of historical, cultural and political fact and history, and the absurdity of a Lancashire lad finding himself in situations in a strange land that you quite frankly couldn't make up.
Ryan has an easy reading style of writing, and his informative and knowledgeable passages on relevant facts and history are nicely woven into the thread of his improbable (but true) adventures. This could have easily become a series of anecdotes weighed down by bland text-book style factual information, fortunately the author has comfortably avoided this pitfall.
One thing to add (in the name of transparency), I personally know Ryan and have heard some of these tales first hand (heck, I even appear anonymously in one of them). He has always been a great verbal story-teller, however it turns out he is also a great writer.
My only real criticism is the book is far too short. I look forward to Ryan's future tales, fact or fiction.
Ryan has an easy reading style of writing, and his informative and knowledgeable passages on relevant facts and history are nicely woven into the thread of his improbable (but true) adventures. This could have easily become a series of anecdotes weighed down by bland text-book style factual information, fortunately the author has comfortably avoided this pitfall.
One thing to add (in the name of transparency), I personally know Ryan and have heard some of these tales first hand (heck, I even appear anonymously in one of them). He has always been a great verbal story-teller, however it turns out he is also a great writer.
My only real criticism is the book is far too short. I look forward to Ryan's future tales, fact or fiction.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews