Our book selection for November 2009 i s "Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid" by J. Maartan Troost.
Just the name itself made me laugh...
The next Book Club meeting will be on Saturday, November 14th at 6:30 pm. Please check the Yahoo group for location and directions.
This book is available at the public library.
This book is available at the public library.
Here are some reviews:
"Troost captures the essence of China in a hilarious and yet well-informed way..." (Goodreads)
" In Lost on Planet China, veteran travel writer Maarten Troost sets off to de-mystify “the world’s most mystifying nation.” In the process, he travels from the megalopolises of Beijing and Shanghai to tiny hamlets in Tibet, eats everything from live squid to donkey meat (but no dog, please!), and even learns to haggle like a native. "(Goodreads)
"Troost escorts readers on a rollicking journey through the new beating heart of the modern world, from the megalopolises of Beijing and Shanghai to the Gobi Desert and the hinterlands of Tibet... But in addition to his trademark gonzo adventures, the book also delivers a telling look at a vast and complex country on the brink of transformation that will soon shape the way we all work, live, and think. As Troost shows, while we may be familiar with Yao Ming or dim sum or the cheap, plastic products that line the shelves of every store, the real China remains a world—indeed, a planet--unto itself. (Random House)
You can listen to him talk about the book here.
I think we will have diverse opinions about this book and it might generate some interesting conversation about our own experiences traveling in China.
Can't wait to see you soon!
