Praise and Reviews…
“Kirkus Review”
In this debut memoir, writer and public speaker Qian describes how a fateful decision to take a teaching job in China
changed the course of her life
Around the year 2000, the author was finding that her life in Chicago was becoming untenable. Her parents were broke,
her father’s Alzheimer’s disease was worsening, and she was overworked from trying to cover their expenses. When she
received an offer to move to China to teach, it seemed like the perfect solution; she could make more money to send to
her parents, and she would have the necessary space to take back some control of her own life.
She flew to Guangzhou,
where she began teaching second-graders and immersing herself in the unfamiliar culture of the People’s Republic of
China. The author experienced an unexpected surge in spirituality, as well as a new appreciation of travel and exploration:
“Now that I was here in China, being given this incredible chance to learn and grow, I didn’t want to waste one moment,”
she recalls. “There was something to learn, either about China or about myself, all the time.”
Although being far away from her family was difficult for her, she soon met an attractive Chinese teaching assistant at her school,
Qian Zhi Ming, whose“English name” was William. A romance developed, and the author quickly realized that China was not a temporary
stop-off for her, but a place that would become a permanent part of her life. Qian writes with detail and humor, elegantly
capturing intercultural moments, as when her mother asked her about William’s political affiliation: “So, is he a
communist?” (He wasn’t.) The details of planning her wedding in William’s hometown are particularly engaging, as their
engagement was met with no small amount of surprise from locals.
Their marriage gives the book a more novelistic
structure, which sets it apart from other expatriate remembrances; for example, when William develops tuberculosis, it
adds a very real element of uncertainty to the author’s adventure. There are surely more action-packed books about
Americans in China, but Qian’s smooth prose and sympathetic affect make this memoir a compelling read.
A smoothly told, down-to-earth tale of an American abroad.
“Booklist” Review
“Striking in its honesty and forthrightness, Qian’s memoir offers an account of her time in China as a teacher, how she met her future husband, William, in Guangzhou, and her interaction with his Chinese family and the larger Chinese culture. Exemplifying the best kind of memoir writing, Qian shares not only her external experiences but also the psychological and emotional landscapes she traverses. Her thrill in choosing to explore this land by herself, her transformation from someone with eating issues to a healthy runner, and her ability to embrace much that is alien to her upbringing reveal a woman who uses life’s opportunities to learn and grow. Faith and religion are part of the conversation that she and William evolve within their relationship, a subject she handles with a light touch. Qian’s candor about her less-than-perfect actions makes her stellar moments feel extra special, while her undisguised pleasure in her growth will draw readers into sharing her elation, and, perhaps even her motivation”.
— Shoba Viswanathan
“…This is a story for our time. Young adult and adult readers will find respite, hope, encouragement, and joy in this carefully crafted and warmly felt debut.”
―Mary Rakow, award-winning author of The Memory Room
“Lori Qian’s story is stunning! From the courage to leave her family and move to China to being served frog and eel at her soon-to-be in-laws’ house, her story will remind you that life is a grand adventure. Qian’s vivid storytelling invites us to come along for the ride.”
―McArthur Krishna, award-winning and best-selling author of the Girls Who Choose God series
“An incredible story about finding home, finding yourself, and falling in love in a foreign country, Lori Qian’s inspiring memoir is a reminder that life is full of surprises and hope.”
―Jennifer Chen Tran, literary agent