Bad news: For the past few days, I have been home with the flu. Good news: More time to read!
Since I’ve been holed up for most of the week, it seemed like a better time than ever to read about some place far away. I had a review copy of Alan Paul’s Big in China in the stack of books I’d brought home, and it seemed like an interesting story–American guy moves to China for his wife’s job (three kids in tow), writes an award-winning expat column and ends up fronting a group called Woodie Alan that’s voted “Beijing’s Best Band.”
I ended up reading the funny and big-hearted memoir in just about one sitting, only pausing to watch Woodie Alan clips on YouTube. The blues band is made of three Chinese guys and two American guys and its name is a play on the founding members’ names: Alan Paul and Woodie Wu. You can see the whole group in action here performing a cover of Bob Dylan’s “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go,” which became their signature going-away song for friends leaving Beijing.
You can read more about Big in China in BookPage’s March world travel roundup. In the meantime, check out Paul’s website (you can watch a book trailer) or his old “The Expat Life” columns in the Wall Street Journal.
Did anyone follow Paul’s columns while he was living in Beijing? Will you check out Big in China (it’s out March 1)?
What genre of books do you like to read when you want to get away from it all?
Thank you very much for the kind words.
Feedback like this really means a lot to me, as the book starts making it way out to the public.
I’m glad you chose that particular clip to share. I love playing that song with these guys, though I have to say it’s not our best performance. it is at Jianghu Jiuba, the little hutong bar I describe and which was a very special place for us.
Please let me know if you have any questions and thanks again,
I will definitely get the book. I lived. In the same neighborhood as Alan in Beijing and actually met him a couple of times. I loved his columns. I hope the book wil be available on the Kindle.
I’ve already pre-ordered. This book would have lots of appeal for both travel buffs and musicians. I also expect that the book would make great required reading for a university ethnomusicology course.
I read Paul’s blog while he was in China and found it both entertaining, interesting and funny. It became a welcomed part of my weekly reading, and I was sorry to see it end.
I look forward to reading his book, Big in China, and have already pre-ordered the book. Paul is a fascinating and engaging writer whose journey was one I think will interest readers interested not only in the expat experience. His is a great story teller who will capture readers whose interests span reading about following their dreams, people willing to experience the extraordinary with a young family and those interested in living a life experience that could have been somewhat interesting and turn it into a life-long lesson that expanded his family’s social awareness, creating life-long friendships for them with people who live around the world.
C Wells,
I totally agree that this book will have broad appeal. I enjoyed the whole “opportunities arise from unexpected circumstances” theme.
Thanks guys. Dave, I remember your name and am trying to put a face to it or remember where we met — mutual friends? Around riviera? Anyhow, the book will be out in E-format on March 1, same day it is launched in hardback. I am also very excited about the Audio Book. I read it myself and the producer is going a great job incorporating original music from our CD Beijing Blues. I really like what I have heard so far. Also available march 1.
Alan,
Thanks for stopping by the blog and commenting. Your audio book sounds really interesting — I’m so glad there will be some music on it. (Like I wrote in the post, I kept pausing from reading the book to listen to recordings online.)
I really enjoyed your memoir — and judging from the comments it sounds like our readers will, too!
Thanks Eliza. I can try to get get you a copy of the Audio Book when it is done. I am also printing up a bunch of CDs and will be happy to send you one. Send me an email with your address.
I’m really pleased you enjoyed it so much and I’m more than happy to stop by here.
Just saw the above comment after my previous one posted… I can’t say anything to that except thank you.
A good post! I will surely be calling back again to read new blog posts. Thanks
Thanks James.