Fried Eggs with Chopsticks
Registered by chich of Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on 10/7/2009
9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Wednesday, October 7, 2009
An enjoyable, light hearted travelogue and a nice introduction to China for those unfamiliar with its history and culture. The book is very detailed, well documented and I like that Evans always incorporates a lot of history in her books (as in "It's Not About The Tapas"). Some readers and reviews have said that the book was funny and/or hilarious but don't expect this to be in the vein of Bill Bryson's humorous style of travel. But don't let that stop you from reading this! Even if this book won't have you roaring with laughter it is still a fun, informative read about China:)
From the Back Cover:
When she learnt that the Chinese had built enough new roads to circle the equator sixteen times, Polly Evans decided to go and witness for herself the way this vast nation was hurtling into the technological age. But on arriving in China she found the building work wasn’t quite finished.
Squeezed up against Buddhist monks, squawking chickens and on one happy occasion a soldier named Hero, Polly clattered along pot-holed tracks from the snow-capped mountains of Shangri-La to the bear-infested jungles of the south. She braved encounters with a sadistic masseur, a ridiculously flexible kung-fu teacher, and a terrified child who screamed at the sight of her.
In quieter moments, Polly contemplated China’s long and colourful history – the seven-foot-tall eunuch commander who sailed the globe in search of treasure; the empress that chopped off her rivals’ hands and feet and boiled them to make soup – and pondered the bizarre traits of the modern mandarins. And, as she travelled, she attempted to solve the ultimate gastronomic conundrum: just how does one eat a soft-fried egg with chopsticks?
About the Author:
Polly Evans studied modern languages at Cambridge University before working for a London publisher. After four years she moved to Hong Kong to become a journalist on the city's biggest weekly, before embarking on her epic journey around Spain - the subject of her first book, It's Not About The Tapas. Her last book, Kiwis Might Fly, is also published by Bantam Books. She now lives in London.
From the Back Cover:
When she learnt that the Chinese had built enough new roads to circle the equator sixteen times, Polly Evans decided to go and witness for herself the way this vast nation was hurtling into the technological age. But on arriving in China she found the building work wasn’t quite finished.
Squeezed up against Buddhist monks, squawking chickens and on one happy occasion a soldier named Hero, Polly clattered along pot-holed tracks from the snow-capped mountains of Shangri-La to the bear-infested jungles of the south. She braved encounters with a sadistic masseur, a ridiculously flexible kung-fu teacher, and a terrified child who screamed at the sight of her.
In quieter moments, Polly contemplated China’s long and colourful history – the seven-foot-tall eunuch commander who sailed the globe in search of treasure; the empress that chopped off her rivals’ hands and feet and boiled them to make soup – and pondered the bizarre traits of the modern mandarins. And, as she travelled, she attempted to solve the ultimate gastronomic conundrum: just how does one eat a soft-fried egg with chopsticks?
About the Author:
Polly Evans studied modern languages at Cambridge University before working for a London publisher. After four years she moved to Hong Kong to become a journalist on the city's biggest weekly, before embarking on her epic journey around Spain - the subject of her first book, It's Not About The Tapas. Her last book, Kiwis Might Fly, is also published by Bantam Books. She now lives in London.
Journal Entry 2 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, March 22, 2010
Starting a bookray, PM me if you want to join!
Mailing order for this Ray:
1) Dutchbooky, The Netherlands, EU shipping.
2) LyzzyBee, UK, can ship anywhere.
3) aunt-sophie, Canada, Canada/US shipping.
4) rhythmbiscuit, US (Colorado), US shipping.
5) NMReader, US (Virginia), US shipping.
6) UnwrittenLibra, US (Maryland), can ship anywhere.
7) NomiJo, US (New York), can ship anywhere.
8) Wandering-B, Hong-Kong, can ship anywhere. ¤¤ current location ¤¤
...you?
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BookRing Recommendations:
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• try to read it within a month
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• wrap it up well and pass it on to the next participant
Please PM me in case of any problems/unforeseen delay. If you are experiencing an RBC (Reading Backlog Crisis) or no longer wish to read the book, let me know and I will move/remove you down/off the list.
Hint: Ask for the address of the next on the list before you have finished reading; sometimes it takes a while before you get a reply. Some people don't get PM's. You may want to look for an e-mail address on their profile, or leave an ISO message on the forum. If the person doesn't respond within 7-10 days (use your judgement), please PM the next person, and then me, so I can update the bookring list.
**Cheapest postage rate is fine**
Happy reading everyone!
Journal Entry 3 by chich at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, March 29, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/29/2010 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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Sent to dutchbooky today! Enjoy:-)
Sent to dutchbooky today! Enjoy:-)
Sorry! Forgot to register the book. It arrived on Saturday, just in time for Easter ;-). I started reading it and will journal again after finishing it. Thanks for sharing!
Edit May 16: I finally finished this book. It made my wish for traveling to China even stronger, although I think I'll have to learn to speak a bit of Chinese first... Evans experiences a lot of frustration in trying to use Chinese and she took lessons! I think she's quite courageous, traveling on her own, even though part of the trip was organized by her friends. I love the descriptions of the countryside and she also throws in some history lessons. I am going to google some of the places and people (like the Dai) she visited and hope to find some images of other travelers!
I have Lizzybee's address and will forward the book soon! Thanks for sharing Chich!
Edit May 16: I finally finished this book. It made my wish for traveling to China even stronger, although I think I'll have to learn to speak a bit of Chinese first... Evans experiences a lot of frustration in trying to use Chinese and she took lessons! I think she's quite courageous, traveling on her own, even though part of the trip was organized by her friends. I love the descriptions of the countryside and she also throws in some history lessons. I am going to google some of the places and people (like the Dai) she visited and hope to find some images of other travelers!
I have Lizzybee's address and will forward the book soon! Thanks for sharing Chich!
Journal Entry 5 by dutchbooky at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, May 16, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (5/18/2010 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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On its way to the next reader. Hope you enjoy the book, Lyzzybee!
On its way to the next reader. Hope you enjoy the book, Lyzzybee!
Received today and will start it soon - thank you!
I enjoyed this, the third of Evans' travel books I've read, in which she travels around China. She's made an attempt to learn some Chinese and tries it out on people, and as usual she gives us an engaging and human view of travel, including boredom, homesickness and the need to travel 15 hours to have a beer with someone who speaks English. I like her descriptions of the people she meets and the situations she gets into (including a hilarious encounter with Michael Palin) but I do feel that her descriptions of the landscape fall a bit flat - it's not her natural strength (details in the landscape, human encounters, are) and it dislocated the reading experience a bit. But overall a good and well-written read and I'll continue to look out for her future endeavours and books.
Edited to add: I have PM'd the next reader and got their address, will be sending it off in the week
Edited to add: I have PM'd the next reader and got their address, will be sending it off in the week
Released 13 yrs ago (6/12/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posting to the next reader - will send airmail to make up for the delay in posting!
Journal Entry 9 by rem_VSP-560485 at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, June 22, 2010
I got this today! I should be able to read it over the next weeks.
Evans tells of her misadventures (including logistical and communication issues) with a touch of humour, and in between those she writes interesting information on the country's long history. So it is a travelogue that is both light and educative. At least, I thought it was better balanced that the other book I have read by this author (Kiwis Might Fly, about her motorcycle trip in New Zealand), in which I thought she was trying too hard to be quirky and funny.
By the way, it is interesting to note that author has photo galeries for each of her books on her Website, so the reader can picture her adventures better:
I'll write to the next person and try to get the book going sometime over the next weeks.
By the way, it is interesting to note that author has photo galeries for each of her books on her Website, so the reader can picture her adventures better:
I'll write to the next person and try to get the book going sometime over the next weeks.
Sorry I've kept the book so long, but I've been away on holidays, and I couldn't mail it before. The book should be on its way to rhythmbiscuit by the end of the week.
Thank you for sharing this book. I'm looking forward to reading it, since I lived in China in 2003.
I enjoyed this book, as it brought back memories of living in Beijing and visiting other locations in China. I especially liked how Polly ordered in restaurants by pointing to delicious-looking dishes on other tables. I wish I had thought of that!
I will mail this book to NMReader. Enjoy!
I will mail this book to NMReader. Enjoy!
It has arrived YAY
I thought an update on the status of the book might be appreciated. I have started reading this book but it isn't one of my primary reads at the moment. I am trying to make sure I at least read a chapter/day.
Feb 28: I haven't been able to read near as much as I would like this last month. I am only about 1/4 the way through the book. It has moved up to be my primary read.
March 24: Wow the month got away from me. It fell out as a primary read because it was so handy for the short reads while waiting. I am enjoying it very much and making better progress.
Feb 28: I haven't been able to read near as much as I would like this last month. I am only about 1/4 the way through the book. It has moved up to be my primary read.
March 24: Wow the month got away from me. It fell out as a primary read because it was so handy for the short reads while waiting. I am enjoying it very much and making better progress.
I have completed the book.
I found much of this book wonderful but in places it seemed a little whiny but I doubt it would be all sunshine and lillipops if I had made the journey that Polly Evans did.
There are places in China that she made me want to visit and others that I think I could bypass. I admire her for trying all the different food she did and for her determination to visit some remote and rural locations.
Overall a very enjoyabble read and I am glad I had the opportunity to read it. I will not be able to get to the PO until Friday or Saturday
I found much of this book wonderful but in places it seemed a little whiny but I doubt it would be all sunshine and lillipops if I had made the journey that Polly Evans did.
There are places in China that she made me want to visit and others that I think I could bypass. I admire her for trying all the different food she did and for her determination to visit some remote and rural locations.
Overall a very enjoyabble read and I am glad I had the opportunity to read it. I will not be able to get to the PO until Friday or Saturday
I will drop at the PO this afternoon
Received yesterday here in Baltimore from my birthday twin-sister NMReader in VA. Thanks, NMReader! And thanks chich for including me!
I read this and sent it off about two weeks ago.
I wasn't a ginourmous fan of this one. Having read Evans' fantastic accounts of Spain and Argentina, I found this one a bit whiny and focusing more on the negatives of China than the positives. I was almost as miserable reading it as she seemed to be while writing it, but nonetheless, traveling with Polly Evans is better than not traveling with Polly Evans.
Ironically, off to Hong Kong with you! Enjoy, Wandering-B!
I wasn't a ginourmous fan of this one. Having read Evans' fantastic accounts of Spain and Argentina, I found this one a bit whiny and focusing more on the negatives of China than the positives. I was almost as miserable reading it as she seemed to be while writing it, but nonetheless, traveling with Polly Evans is better than not traveling with Polly Evans.
Ironically, off to Hong Kong with you! Enjoy, Wandering-B!
Received with thanks to UnwrittenLibra for sending it and to chich for sending it out into the world. Have started it a bit and am interested to see the China Polly Evans sees.
I'm on Page 100 of 335 pages and I'm not so sure I'm going to finish reading this one in its entirety. Give me a break. The author says she lived in Hong Kong for four years prior to embarking on her China trip. Hello. If you live in Hong Kong that long you ALREADY KNOW that the sterotypical mainland Chinese hawks and spits, that the skies are grey from all of the coal dust and pollution, that the transport can be horrible and that the loo is going to be disgusting. Why make these points as if it comes as a large surprise? Other than one person telling her in English Welcome to China, I have not read anything positive about China or the Chinese.
Sending off to my Love your Country exchange partner - but please take it with a grain of salt :)
As I said before, thanks a lot for the package. This is a book I haven't heard of before, but it sure makes the impression that it's going to be a funny read.
TO CHINA: This book will follow me with my smaller selection of bookcrossing books when I move to China.
