BOOK REVIEW: A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo

As  it featured on the Orange longlist, released yesterday, I thought a review of A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo would be timely!

It's the story of Zhang, known as 'Z',  who comes to London from a small Chinese town, in order to improve her English and learn about the culture. But she doesn't find the UK all she expected - people are unfriendly, it's cold and she's lonely. Then she meets a man and the two quickly become lovers, and then move in together - the result of a misunderstanding. (Z says she wants to see his house, he says "be my guest" and she takes it literally)... It begins in hilariously broken English ("sorry of my English" says a note at the beginning of the book) which improves as the story progresses...

The book is chronologically told, divided into months telling the story of Z's year in the UK (and later Europe).  It's narrated by Z, but as if she's talking to her lover, and it shows the misunderstandings that pervade their relationship. Each chapter begins with a definition, hence the title, and these are very revealing, often having a deeper or double meaning.

Only a Chinese writer could pull off writing in broken English without seeming xenophobic/racist, and that makes it OK to laugh at the silly misunderstandings caused by Z's lack of knowledge. The writer presumably had the same problems learning English herself, but clearly she's got the hang of it now: this is Xiaolu Guo's first book in English. It makes you realise how difficult English is, and I enjoyed all the cross-cultural references a lot. The book itself is very good, although it starts off very funny and becomes a lot more melancholy as Z loses her innocence (both socially and sexually). I didn't quite feel that this dark mood at the end of the book was entirely necessary - I wasn't  sure Z enjoyed much of her time over here at all, and that seemed a shame for such a likeable character (as well as from a British tourism perspective!)

But it's definitely an unusual and charming read, and I'd recommend it.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Empress Orchid by Anchee Min.

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