My Review of "Undress Me in the Temple Of Heaven"

I completed Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven yesterday, minutes after finishing my last entry. It's hard for me to judge a book directly after reading it. So, after a day or so, I think I've formed my opinion of it...

Overall, I liked the book. It was an entertaining read. But I had issues with many aspects. First of all, the title is cheap and a tad bit cliche. But then again, so are the characters to some extent so maybe it was appropriate. The story is written by Susan Jane Gilman, and it's a memoir that takes place in 1986, when she and a friend decide to backpack through China. I like that the chapters are titled with towns. For example, the first chapter was "Kowloon," which is in Hong Kong. Because I had been there before (and thoroughly loved it), instantly I was drawn to the book because it sparked familiarity. After Hong Kong, they go to Shanghai, where I bought the book. As I was sitting on the train, I read about them walking around the Bund, where I had just been earlier that day. They ride bikes in Beijing and experience the Great Wall. The book is interesting if you are or have been to China.

However, after reading the book, I felt disdain for the characters, Susie and Claire. Over and over the narrator tells me, Yes we went to Brown University, we're so smart and educated and from New York, blah blah blah. Then they go to China and have a huge culture shock, which is to be expected. There are some scenes in the book that made me cringe, especially the part where they completely shun a Chinese man who welcomed them into his family's home. That was the worst part for me. To the author's defense, it seems like a bad mistake that has haunted her over the years. When I read the blurbs, I anticipated something really terrible to happen to them during their journey, some sort of outside force to come and virtually fuck everything up. "They were young, brilliant and bold. They set out to conquer the world. But the world had other plans for them." So of course I was curious, considering China is one of the safest places to be. In the end, it was a woman vs. herself kind of issue, with China as the setting. What seemed like the worst outside forces they actually had to deal with were cockroaches and food poisoning. WHOA.

The book is an entertaining read if you have or want to come to China. However, it shines bad light on American travelers.

I want to backpack the world. Sooner or later, once I have enough money saved, that's what I'm going to do. Who's in?

xo
MISU