THE GIST:
A picturesque romance develops between a Hong Kong prostitute and a British painter.
THE VERDICT:
The World of Suzie Wong, also a film, is a well-known Hong Kong love story, but this is the first time I've read it. It is about a British painter who moves into a waterfront hotel, where rooms are normally rented by the hour, hoping to capture real, colorful Hong Kong life. He spends time in the hotel bar painting and getting to know the working girls when they aren't busy picking up sailors. He develops a friendship with Suzie Wong, a lively Shanghainese girl with a unique outlook on the world.
The book shifts between romanticizing the lives of the prostitutes and bringing the reader back to the reality of their situation. This feels authentic because Robert is experiencing this shifting perspective as he gets to know the girls. He refrains from judgment, except when he's talking about the other Westerners in Hong Kong. Mason captures the complicated, intersecting relationships between Westerners and locals in a setting that is both glamorous and very grim.
The writing style is rich with descriptions, and reveals the unique vibrancy of post-war Hong Kong. This book discusses mature themes in a frank, but not overly gratuitous manner. It certainly wouldn't qualify as erotica, but I wouldn't recommend it to my mom :). The characters are the strong point of this novel. Each one is flawed and authentic. Mason has created vivid and enduring personalities that stick with you beyond the last page.
THE COST:
I bought the new paperback edition at Swindon Book Co. The Kindle edition is $9.99.
THE QUESTION:
What is the first novel or film you think of when you think of Hong Kong? Have you seen the film version of this book?
A few weeks ago I finished reading Eating Smoke by Chris Thrall (http://manoflabook.com/wp/?p=3991) which is what I think about these days when someone says Hong Kong.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed that book too Zohar. I was lucky enough to meet the author when he returned to Hong Kong for a visit a few months ago. My own experiences of HK have been very different from his, but his book certainly paints a vivid picture of that side of HK.
DeleteLove your review!! I read this back in '97 when it seemed like all the expats in Hong Kong were doing the same. Brings back great memories. I also saw the film and enjoyed it so much, I bought the DVD. Nancy Kwan is one of my favorite actresses.
ReplyDeleteBut I have to say the first book that introduced me to Hong Kong was Noble House. Back in the late 80s, before you were born, there was a mini-series on TV based on this James Clavell epic novel. I was about 17 or so and devoured it. I can still picture Pierce Brosnan standing in his Jardine House office with the round windows in the background.
I haven't watched the film yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. I don't think I've seen Nancy Kwan in anything before.
DeleteI haven't read James Clavell's work, but I've read the novel-in-verse of an HK writer who draws heavily on Clavell and Suzie Wong to build his story. It made me want to read that saga.
Nancy Kwan is in her seventies now.Last thing I remember seeing her in was a female Chinese doctor's mother, in ER.
DeleteI agree with Susan. Just remembering the opening scene from Noble House with heavy thunderstorm at nighttime and Pierce Brosnan arriving at Jardine House with those round windows. That's burnt into my mind :-)
DeleteLater I read Clavells novel, also the one from Richard Mason. I can recommend those two stories to all others.
Greetings from Rolf/Switzerland
Thanks for introducing to some of us to this book. I just read about it on Wikipedia. The book is from 1957 and the movie is from 1960. Apparently there are two recent novels to follow up. "For Godness Sake: The Afterlife of Suzie Wong" (2008) by Sebastian Gerard and "World of Suzie Wong" (2010) by Leon Pang. I hope to see the movie with Nancy Kwan, who was widely praised for her beauty. Here is Canada we have every Saturday evening on TV a movie from Hong Kong.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the extra information Giora. I didn't know there were follow-up novels. That's cool that they are showing HK films in Canada. Have they played "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" yet? It's a recent Hong Kong film that I liked enough to see twice.
DeleteThey show recent movies from HK. I only watch the ones with English subtitles. This week they showed the movie "Lover's Discourse" (2010). It was okay. Yes, they showed "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (2011) a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteI watched on YouTube "William Holden in The World of Suzie Wong". They show 4 minutes clips from the movie with a beautiful song. Both William Holden and Suzie Wong look great. Hollywood's old romantic movies were better than what we have now.
Don't you just love the cheesey cover on the new edition!
ReplyDeleteYes I do! The book made me want to try painting again.
DeleteThe first novel I read with a Hong Kong setting was "Soldier of Fortune," (1954), written by Ernest K. Gann and made into a movie with Clark Gable and Susan Hayward. It's the story of a woman who comes to Hong Kong in hopes of rescuing her husband from across the border in "red China." She teams up with businessman, smuggler, and adventurer Hank Lee and, as you can imagine, adventure ensues. I particularly like the little side-trip to Macau.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen or read "Soldier of Fortune," but it sounds like a lot of fun. The Hong Kong of that era has always seemed so romantic to me.
DeleteI remember seeing the movie a few years ago and it made a lasting impression, but have never read the book...seems interesting from your review. Might have a go at it! :)
ReplyDeleteMay x
walkinginmay.blogspot.com
Thank you May! I think it's definitely worth a read.
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