A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers (2007)

This book is not only about the cultural differences and about the love between a Chinese woman and an English man, it's also about gaining and losing intimacy with your loved one, coming of age, the meaning of freedom in a relationship, letting go and many more. Written in a very simple way, using English spoken by a Chinese, it is full of humor but with long traces of sadness. ( )

My step-mother gave it to my sister for Xmas, but she had already read it, so she gave it to me. She says that she loved it though and it like changed her life, and she actually skipped class to read it. It's fun reading books that mean a lot to other people.

Twenty-three year old Z, of the unpronounceable (at least to British people) name, moves to London for a year to study English. Due to a linguistic misunderstanding, she ends up moving in with a British man in his forties, who becomes her guide through the English language, and so much more.

At first I thought I'd have a hard time getting into the book, since it's written in (intentionally)poor English, but after the first chapter it didn't bother me. It does get progressively better as Z's skills improve.

I really liked this book, the way it traced the growth and eventual death of a relationship, the connections between inner and outer life, how culture and language can influence our way of thinking and the way our lives unfold, and how love has no tense. ( )

My step-mother gave it to my sister for Xmas, but she had already read it, so she gave it to me. She says that she loved it though and it like changed her life, and she actually skipped class to read it. It's fun reading books that mean a lot to other people.

Twenty-three year old Z, of the unpronounceable (at least to British people) name, moves to London for a year to study English. Due to a linguistic misunderstanding, she ends up moving in with a British man in his forties, who becomes her guide through the English language, and so much more.

At first I thought I'd have a hard time getting into the book, since it's written in (intentionally)poor English, but after the first chapter it didn't bother me. It does get progressively better as Z's skills improve.

I really liked this book, the way it traced the growth and eventual death of a relationship, the connections between inner and outer life, how culture and language can influence our way of thinking and the way our lives unfold, and how love has no tense. ( )

This was a quirky little novel, very different, very refreshing. I found this copy in a used book store; it's an uncorrected proof, published in 2007. I quite enjoyed this story of a 23 year old Chinese girl who comes to England to study English. The format of this book is that of a notebook of vocabulary that the author keeps as she learns news words and phrases in English. Each entry is a short essay on how she comes to understand these words in the context of her new life in London. From the back: "Written in steadily improving English grammar and vocabulary, [this book] is a funny, romantic, and moving story that gives us a sparkling new lens through which we view ourselves". I found it sad and almost disturbing at times but also sweet, wise and profound.

Recommended by Ricci