The Expatriates

A Novel

De: Janice Y. K. Lee

Narrado por: Ann Marie Lee

Janice Y. K. Lee’s New York Times best-selling debut, The Piano Teacher, was called “immensely satisfying” by People, “intensely readable” by O, The Oprah Magazine, and “a rare and exquisite story” by Elizabeth Gilbert. Now, in her long-awaited new novel, Lee explores with devastating poignancy the emotions, identities, and relationships of three very different American women living in the same small expat community in Hong Kong.

Mercy, a young Korean American and recent Columbia graduate, is adrift, undone by a terrible incident in her recent past. Hilary, a wealthy housewife, is haunted by her struggle to have a child, something she believes could save her foundering marriage. Meanwhile, Margaret, once a happily married mother of three, questions her maternal identity in the wake of a shattering loss. As each woman struggles with her own demons, their lives collide in ways that have irreversible consequences for them all. Atmospheric, moving, and utterly compelling, The Expatriates confirms Lee as an exceptional talent and one of our keenest observers of women’s inner lives.

©2016 Janice Y. K. Lee (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Raise a glass: The first great book-club novel of 2016 has arrived.” (USA Today, 4/4 stars)

“A female, funny Henry James in Asia, Janice Y. K. Lee is vividly good on the subject of Americans abroad.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“Sex and the City meets Lost in Translation.” (The Skimm)

Amazing!

I loved this book! I will probably end up listening to it multiple times which I never do. The beginning seemed a bit strange to me but then everything fell into place. The story was moving and the narrator was ideal. I enjoyed every aspect of this book!

Surprised this wasn't rated higher!

Great Listen

Perfect performance, I enjoyed it very much! A world I knew nothing about. Would have given more stars if some of the characters had a slightly more realistic journey.

Raw and Beautiful writing

What an Amazing book! Loved Every minute of it. The beautiful and raw descriptions of forgiveness and motherhood left me breathless. This book removed every fiver inside of my soul.

6 degrees of Separation

Would you consider the audio edition of The Expatriates to be better than the print version?

I really enjoyed the reader, and I thought she really added appropriate humor, sorrow and emotion to this book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mercy. Growing up is never easy, but she did a good job trying.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really enjoyed the ending.

If you could take any character from The Expatriates out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Margaret. I would want to be a cheerleader for her grief.

Any additional comments?

Spoiler Alert. I really thought that the boy that Hillary was adopting would turn out to be Margarets child. I really hoped that would happen. Really enjoyed the book.

Good book for Hong Kong expats. Did not like reader.

A pretty good book about the many in and outs of Hong Kong expat existence. It was nice to revisit HK through the novel. The reader was very hard to listen to - as though she patronised the whole book.

Audible reader is terrible

I listened to the book and the reader had a very sing song voice. Bit was extremely annoying!

Loved it!

This is a story that draws you in almost immediately and then holds you right through to the end. While the characters are all pretty unlikeable, you know you are seeing them at their worst and that they are stuck in circumstances that would make anybody crazy, so you end up hanging on every word to find out how this is all going to pan out.

I’m surprised that some reviewers say it isn’t really about being an expat. As an expat myself, I think the book is very much about that. That was part of the point of the book—that life is life no matter where you live, but there are some very special aspects added to life when you live so far from home. It’s startling to me how very similar my experience has been, even though I’m not the wealthy kind.

The characters are relatable, their choices understandable -though we cringe while they make them. In the end, we see them making realistic adaptations with new maturity and wisdom. It’s a story of hope and that of understanding that life is a continual process rather than a continuous line.

A Sweet Simple Heart-warming Listen

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Good characters and an interesting look at the ex-pat community in Asia. Well worth the credit.

Not like tv show

This is a hard one to review because I picked this book because of the tv show, having watched 3 episodes and wanting to know more about the story sooner rather than having to wait for one episode per week. The tv show hints at a what, where, who did what and finding G. This book is not a that. It’s the story of 3 women whose lives are upended due to a major traumatic experience and the endurance of the human spirit in surviving, healing and the power of friendship. Margaret in losing her child. Hilary in the end of her marriage. Mercy in being the one who was with G when he disappeared. It’s a love story to women and it’s beautifully written. My genre in fiction is usually thriller, so this is not what I was thinking it was. There is no answer or anything regarding G apart from the fact he was lost. It’s not that kinda story. So for me personally, it wasn’t something I liked, but I think if you understand that this is a journey about healing, moving forward and the power of friendship and that appeals to you, you’ll love it. It’s a beautiful story.

Humanity in tragedy

The author wrote such an interesting story from three perspectives. Unresolved issues, forgiveness and self-forgiveness explored. Impressive.