My Life as a Squint-Eyed Chink
Autobiography:
351 pages including: 6 pages of pictures & 8 pages of endnotes (ISBN: 978-1409253143)
published May 19, 2007
Autobiography; 351 pages including 6 pages of pictures & 8 pages of endnotes.
(ISBN: 978-1409253143)
SYNOPSIS: The sudden death of Zak’s mother leads to a reunion with siblings he has not seen in decades, culminating in a black comedy at a funeral. On surviving a messy and traumatic non-childhood by being headstrong and self-defining, he now finds himself revisiting a painful time and place in his life, retracing the steps to his own convoluted journey, unearthing a past he never knew existed.
Unique insights into the human condition, fascinating vignettes from mid-20th-century China, and uncommon sanity amidst maddening events characterize this poignant, thought-provoking and beautifully written tale of a Brit forced to adapt to finding himself ‘not looking English.’
My life as a Squint-Eyed Chink is no ordinary story of “being a westernized Chinese,” or of finding your true identity while straddling two cultures — there was no conflict, for Zak had so thoroughly turned his back on his roots that there was nothing Chinese about him but his reflection in the mirror. But learn one day that you are descended from an ancient line of Imperials serving close to Emperors, and even your image in the mirror begins to change. Some secrets are so compelling they refuse to lie buried in silence, but rise bodily from the grave to invade the present, shattering everything in the process. This is a story about such secrets.
My life as a Squint-Eyed Chink reads like a psychological thriller or mystery novel – only the story that it tells is true. In pages filled with both gritty facts and almost-lyrical prose punctuated with wry humor, you walk with Zak, the journeyman, as he learns what it is like to bridge several different worlds with all their allure, beauty, pain and mystery; to survive the most unsettling of situations; to find sense in a baffling, sometimes terrible, past and setting out on the
ultimate quest to put all the pieces together and find out who you truly are.
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What the readers say:
“Fascinating portrait of a multi-cultural dysfunctional family. This book was recommended to me by a friend, whose opinion I value. Although at first I found Zak Keith's style very different from anything I'd read previously, the story is so compelling, and in particular the extraordinary characters of the members of the family, that I became totally engrossed. At times the scenario Zak describes reminded me of an Almodóvar film, and in fact I think it could well be adapted to a screenplay. Zak's journey, as he tries to come to terms with both his family and his identity, provides an insight into many problems faced by children growing up in today's multicultural world, but is above all a portrait of an eccentric family that is both entertaining and moving.” —4.0 out of 5 stars: Christina Latham-Koenig reviews, 27 April 2010, at Amazon UK
“Set against the back-drop of his eccentric, self-centered mother’s funeral (the super-controlling mother who never recognized his right to exist and conveniently forgot, day in and day out, to raise him), the book, in a series of flashbacks, covers many subjects of vital interest to a broad spectrum of readers. Survivors of seriously dysfunctional families, displaced foreigners trying to assimilate into a new culture, backpackers, musicians, spiritual seekers weary of religious hypocrisy and history buffs fascinated by Asian post-World War II behind-the-scenes skulduggery will all find in this page turner plenty of ideas, concepts and insights to mull over. Many will find answers to questions they’ve been asking themselves their entire lives. . . Punctuated with wry humor, entertaining anecdotes, delightful descriptions and a remarkable vocabulary, the author uses wit to help the reader firmly identify with him, and soon his journey through life becomes the reader’s as well. This book is a rare insight into a highly evolved, humbly altruistic and solidly pragmatic mind. The reader is left with a firmly renewed conviction that no matter what difficulties life throws at us, how we react is our choice, and ultimately we’re the captain of our own ship.” — M.F., Atlanta, Georgia
“I love this book. It’s got so much in it for the millions who feel more citizens of a global village than any one nationality or heritage. I connected in many ways with Zak Keith’s recounting of those pivotal days when he revisits his life during that trip a back to [the place] he grew up. The book references the historical, backpacker credos, religions, and more, but there’s much more to it than that. Throughout the book there’s a genuine authentic cogitation of ‘one who’s on a journey’. The reader can’t help but be embraced by this thread that aptly underscores the timeless axiom: ‘It’s the journey, not the destination...’ ‘My Life as a Squint-Eyed Chink’ is also the revealing account of the experiences of Keith’s life, which as I read I couldn’t help but feel a lingering subtle inference to a life that could have been…or is, howbeit in a parallel world. So the story is for the sentient heart: a sometimes sad, sometimes tragic, sometimes hilarious, sometimes wry, sometimes attached and sometimes detached account of the author’s life experiences encapsulated within the transitory events of a passing ‘family’ reunion for a mother’s funeral. The author wonderfully landmarks memories and discoveries, not just for himself, but very generously for the reader as well.” — Mike Goodnow (Switzerland) reviews at Amazon UK
[Translated from Swedish review at Bokia.se]: “A different kind of book! The author literally takes us along on a journey through his life, leading us into events on a winding trail of self-perceived life experiences garlanded with sidetracks in the form of gritty facts and historical portraits. They may seem like sideway tosses in their stead, but the author always leads us back onto the path again. ‘It’s an autobiography!’ I had thought impartially, on my first contact with the book. A few chapters later, I realized that ?My Life As A Squint-eyed Chink simply couldn’t be assigned to any genre. Or rather, it encompasses many genres, such as autobiography, psychological thriller, political science, history, travelogue and more. There are simply no suitable words or constructs for this kind of literature. The book is written in English and published in a somewhat larger pocket size. However, the author writes in a very prosaic and readable language that is effortless to absorb, even if you don’t happen to be born with English as your native tongue. The story commences with the author on his way to [---] to be united with his partly unknown family in conjunction with the death and funeral of his eccentric and very peculiar mother. With a large dose of dark humor and an admirable detachment from his self, his upbringing and his experiences, the author begins to unravel all the existing questions, secrets and traumatic experiences, or the new ones that emerge in the course of his journey. However, new issues emerge as soon as old ones are resolved. You laugh, weep inwardly and get fascinated, horrified and impressed. It is honest – at times naked, bare and revealing without the author wearing the cloak of a victim for even a second. It must nevertheless be acknowledged as a miracle of sorts that the author is still on his feet. Where does he get his strength from? How did he manage not to be broken as a child? Thank you, Zak, for sharing your life and experiences! Now I’m left wondering when the Swedish translation will be released.” — Annika Uddin, Vingåker, Sweden
“I hate finishing a good book. Now begins the search for another one equally engaging, intriguing, informative and humorous. What I love about good books is that they introduce you to a world you never knew existed, or at very least know only peripherally. And you come away with many questions and so much richer from the experience. Books truly expand your horizons and this one expanded mine exponentially. I have lived in fourteen countries and traveled in 44, including [----], and yet this gave me insight I never had while I was there.
“My biggest question is how can someone write so graphically, so lucidly, with such a terrific vocabulary, who never attended school? (And once you have read this book, there will be no doubt in your mind that this author didn't spend much time in school). When you put all the pieces together you realize this guy is probably as close to a genius as you are ever likely to meet. And a very humble genius, too. His ability to pull cogent thoughts from the deepest recesses of his heart and mind and turn them into a mouth-watering literary delicacy is quite astounding.
“Who will particularly love this book? My guess is that in backpackers’ haunts all over the world, a common question will be, ‘Read Squint-Eyed Chink yet? It's a good one.’ And of course anyone who considers themselves to be western who is living their life inside an Asian body is going to nod their head on every page as Zak puts their experience into words.
“But really, anyone who loves getting out of themselves and learning something new is going to laugh and cry and wonder reading this book. And the predominant feeling you'll be left with is that some people with great handicaps survive, thrive and find peace. The world is full of amazing people and Zak Keith is definitely one of them. I highly recommend this book.” — Moria French (Atlanta, GA) reviews at Amazon.com
“I read your book ‘in one breath’ when it came. It works on so many different levels and at the same time there is a thread putting it all together into a thrilling story—sometimes I found myself wondering: ‘Have these things really happened? Is all this craziness possible in one human being’s life? How come he survived?’ Yet, there was this feeling of authenticity. You don’t get trapped into making it all to a pathetic melodram[a]. It´s no easy thing to write about such deep traumas as yours. [...] I read your book as was it mine. Your story touches the very roots of my heart. The circumstances in your life have been quite different from mine, but I easily recognize my internal process in yours [...] I laughed at every anecdote about these stupid Gunthers who got quite some reply from you (which I guess they don´t understand). Thank you, Zak, for sharing your story. (I just wonder if [you've considered getting] it translated into swedish...).” — Cirkka Cernering, Sweden
“My sentiments on the book are not easy to put in a few words... personal emotional coloring... filled me with awe and respect... made me laugh like crazy! ... reading your book made me realize I wasn’t crazy... after [I] finished reading, I sent my own slightly whacky mom (a wonder of normality in comparison [to yours]) an sms thanking her for being who she is. So you put things in perspective as well. :)” — Alex L., Stockholm, Sweden
“Zac, I have just finished reading your book. A truly amazing experience. I admire you for your courage [in bringing] forth issues, that for many people are so painful that they [would] rather perish [than] reveal [their] content. [I am] grateful for knowing that pain like this [can be] shared and dealt with. There [have] also been [several enlightenments] for me, revealed by reading your book, and it fills me with gratitude to your words. Thank you very much Zac, bearing a few of your thoughts and experiences in my mind, makes my life easier.” — Peter Hey, Sweden
“I have read thousands of manuscripts in my life time (I lost count a long time ago). This is by far one of the best books I have ever read. It’s right up there with the best of the best of popular writers [...] honest, naked and uncontrived [...] a truly amazing accomplishment for a fresh, new author [...] Unfortunately [my company] does not deal with this genre or we would have thrown ourselves behind him. I would really like to see this one on the bookshelves. And I’m sure we will. This author will go places with or without our help.” — Editor of a California-based agency (name witheld due to conflict of interest)
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