Travel to St. Louis, Tokyo, Colombo, and Singapore with Alison Jean Lester's challenging, charming characters as they grapple with a sense of dislocation and the nagging possibility of betrayal that accompanies new beginnings. Lester writes evocatively about the many facets of being far from home or uncomfortable where home is. These stories will appeal to seasoned and armchair travelers alike.
Locked Out: Stories Far From Home
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Editorial Reviews
Review
In this brilliant book, Alison Lester has mapped out a new and tiny country located somewhere between expatriate and patriot, foreigner and native, woman and human being. (Alicia Erian )
These taut little stories, spare and exact, not only put an insightfully quirky finger on the pulse of expatriate life but touch the difficult business of living itself. An original voice full of residue (Meira Chand )
Sharply observed debut collection of stories places ex-pat English-speakers in exotic locales. The title story is an unsparing look at the life of an American wife and mother living in Tokyo who suspects her executive husband is having an affair with his sleek assistant. Caring for her young son in the couple's luxurious Tokyo apartment, she finally befriends her obliging Korean neighbor Sook Young, who, like her, is a size 10. 'Needing Ice,' again set in Tokyo, concerns an older Canadian teacher who is sought out by one of her fragile female students for advice after the girl is struck by her boyfriend. The narrator, Margaret, goes to have a talk with the boy and discovers something surprising. 'Bill's Bones' chronicles a middle-aged Australian lady's return to the Indonesian Club Med resort where her husband, Bill, drowned after an argument the year before. In the concluding piece, "Really Trying to Get Somewhere," a pair of jaded, eight-years-married travel agents go on a junket to Sri Lanka-and fare rather badly. Unable to summon the enthusiasm for a meaningful connection with each other, they drink to excess at parties and horse races. Unapologetic, critical observations of disgruntled English speakers in faraway places. (Kirkus Reviews )
These taut little stories, spare and exact, not only put an insightfully quirky finger on the pulse of expatriate life but touch the difficult business of living itself. An original voice full of residue (Meira Chand )
Sharply observed debut collection of stories places ex-pat English-speakers in exotic locales. The title story is an unsparing look at the life of an American wife and mother living in Tokyo who suspects her executive husband is having an affair with his sleek assistant. Caring for her young son in the couple's luxurious Tokyo apartment, she finally befriends her obliging Korean neighbor Sook Young, who, like her, is a size 10. 'Needing Ice,' again set in Tokyo, concerns an older Canadian teacher who is sought out by one of her fragile female students for advice after the girl is struck by her boyfriend. The narrator, Margaret, goes to have a talk with the boy and discovers something surprising. 'Bill's Bones' chronicles a middle-aged Australian lady's return to the Indonesian Club Med resort where her husband, Bill, drowned after an argument the year before. In the concluding piece, "Really Trying to Get Somewhere," a pair of jaded, eight-years-married travel agents go on a junket to Sri Lanka-and fare rather badly. Unable to summon the enthusiasm for a meaningful connection with each other, they drink to excess at parties and horse races. Unapologetic, critical observations of disgruntled English speakers in faraway places. (Kirkus Reviews )
About the Author
Alison Jean Lester (USA and Singapore) is the great great great-granddaughter of Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne, Charles Dickens's illustrator) and the daughter of author Valerie Lester and author and jazz musician James Lester.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love these short stories!,
By Jen Marceaux (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Locked Out: Stories far from home (Paperback)
My family is moving to Singapore and I was looking for something to tell me a little more about this tiny island country. I feel like I got a good peek at the Asian culture. More than that, though, I enjoyed the different short stories. There were a couple of them that, after reading them, I wanted to know what happened next. I like how the author leaves us wanting to know more. I don't feel like the stories were unfinished at all. It's just that even in a short story, I got wrapped up in these characters so easily!
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read!,
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This review is from: Locked Out: Stories far from home (Paperback)
These short stories cover lots of issues surrounding life overseas - love, loss, loneliness, belief, desire, dreams. I love the way Alison is able to paint a clear picture so we really get to know all the interesting characters and feel what they are feeling. I found Alison's writing very skilful - I could really feel the emotions in each story. There's some good humour too - very cleverly written. Good stuff!
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