China is fertile ground for any writer, and the internet has given a voice to people who aren’t anointed by the Sino Twitterati. Parsley & Coriander: Life in China with Italian Flavour has no mainstream coverage, no Peter Hessler blurb to signal to you that this is the “right” kind of China book. It’s as simple as someone went to China, and wrote what they experienced.
Parsley & Coriander takes place over a year and the narrative is divided among Luisella, Emma, and Astrid, three Italian wives uprooted from Europe and dropped into China via their husbands’ careers.
And this is a China some of you might know: the gated expat compounds. Grimey ESL teachers, these ain’t; these women have drivers, their husbands have careers and for some the prospect of returning to their home country becomes terrifying rather than a cruel daydream.
Formatting is an issue for this book. Sometimes the characters speak with em-dashes, sometimes in quotes, while in other chapters they think in quotes. There’s also too much telling, and not enough happening; some chapters consist of a conversation. You’ll read chapters where not much is happening, and you’ll wonder what the point is.
There is good stuff in the book, though. And that just poses another problem: there isn’t enough of it. Parsley & Coriander should have been about Emma’s failing marriage and her relationship with her driver, Mr. Wang, perhaps told from Luisella’s perspective. Everything else should have served that plot.
But as enjoyable as Emma and Mr. Wang’s story is, it’s too little, too late. Parsley & Coriander is an enjoyable book.
With hints of a much stronger story.
Mrs. Moretti was kind enough to answer some questions about her life in China, her writing process and her to-be-read pile:
Let’s begin with my favorite question during my three years in China: why did you come to China?
I followed my husband. He got a job offer in China and we jumped at the chance, thinking that that could be a great opportunity for the whole family. So far, I’m very happy with our choice.
There’s a tendency to pull from real experiences for an expat novel. How much of this comes from real life?
Even if it is a novel with invented characters, my book draws fully from the real life of an expat woman in China. It was easy for me to describe the daily life of the characters because they are expat ladies like me. I know the feelings of excitement, fear, loneliness. I understand how an expat wife can feel lost, without a role, overwhelmed. They are privileged ladies, indeed, but they also have to face many challenges. In order to keep their family united, they have to be strong, positive, proactive.
What is your writing process?
For this book, I first sketched the characters, their personality, background and the message I wanted each of them to deliver. Then I outlined a plot, creating a different story for all of them. I wanted some obstacle on their way, something they had to fight to demonstrate their courage.
Luisella prefers to remain in China instead of returning to Italy. Do you sympathize with her point of view?
I do! Even if I love Italy, I wouldn’t go back at the moment. I feel that China gives us more opportunities and it’s a more dynamic place.
What about China has changed since you arrived? Do you feel anything has changed for the better or worse?
Since I arrived, there are many more skyscrapers in Suzhou. And Technology runs so fast! Now we don’t use cash anymore to pay, and even when we buy baozi at a small stall we use our phone to pay. Sometimes I feel amazed by all these changes, sometimes they scare me.
One nice thing I noticed, is that pollution is less severe than six years ago when I first arrived in China. The problem still exists, but they made improvements. This comforts me since I plan to live here still for a long time.
What are the top three books in your to-be-read pile?
I’m currently interested in expat novels so I’m reading your “Expat Jimmy” and “South China Morning Blues” by Ray Hecht. I also started a book about the life of factory girls in South China. But I have to admit I’m to busy writing my second book, so I don’t read as much as I should.
Anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’m often contacted by women who have to follow their husband in China and are deadly afraid of moving in this country. It’s easier than you think, girls! Of course, this country has its bad sides, like every other place in the world, but life here can be very convenient. With the right attitude, this experience will be enriching and positive.
Un grandissimo grazie to Mrs. Moretti for allowing me to read her book and feature it here.
Buy Parsley & Coriander on Amazon, and be sure to check out her blog, in English and Italian. For more updates, follow Mrs. Moretti on Facebook and Twitter.
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