Wow. I'm not only honored that you liked the book, but took the time to really get into the guts of the thing. This is the kind of thoughtful review that a writer dreams about. Cheers WBM!
Great review! I think I have a sample on my Kindle. Now I am definitely going to read it. I look forward to reading a a relevant and insightful book about the Asian expat teaching experience.
As someone who is well within their rights to take that image personally (and does, and really doesn’t find it funny)…what Substack content does that Reddit post refer to? Or did you mean a Reddit post related to the topic of this Substack piece?
It was shared on a substack note on an unrelated account (without the reddit sourced) in reply to someone who was discussing a topic on Westerners since it was relevant to them- later that day, or a few days later, i noticed that the picture was deleted, probably for the same reason. (though I am not sure by who)
Thanks, but I think I'm still confused? The pic is still there in the Reddit post? But never mind. No amount of panegyric can get me to read about a certain type of character I am unfortunately all too familiar with IRL.
The substack poster/OP deleted the pic they shared from that reddit, so reddit was never part of that note. Based on the date of that reddit post, it was 2023 or so, (an AI-generated photo). Reddit doesn't always delete photos even if users delete their accounts (I've seen worse photos on 4chan), but the substacker OP wasn't making a panegyric.
The content posted by a Reddit user remains even if they delete their account (which is while you’ll often see posts/comments by “[deleted]”); it’ll only be gone if they personally delete it, or mods or actual Reddit decide to remove it.
Yeah ofc there are “worse” pics out there on the interwebz; it’s just that the idea depicted is so very personally objectionable to me.
Re: panegyric, I meant the book review here. Not going to read something where the protagonist is a straight male ESL teacher in Asia (even if it’s supposed to be funny); bonus negative points when that’s what the author is/was (bc then it just feels less like absolute fiction).
Thanks for the clarification. I chose not to share the substacker's account/OP because I didn't want to bring them into the discussion, esp if they would be reminded of the same offense. I can probably find it, if I look hard enough.
I am not sure if I want to read the book either, although I can see how an autobiographical book can be a way for them to address their awkward fit in an Eastern society. It might not be great fiction, but a good therapeutic.
Comedy is a broad field- since you mentioned it, just out of curiosity, would it be funny if a gay ESL teacher was only interested in older Asian men?
Wow. I'm not only honored that you liked the book, but took the time to really get into the guts of the thing. This is the kind of thoughtful review that a writer dreams about. Cheers WBM!
The Cuttlefish is a great read. I did the ESL thing many years ago and reading the book took me right back to those days.
New York Review can suck it. I get all my book recs from here now, thanks.
Crackin review. Immediately went and ordered it. Thank you 🙏
Really want to read this now. Great review.
Great review! I think I have a sample on my Kindle. Now I am definitely going to read it. I look forward to reading a a relevant and insightful book about the Asian expat teaching experience.
I wanna hang with Zach, he my man...😎
there was this substack post a few weeks ago that originated from a Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/justneckbeardthings/comments/18ynwwc/chasing_after_mlady_in_japan {it's not pretty). feel free to delete this.
lol
As someone who is well within their rights to take that image personally (and does, and really doesn’t find it funny)…what Substack content does that Reddit post refer to? Or did you mean a Reddit post related to the topic of this Substack piece?
It was shared on a substack note on an unrelated account (without the reddit sourced) in reply to someone who was discussing a topic on Westerners since it was relevant to them- later that day, or a few days later, i noticed that the picture was deleted, probably for the same reason. (though I am not sure by who)
Thanks, but I think I'm still confused? The pic is still there in the Reddit post? But never mind. No amount of panegyric can get me to read about a certain type of character I am unfortunately all too familiar with IRL.
The substack poster/OP deleted the pic they shared from that reddit, so reddit was never part of that note. Based on the date of that reddit post, it was 2023 or so, (an AI-generated photo). Reddit doesn't always delete photos even if users delete their accounts (I've seen worse photos on 4chan), but the substacker OP wasn't making a panegyric.
The content posted by a Reddit user remains even if they delete their account (which is while you’ll often see posts/comments by “[deleted]”); it’ll only be gone if they personally delete it, or mods or actual Reddit decide to remove it.
Yeah ofc there are “worse” pics out there on the interwebz; it’s just that the idea depicted is so very personally objectionable to me.
Re: panegyric, I meant the book review here. Not going to read something where the protagonist is a straight male ESL teacher in Asia (even if it’s supposed to be funny); bonus negative points when that’s what the author is/was (bc then it just feels less like absolute fiction).
Thanks for the clarification. I chose not to share the substacker's account/OP because I didn't want to bring them into the discussion, esp if they would be reminded of the same offense. I can probably find it, if I look hard enough.
I am not sure if I want to read the book either, although I can see how an autobiographical book can be a way for them to address their awkward fit in an Eastern society. It might not be great fiction, but a good therapeutic.
Comedy is a broad field- since you mentioned it, just out of curiosity, would it be funny if a gay ESL teacher was only interested in older Asian men?
Thanks for the lead...just added to reading list...
Great write up, WBM. Makes me want to read the book. Kickass title too.
Thanks man it’s a fun read