Gweilo by Martin Booth

Gweilo: Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood by Martin Booth was his last book, writen on the encouragement of his family, after he was diagnosed with cancer. He died, shortly after it was published in 2004.

Gweilo is a wonderfully rich, recount of the three short years that spanned the Booth family's first posting in Britain's far flung colony in the East. (They were to end up returning to Hong Kong not long after they left). Martin was only 7 when he first arrived to Hong Kong in the 1950's. Playing in the streets of Kowloon and the trails around the Peak, colonial Hong Kong was a treause trove for a young gweilo boy with an inquisitive mind and inquisitive feet.

What made this book for me, was that Martin Booth took after Joyce, his mother, and embraced Hong Kong's culture, people, and language. They loved Hong Kong and grew to call it home. They experienced something that few foreigners ever will and they lived in Hong Kong during a time that is all but gone.

Highly recommened for anyone who is looking to be charmed by the Pearl of the Orient.

Thanks for the recommendation Anthony!