Job Discussion Forums

gerard · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 581 Location: Internet Cafe

I went to a big bookstore here-not in Shanghai-and it was a bit much. Classics like Henry James and Greek Tragedies. And at the other end of the spectrum stuff like vampire novels and westerns. Who the hell is stocking the shelves??? I have nothing against the classics but are the Chinese really going to read them in their second language? I find them difficult even on a good day and I am a FOREIGN EXPERT. As for the other stuff it is just junk in any language. Why don't they stock things people might actually read??? Maybe "light" novels or even magazines. Granted I am in the boonies but this bookstore was in Ningbo which is a fairly major city. Are things this dire everywhere??? I was in Shanghai on the book street (Huzho street???) and things weren't much better. I might have went to the wrong stores. Say it aint this bad.

goldstar · Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 44 Location: Henan

I'm afraid it is that bad or worse in most places. Shanghai and Beijing have much better selections, but you pay western prices, as these are mostly imports. One store that I found that was pretty good is Mandarin books, which is I think a chain. The one I checked out was near the university in Kunming. They had a good mix of chinese literature, language books, and imported and reprinted novels.

hubei_canuk · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 240 Location: hubei china

Here's a personal friend of mine in Yangshuo.
Order REAL foreign used books online!
I will guarantee he is a straight arrow.

http://www.yangshuo.biz/books/

Johnny picks up books from foreign travellers (many backpackers through Yangshuo and he has a pipeline to GZ/HK. It's easy to order by mail, just use chinese PMO. and he DOESN'T charge for any postage and handling.
You wouldn't believe the first rate finds i've made here, best-sellers, specialty item. If you can't find it on the list just email him with your requests and he will have his waitresses take a look (He runs a coffe shop and a hotel for foreigners).. new books every day.
Only takes 4 to 7 days for shipment!!!!111

Minhang Oz · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 610 Location: Shanghai,ex Guilin

'fraid so Gerard The Foreign Languages Bookstore you visited in Fuzhou Rd. is as good at it gets-imported novels on the top floor at imported prices;no book discounters here.The stuff you mention is out of copyright so can be ripped off locally....actually,some of the classics you can find are compulsory reading;D.H Lawrence,Charles Dickens etc.There are exchange and second hand shops in places like the legendary Yangshuo,but that doesn't help us.Find some expats who brought a supply with them is all I can suggest.

Minhang Oz · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 610 Location: Shanghai,ex Guilin

Amazing! I just refered to the 19th Centuries most famous novelist,and got BEEPED because his name is Dickens! Pity if your name is Dick,or you refer to a dicktionary.Lighten up moderators/programmers et al!

hubei_canuk · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 240 Location: hubei china

"There are exchange and second hand shops in places like the legendary Yangshuo,but that doesn't help us" OZ person
------------
????
HUH?
????
How is it that that doesn't help you?
Johnny is very fluent in English. Phone rates are so cheap you can even phone him. His waitresses have lots of spare time and love to study english. They'll spend all day searching for whatever book or author or subject you want. Mail order is very quick and cheap. You pay a couple of extra kuai for insurance and get a receipt for proof. of sending. You don't even pay for the shipping and handling!!
..
In Guanxi province they don't need the profit margin that a beijing bookseller does. My friend in Hunan just ordered 6 or 7 novels.
The prices are about ma-ma-hu-hu .. in-between.. but you get things you couldn't get elsewhere.
You simply can't get elsewhere.
..
You get what other foreigners are currently reading.. i mad e some surprising finds getting stuff in my specialties martial arts and vientnam history and zen buddhism, history stuff. psychology books.
You can't get this stuff elsewhere in China. It's because of the backpackers and long term layovers by foreigners in Yangshuo. They hole up there for months and establish liasons with the locals.
(Gee. that includes me... i did that seveeral times there).
..
Give it a try.
Look at the website or send Johnny an email!!!
..

http://www.yangshuo.biz/
[email protected]
..
(Mobile) 13878272025
0773- 8828342

...
Well Oz : The programmmers obviouly don't now their Dikens from their Great Expectations!

Minhang Oz · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 610 Location: Shanghai,ex Guilin

Hey RCMP man canuk,get off your horse.Hadn't read your posting,but was replying to the originator of this thread,my recent acquaintance Gerard.I lived in Guilin for 2 years,so know the Yangshuo scene quite well.The service you describe sounds like the answer,so no need to get fascetious-Australians have feelings too.My comment about language censorship programs stands...I had a Japanese colleague in Australia who had trouble emailing home on the school network because of the number of Japanese words that start with S H I T :they all got beeped.What the D I C K E N S is the world coming to?

chinasyndrome · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2003 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: BEEP

gerard · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 581 Location: Internet Cafe

Thanks for the feedback. Hubei that is a very interesting link. Think I missed something here the mods might have deleted a post. Careful now. A Chinese teacher loaned me Dream of Red Lanterns which should keep me busy for a while. Was hoping to read it on a train until you know what.

Minhang oz---Yes think you are right borrowing books from expats might be the best bet. And yes one should read the classics but I just don't feel up to tackling Jane Austin right now. Is she cute??? HA. By the way we are CRAZY about Aussies. Best people going.

hubei_canuk · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 240 Location: hubei china

"Hey RCMP man canuk,get off your horse.Hadn't read your posting,but was replying to the originator of this thread,my recent acquaintance Gerard.I lived in Guilin for 2 years,so know the Yangshuo scene quite well.The service you describe sounds like the answer,so no need to get fascetious-Australians have feelings too.My comment about language censorship programs stands" ---Ozperson
-----------------------------------------
Another Huh???
Ozperson, i haen't perceived myself as attacking you or OZ people or being faceitious or attacking comments about language censorship.
If this is your perception please be assured it is not my intent.
...
The only thing i said was "HUH???" Why would you say Yangshuo woudln't help after i posted that link.
Now perhaps the reason is that you didn't read my post?
Anyway try a litle bit more lightly.
In fact, i made a joke about language censorship.
Do you object to "OZ person"... by that i mean "person from oz". If i said "ozguy" i might be presumtious amnd accused of sexism. This is the age of political correctness!!
'''''''''''''''''''''
Doesn't matter at all!!!!!!!!
Guilin rocks! so does Yangshuo.
i've been in Yangshuo every season. Many times i was there for months. I wrote lots of articles on hiking about Yangshuo. Got lots of friends there.
Johnny is A book solution. An unique solution because of the special situation of Yangshuo.
Ever see the RCMP firing squad? I think it's on the back of a fifty dollar bill. Mounties on horseback in a circle pointing inwards. Smile

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Book exchange - trade-in, yes it does exist, has existed for maybe ten years, but so far almost only in YANGSHUO. The Sihai Hotel in XIjie, and the Holiday Inn used to have such books.
Also in Dali, Yunnan (a cafe then run by an American and his local wife), but I have not been there recently.
It would be a good idea to try a YH. The Guangzhou Youth Hostel used to have some books, but they wanted to resell them (left-overs from backpackers). Last time I popped in the books were gone though.

While the selection of foreign-language titles at Chinese bookstores leaves many desires unfulfilled, I must say it is a lot better than it used to be. You can now buy OXFORD dictionaries and other reference works including books on biology, chemistry and other subject-matters. Since even previously-banned Western pop and rock'n roll bands are now allowed to perform in the PRC we can all expect to eventually see good literature from overseas on display at Xinhua.

hubei_canuk · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 240 Location: hubei china

"Book exchange - trade-in, yes it does exist, has existed for maybe ten years, but so far almost only in YANGSHUO. The Sihai Hotel in XIjie,"
- roger
------------------------------
Roger!
The Sihai Hotel (Four Seas Hotel) in Xi Jie (West Street) was Johnny's original start. He rented the cafe in the Sihai that had the books. That's where i got my nickname "noodles" because i ate noodles every day.
Now Johnny has moved out and the new Cafe at the Sihai still has Books and there are many other imitators of Johny's idea.
But now Johnny has the largest selection in Yanshuo, wall to wall books in his own Cafe down the street and his new Hotel. He is the only one with enough volume to put his listings on the internet.

http://www.yangshuo.biz/

MyTurnNow · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 860 Location: Outer Shanghai

If you get over to Suzhou try the Foreign Languages Bookstore on Renmin Lu. At any given moment they seem to have about 500 paperbacks on hand, of which about 498 will be garbage but about 2 will be readable. Still a better score than almost all the others here.

It took a trip to China to make 'The Iliad' worth reading. I can just picture Homer reciting it, interspercing it with the occasional DOHHH!! and beer-and-donut breaks.

If you're lucky in Suzhou's bookstore, you might even find information on our esteemed Vice-President, Dick Cheney! Very Happy

MT