1. The Expatriate BookReview
A beautiful andmovingstory,The Expatriate,isatale capturingthe livesof three womenentangledin
the constraintsof the expatbubble inHongKong.Sucha hauntinglyhonestread,thisbook’sprologue is
teemedwithMercy, HilaryandMargaret tryingto survive intheirdevastatingworld.
Characters
The Expatriate thenbeginstounfoldhow these womenare struckby theirordealsthatmake the reader
see howinsularitycanbe so commonyeta complex privilege,especiallyinthe contextof afragile
woman. The Expatriate revealsthe unspokenrulesof theirmilieuevenastheylingerinaplace of lost
identity.
Mercy suffersunspeakable strategythatleavesherwithastrugglingpersonainertia.Hilarytriesto
counterthe stalenessinhermarriage,strugglingtohave achild,byofferingpianolessonstoorphans
onlyforher actionsto findcriticisminananonymousonline forum.Margaret,unable toheal,questions
hermaternal abilitiesdespite beingamotherof three.
Author’sReflections
Janice Y K. Lee brilliantlyintertwinesthree separatelives,andwitheachstep,he getsthemcloserto
each other,almosttoa chockingpoint.The Expatriate provokesfeelingsandthoughtsof the reader
throughgrief,flatterandmisconceivedidentityof the three characters.
The writerbringsa real energyand depthtothe contextof Hong Kongthat portrays a mix of East and
Westacting to make the storyof these womenintriguingandenjoyabletothe lastpage.The Expatriate
alsoshowsa threadof compassionthatcreatesa delicate balance betweenthe strugglesandhope the
future holds.