Habit of a Foreign Sky by Xu Xi: Book Review

  

Somewhere between Hong Kong and New York, life does an abrupt shift for Gail Szeto, when her mother, her last family member, is killed in an accident. For Gail, a mixed-race, single mother who had buried her young son less than two years prior, all she has left is a hard-won career at a global investment bank. Life rapidly goes into free fall for this woman with a complicated past, who was once so sure of her direction in life, who can now see no clear future path. Shortlisted for the inaugural Man Asian Literary Prize, this novel offers a an international cast of characters in New York, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Sites of Interest: Author's Site | Buy the Book

Publisher: Haven Books | Published: October 16, 2010

Paperback | 288 pages | ISBN 978-9881896728

Genre: Literary Fiction

            In Habit of a Foreign Sky, Xu Xi paints a picture foreign to most of us. It is a story of great loss, hardship, and sacrifice. The story tells of Gail Szeto, a powerful Hong Kong businesswoman who has lost her mother, her son, and her husband all in the span of two years. Her mother and son, both lost to tragic accidents, and her husband lost to an affair with his secretary. Gail not only must face these awful hardships but also carry the burden of being mixed race in a city where purity of race is of utmost importance. Meanwhile, she carries a family secret that she has never told anyone, including her unfaithful ex husband.  As Gail deals with grief and loss, her company announces that it is closing its Hong Kong location. Gail is devastated, her entire life revolved around her job after her trial-some two years. Gail is forced to make a decision, stay in Hong Kong, the familiar, or transfer to New York, the unknown. As she faces this turmoil, Gail meets an intriguing man named Xavier with a charming daughter named Kina. He pursues her, but Gail has no time for romance in her life, right? Her life is work and structure, not frivolous follies with men she meets in airports. But can Gail Szeto change her ways for the ‘perfect man.’ Or is Xavier really all that he seems? The story continues on to reveal secrets of Gail and Xavier’s past alike that will surprise each and every reader.

           Xi weaves a beautiful tale of a grief-stricken woman in a world where business is everything. I was enthralled with the story the moment I cracked open the spine. I implore each and every one of you to pick up a copy of Habit of a Foreign Sky as soon as you can. The characters may just surprise you.