by Ariel Magnus
Argentina was the feature country on Frankfurt’s book fair in 2010. They had a strong and interesting presence there, unlike other former feature countries. One of the books, which got a lot of press attention was “Un Chino en Bicicleta”. Maybe because Ariel Magnus spent several years in Germany and speaks fluently German. The topic of the book is the recent Chinese immigration, and especially their current life in Buenos Aires. Apparently not so known to many Argentinians. It starts with an absurd idea: a Chinese accused of setting fire to several furniture stores kidnaps one of the eye-witnesses and disappears with him in Buenos Aires’ Chinatown.
The Chinese tells the young and aimless Argentinian that he needs him to prove his innocence. That’s it! From now on he – and with him the reader – learns about the Chinese community: their “strange” customs, life stories, their own prejudices, and their life with those Argentinians. An extremely stupid rumor about Asian women, I personally heard many times, is that their vagina is horizontal. – The kidnapped Argentinian demystifies it for himself very soon since he starts a romantic relationship. Most of the book is really the account of chinese life in Buenos Aires. Very funny and interesting.
The Chinese tells the young and aimless Argentinian that he needs him to prove his innocence. That’s it! From now on he – and with him the reader – learns about the Chinese community: their “strange” customs, life stories, their own prejudices, and their life with those Argentinians. An extremely stupid rumor about Asian women, I personally heard many times, is that their vagina is horizontal. – The kidnapped Argentinian demystifies it for himself very soon since he starts a romantic relationship. Most of the book is really the account of chinese life in Buenos Aires. Very funny and interesting.
Facts:
English title: n/a
Original title: Un Chino en Bicicleta
Published: 2007
