Undress Me in the Temple of HeavenThey were young, brilliant, and bold. They set out to conquer the world. But the world had other plans for them. Bestselling author Susan Jane Gilman's new memoir is a hilarious and harrowing journey, a modern heart of darkness filled with Communist operatives, backpackers, and pancakes. In 1986, fresh out of college, Gilman and her friend Claire yearned to do something daring and original that did not involve getting a job. Inspired by a place mat at the International House of Pancakes, they decided to embark on an ambitious trip around the globe, starting in the People's Republic ofChina. At that point,Chinahad been open to independent travelers for roughly ten minutes. Armed only with the collected works of Nietzsche, an astrological love guide, and an arsenal of bravado, the two friends plunged into the dusty streets ofShanghai. Unsurprisingly, they quickly found themselves in over their heads. As they ventured off the map deep into Chinese territory, they were stripped of everything familiar and forced to confront their limitations amid culture shock and government surveillance. What began as a journey full of humor, eroticism, and enlightenment grew increasingly sinister-becoming a real-life international thriller that transformed them forever. Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven is a flat-out page-turner, an astonishing true story of hubris and redemption told with Gilman's trademark compassion, lyricism, and wit. |
Contents
Chapter | |
Chapter 2 | |
Chapter 3 | |
Chapter 4 | |
Chapter 5 | |
Chapter 6 | |
Chapter 7 | |
Chapter 8 | |
Chapter 9 | |
Chapter 10 | |
Chapter 11 | |
Chapter 12 | |
Afterwards Acknowledgments | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
actually American appeared arms arrived backpack began Beijing believe China Chinese Claire Claire’s course Dinghai don’t door Eckehardt English everything eyes face father feel felt finally floor girl give glanced Guilin Gunter hair hands head hear Hong Kong idea imagine It’s Jonnie later laughed leave light Lisa live looked minutes moment morning mother never night nodded officers okay once passport pulled reached river road Sandy seemed Shanghai side sleeping smiled soon sorry sound standing stood stopped street suddenly sure Susie tell There’s thing tickets told train trying turned voice wait walked wall watch we’re Western whispered woman York