Matt McAvoy Book Review

I have to admit, this book was laugh-out-loud funny at times; I found myself cracking up in a way I haven’t done for years when reading.  Well done, Carlos; comedy gold.  Bit crude and crass, at times, in a way where you know instantly it can only have been written by an English author; the language is very strong and its coarseness sometimes invokes an uncomfortable wince.  I don’t have a problem with that, as such – I’m no prude – but it has to be funny.  Though, in truth, Carlos hits the button most of the time.

I don’t know how much of White Monkey is his memoir, or based loosely on anecdotes he has heard on his travels; I would like to think more the former.  It will serve as a very sobering cautionary tale for anyone thinking about flippantly going abroad to teach TEFL, particularly to countries where the culture difference is such a shock, such as those in East Asia.  Some of the characters, though, are hysterical – especially, I felt, the protagonist’s boss (antagonist, perhaps?) Mr. Kim; I could just picture him, like a cross between a Cobra Kai villain and Peter Sellers in The Pink Panther.  Wonderful.  There was one character I felt was missing; I won’t give it away, but I did feel there was an unresolved story strand – indeed, the very reason for Darren’s trip.  But then, of course, this might be because the book is entirely anecdotal; it would be interesting to know if so.  Darren’s dad, too, is a very funny guy, even when the rules of modern society say you shouldn’t be laughing; I loved his old-fashioned, non-PC observations about the world.  I’ll admit, some of the Northern English tropes were a little bit far-fetched – 50p a week wages, etc. – and perhaps northern stereotypes laid on a touch thickly, but that may have helped give the book an almost slapstick level of comedy.

Despite the fish-out-of-water theme and casual racism/xenophobia toward the travelling teachers by the locals (the title should prepare you for this), Carlos ultimately journals this time affectionately.  Indeed, reading the author’s bio I can see that he has relocated permanently to the region (I am aware that the entire Far East is a big “region”; perhaps I should call it the Eastern hemisphere).  I did enjoy this book.  I wonder if perhaps it could have taken itself a bit more seriously, and honed down some of its rough edges, but otherwise it’s a great read.  If you like your comedy old-school then this will probably be the best bit of light relief you’ve experienced for some time.  Definitely recommended.