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An Authentic Engrossing Story May 24, 2010
By Samuel Wong
It isn't fair. Ling spent weeks, if not months, writing his memoirs. I read it in one sitting, from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. the next day, with sleep in between. Actually, I woke up in the middle of the night to read where I left off. That's how engrossing Ling's story is.
Ling's fondness for the English language and training in journalism serve him well. He is truly a master storyteller, speaking in his own voice. I find his description of the college nurse vivid and true. That Lilliputian nurse/teacher was my college advisor.
Ling is a fellow alumni of that college in Singapore. He was, as I recall it, two years junior to me. I remember his virtuoso piano playing and his serious pursuit of theological study. The latter might be a mask, but the music making was real. I thought the Norwegian-Anglican lecturer was his idol. He always cradled to his chest a thick binder of notes on Systematic Theology.
I recognize most of the characters in his college experience and his early career in Singapore. I suppose he should be grateful to "Edwin" for showing him around Singapore and to "Wu Seng" for bringing him back to his American root. His account of his life in Singapore finds parallel in my book, A Chinese from Singapore.
Ling uses "special effects" very well, except in the one incident of addressing his letter to the wrong woman. I leave it to you to catch this faux pas. His recollection on the academic calendar of the college is different from mine. In the early 1960s, the college began the school year in January and ended in December. In later years, it might have switched to a different schedule.
These "discrepancies" do not undermine the authenticity of the story. Quintessential American, thy name is Stephen!
Samuel Wong
Author,
A Chinese from Singapore & A Diplomat in Guangzhou
Courageous life of a masterful storyteller Aug 19, 2009
By Keith Lim
"History, passion, comedy, irony, memories... but most important realizing our dreams and potential...is Crazy Americans. Acting on his dreams, a young boy learns from an early age how to challenge his limitations -- cultural and physical -- to unleash his potential."
J. Alberto Carrero, Executive Coach (Finland)
"Stephen is a maestro with the use of allegory. He is an artist with the use of emotions and feelings. He is also a craftsman, evident in the consistency of narration in his first memoir, about his growing up with this book when he took the journey from Singapore to the United States. Stephen writes with passion and flair which synergistically make this new book an interesting read."
Dr. Junid Saham, Director, Areca Capital (Malaysia)
"Crazy Americans is a story for everyone. It's an out-of-the-ordinary tale for those who dare to dream and hope. It's a journey of self-discovery, having sprouted and developed long before the author's true realization of himself, told boldly and nakedly through detailed anecdotes and personal correspondences. Above all, it's an inspiration for those who haven't been brave enough to answer the calling inside them. It's an attitude of life. Maybe, being crazy about one's true colors is not crazy, after all."
Helen Su, English Teacher (Taiwan)
"Stephen's tale of challenging the status quo and the tumultuous odyssey it precipitated, swings from heartbreaking, to shocking to uproariously funny, at times from seemingly laughing on the outside, to crying on the inside. He eloquently shares his struggles raising uncomfortable questions along the way, as he confronts economic, spiritual, sexual and multi-cultural issues. His joys, confusion, frustrations and vulnerability suck us into the gutsy, courageous life of a masterful storyteller."
Bonnie McGraw, Missionary friend (USA)
A Crazily Enjoyable Read Aug 16, 2009
By Ching-Mao Hsu
"This is not your average "just off the boat" story...with some parts having me laugh out loud, and others retreat into deep contemplation about the cruel, mean, dark side of American life. It is a discovery of the ying and yang of the American society."
Belinda Chin, Coordinator, Seattle Rainbow Bookfest (USA)
"Against a backaground of bone-wearying hard work, drugs and prostitution, a young man with a hunger for self-improvement tells of his efforts to rise above poverty and ignorance. The reader is drawn into the narrative by the writer's enthusiasm, optimism and his naivety. A river of images, both historical and literary, blending the tides of East and West, carried this reader irresistibly along. Displaying an incredible memory for facts, events, unforgettable characters and gastronomic adventures, the writer's voice rings with the fierce enthusiasm of a man ardent in spirit. That this spirit is unwaveringly up-beat is one of the many charms of this book."
Alathea Dykeman, Retired university professor (USA)
"Stephen has a fiercely personal style and tells his story with engaging candor and raw emotion. A remarkable account of a young man who refuses to accept what appears to be his miserable lot in life, and fights for his right to be educated.
Stephen weaves concise history lessons into the backdrop--and here his true calling as a teacher shines. In debt strokes he sketches the faulty, quirky characters of the first few Crazy Americans he meets--who would introduce him to the land where he feels he truly belongs--finally identifying himself as the quintessential Crazy American. A crazily enjoyable read; the stories and characters painted within each frame lingers long after I put down the book!"
Phyllis Tan, Executive Director & CEO, Metropolitan YMCA Singapore (Singapore)
an intimate and soul-baring journey Aug 15, 2009
By AB Davis
""admirer""
This book captures the mood of Southeast Asia in the mid-20th century as the author paints in vivid details the life of a young ethnic Chinese going through his adolescence and the larger canvas of social tumult against which the story took place. Raymond Zhou, author of X-RAY: EXAMING THE CHINA ENIGMA
A sequel to his stirring memoir FOR MY HANDS ONLY,Ling continues his search for freedom and a new life in America by overcoming numerous obstacles. With sensitivity and wit he takes us on a memorable journey. Diane B Harris, author of THE EAGLE AND THE CHICKENS
In CRAZY AMERICANS, the reader is transported to a world rich with descriptive socio-political and historical information as Ling unravels his personal "coming of age" experiences in his candid and
humurous style. CRAZY AMERICANS is a visual feast of words that whets the appetite and leaves the reader wanting more. Patricia Ang, author of POETIC ECHOES
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