Eight Questions: Alan Paul, ‘Big in China’
Between 2006 and 2008, experienced reporters in The Wall Street Journal’s China bureau were regularly humbled by the popularity of a WSJ.com column about China written by someone who had next to no background as a China watcher. The column was called “The Expat Life,” and its author was Alan Paul, husband of then-China Bureau Chief Rebecca Blumenstein. What was humbling about the “The Expat Life” wasn’t just the page views it managed to rack up, but the unusual quickness with which its author managed to find his stride in China, even going so far as to carve out a space for himself in the Beijing music scene as the front man for blues band Woodie Alan (named Beijing Band of the Year in 2008 by readers of local expat rag City Weekend).
Now Mr. Paul has compiled the experiences documented in his column into a book, “Big in China,” released by Harper Collins last week. China Real Time caught up with him by email and asked him eight questions about the book, the band and how he’s dealt with going back to the U.S. Excerpts. Following are a few of the questions:
Let’s start with the title of your book. How did you land on “Big in China?” Is that a “This is Spinal Tap” reference?
When your wife told you she’d been offered the chance to become China bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, what went through your head? Did you ever think, “No, I’ve got a life and three young kids, I’d rather just stay here in New Jersey”?
As a number of reviews have noted, you were one of a very few male trailing spouses in Beijing’s expat community, living in a country with a highly male-dominated culture. How does a former rock and sports writer deal with that?
One of subjects you talk about in the book is a place called “Expat Land.” How far is it from Beijing? And what’s it like there?
Your book is based largely on your WSJ column, ‘The Expat Life,” which I think is fair to say was an unexpected success. What was the genesis of the column? And why do you think it resonated with readers?
What is “Chinese blues”? And how did you, a white guy who didn’t speak Chinese, come to start playing it?
Beijing Blues Woodie Alan
Big In China — about the book
Love their sound!! I have to interview these guys! Calling Alan Paul Calling Alan Paul?? Beijing Blues Woodie Alan Way To Go! What a sexy voice! Check out the “Big In China” Video of Alan Paul and his beautiful wife and three children! Awesome job Rebecca! We LOVE the Asian Edition of “The Wall Street Journal”!
Now this is GREAT MUSIC, NOT LADY GAGA–YUK! She sounds like an alarm going off in the ears next to Miles Davis and these guys.
More from Woodie Alan:
Wow! ALan Paul answers!
Thank you so much for answering me so promptly Alan! I will be sure to contact you asap. Judging from this post, you have a large and growing Asian American fan base! I am listening to Woodie Alan while getting some work done as I write this.
Alan Paul answering the page. Drop me a line. Happy to chat any time.