Published by Harper Perennial, July 2013
Mitch Moxley came to Beijing in the spring of 2007 to take a job as a writer and editor for China Daily, the country's only English-language national newspaper. The Chinese economy was booming, the Olympics were on the horizon, and Beijing was being transformed into a world-class city overnight. Moxley planned to stay only through the Olympics and then head back to Canada.
But that was six years ago. In that time, Moxley fed a goat to a lion, watched a lingerie-wearing bear ride a bicycle, and crisscrossed the country writing stories. He also appeared as one of Cosmopolitan's one hundred most eligible bachelors in China, acted in a state-funded Chinese movie, and was paid to pose as a fake businessman.
During Moxley's journey of self-exploration, his comic adventures and misadventures in China gave way to the creation of his alter ego—Mi Gao, or Tall Rice. A funny and honest look at expat life, Apologies to My Censor also depicts the ways a country can touch and inspire you.
“An honest tale of living and working abroad in 21st century China. Moxley has a flare for creative non-fiction, with succinct dialogue, engaging narrative and, thankfully, very little earnestness.”
“In this witty memoir, Moxley recounts his coming-of-age years in the strange, gritty, and wonderful environment that is 21st century China. . . . A nostalgic travelogue.”
“This humorous memoir chronicles a man’s professional and personal emergence.”
“Though [Moxley] infuses Apologies with much insight and color commentary as to the cultural divides between East and West, it’s his own interior development that makes his memoir a success.”
“Honest, amusing accounts of coping with censorship at China Daily and living the high life as an expat in Beijing.”
“Pages of missed opportunity.”