For the Love of Freud

Title: Mr. Muo’s Travelling Couch
Author: Dai Sijie
U.S. Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf*
U.S. Publication Year: 2005
Rating: A

* Originally published in France as Le complexe de Di by Gallimard, Paris, in 2003.

I’ve truly grown to love Asian writers. This writer happens to be Chinese-born but lives and works in France. Either way, the culture and wit of Asia and its artists have overwhelmed and enthralled me. Mr. Muo’s Travelling Couch included.

Dai Sigie’s second novel Mr. Muo’s Travelling Couch follows the experiences of the title character as he goes back to China after studying psychoanalysis in France. He idolizes Freud and uses Freud’s theories to achieve what he wants in his many escapades. The irony of Muo’s practice is that he is a virgin. He constantly analyzes others according to Freud’s sexually driven theories, yet he’s never had sex himself.

Mr. Muo’s character is lovable and pitiable at the same time. His quiet, intelligent manner makes the predicaments he finds himself in that much more laughable. This book is filled with intelligent introspection and unconscious humor. Muo’s falling in and out of love, passing through danger, frustration after frustration, contribute to the character’s complexity.