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What to read?
* WILD SWANS – THREE DAUGHTERS OF
CHINA
Jung Chang (Doubleday 1991)
This tale of the travail of a Chinese family in the 20th century mirrors
the larger tragedy experienced by Chinese society. It provides an intimate
and personal view of the Chinese spirit facing unrelenting difficulty.
A fascinating read!
* RIVER TOWN: TWO YEARS ON THE YANGTZE
Peter Hessler (HarperCollins 2001)
A delightful, interesting, and insightful look at everyday life in China,
as told from the perspective of Peace Corps Volunteer Peter Hessler. Using
humor, wit, and sensitivity, we are introduced to the trials and tribulations
of the residents of Fuling, who struggle with economic reforms, social
changes, and the dramatic alteration of their river.
* CHINA: A NEW HISTORY
John King Fairbank and Merle Goldman (Harvard University Press 1998)
An excellent overview of the broad 2,000 year expanse of Chinese history,
with emphasis on modern times, providing readers with a better understanding
of this complex nation and its place in the world.
* THE SEARCH FOR MODERN CHINA
Jonathan Spence (Norton 1990)
This is the work to read if you want an approachable history of China
with a scholar’s depth. The drama of Chinese history for the last
four to five hundred years makes for heartrending reading.
* BEFORE THE DELUGE, THE VANISHING WORLD
OF THE UPPER YANGTZE RIVER
Deirde Chetham ((Palgrave Macmillan 2002)
A vivid portrait of the Three Gorges region of the Upper Yangtze River
by noted Harvard researcher and veteran lecturer on study trips to China.
*SHANGHAI: COLLISION POINT OF CULTURES,
1918/1939
Harriet Sergeant (Crown 1991)
This is the best book for getting a feel for the history of the city and
its landmarks. A must-read book on a fascinating place.
*THE LAST EMPEROR: THE DRAMATIC STORY OF
THE EMPEROR OF CHINA WHO BECAME A COMMUNIST
Arnold C. Brackman (Scribners 1975)
Of the many books on the subject, this is the one that achieves a balanced
account between victim and traitor without sacrificing any of the high
drama of the story.
*THE GENIUS OF CHINA: 3,000 YEARS OF SCIENCE,
DISCOVERY AND INVENTION
Robert Temple, ed. (Simon & Schuster 1986)
This book should change forever the way you think about China. But Beware!
There are other books with the identical title, but not the same sub-title.
*MAO & CHINA: INSIDE CHINA’S
CULTURAL REVOLUTION
Stanley Karnow (Penguin 1972)
An excellent overview of the many convoluted and surreal stages of the
Cultural Revolution by the creator of the PBS series, “Viet Nam:
A Television History.” This book provides the best insight into
China’s disastrous experience with communists.
*SCHOLAR WARRIOR – AN INTRODUCTION
TO THE TAO IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Deng Ming-Dao (HarperCollins 1990)
An excellent introduction to the subtle thought and practices of Daoism
and qigong. This book has the rare distinction of translating difficult
concepts into English without losing the weight, depth, and flexibility
of the original.
*CITY OF LINGERING SPLENDOR - A FRANK ACCOUNT
OF OLD PEKING’S EXOTIC PLEASURES
John Blofeld (Shambala 1961 – Reissued 1990)
Blofeld recounts his youthful sensual, spiritual, and literary experiences
in Beijing in the 1930’s. His premise is that this old way of life
is gone forever, however, we have found that the old life and sensibilities
still live on in China today.
*A SINGLE PEBBLE
John Hersey (Vintage 1989)
In this short, controlled novel, the river itself is as much of a character
as the Chinese trackers who haul a traditional Yangtze junk up the river
through rapids, floodwater and narrow gorges. It’s a haunting, prophetic
book that evokes a traditional way of life.
What to see?
RAISE THE RED LANTERN by
Zhang Yimou, Director
JU DOU by Zhang Yimou, Director
QIUJU GOES TO COURT by Zhang
Yimou, Director
SHANGHAI TRIAD by Zhang
Yimou, Director
HERO by Zhang Yimou, Director
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
by Zhang Yimou, Director
TO LIVE by Zhang Yimou,
Director
FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE by
Chen Kaige, Director
THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN
by Chen Kaige, Director
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
by Ang Lee
THE LAST EMPEROR by Bernardo
Bertolucci
KUNDUN by Martin Scorsese
XIU XIU: THE SENT DOWN GIRL
by Joan Chen
THE SOONG SISTERS by Mabel
Cheung
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