 | Red Dust by Ma Jian
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £0.01 One of the most recently viewed books, quickly replaced as my fave. See China less as an intellectual exercise but more with emotional realities, I share his outlook! Very dark.. and funny.
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 | Daughter of the River: An Autobiography by Hong Ying
Buy used from: £0.01 Utterly depressing and humbling, but moving. Before coming to China this was my fave.
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 | Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
Buy used from: £0.01 The classic. First stop for most I think, including me. Responsible for my interest in China and self-exile. Thanks to you Jung Chang!
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 | The Good Women of China by Xinran
Buy new: £12.74 / Used from: £0.01 Comparisons to Wild Swans are numerous, but despite some similarities this book stands up in its own right. Fantastic.
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 | To the Edge of the Sky by Anhua Gao
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £0.01 There are so many 'I survived China but only just' memoirs around, but if you read one you will very likely read another, and this would be a fine addition. Again, fantastic.
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 | Red China Blues: My Long March from Mao to Now by Jan Wong
Buy used from: £0.01 Fascinating perspective.. all the way from Mao to the events of '89. Something every student communist should read.
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 | A Leaf in the Bitter Wind by Ting-Xing Ye
Buy used from: £0.01 From the life of a black (as opposed to a red) funny.. great.. heartwarming.. she learns to hold a gun!
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 | Daughter of China: A True Story of Love and Betrayal by Larry Engelmann
Buy new: £7.99 / Used from: £0.01 Despite the offputting title, this book isn't full of romantic rubbish, altho obviously thats there too. Great story.. ahh reality so very... dim at times.
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 | The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran
Buy new: £5.32 / Used from: £0.01 My boss's friend remarked once that he suspected there were people living in villages who probably didn't know they were part of a larger whole called China. Yes! One such chapter here describes them.
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 | Red Azalea: Life and Love in China by Anchee Min
Buy used from: £0.01 Bizarre! But thats what makes this so fascinating! Combine China, communism, theatre and lesbianism and this is what you get! A very strange and enticing novel.
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 | Bound Feet and Western Dress by Pang-Mei Natasha Chang
Buy new: £7.99 / Used from: £0.01 A different period of history, during the warlords/republic. So great but oh so short! There must be more!
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 | Colours of the Mountain by Da Chen
Buy new: £7.02 / Used from: £0.01 Good to see something written by a bloke for once. (Except my beloved Ma Jian of course) Without sounding too Oprah, this guy is pretty inspirational.
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 | Sounds of the River: A Memoir of China by Da Chen
Buy used from: £0.54 The second installment is, unlike star wars sequels does not disappoint. Fantastic.
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 | Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng
Buy used from: £0.07 How Nien Cheng can show no bitterness... this book is upsetting yet moving. Let yourself be taken in by the saga...
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 | The Private Life of Chairman Mao by Zhisui Li
Buy new: £11.37 / Used from: £9.36 Absolutely fascinating to get a glimpse into this level of rankage in the party workings.. (altho Jan Wong has her criticisms) Still... a mammoth read, but totally readable.. so intriguing!
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 | Lake with No Name: A True Story of Love and Conflict in Modern China by Diane Wei Liang
Buy used from: £0.01 Written by a fellow psychologist. Covers Tiannamen, love, and the unfathomable entity that is, modern china.
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 | Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
Buy new: £6.48 / Used from: £0.01 Covers different events as her family escapes China before the cultural revolution.. so even less history here, still an interesting story.
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 | Watching the Tree: A Chinese Daughter Reflects on Happiness, Spiritual Beliefs and Universal Wisdom by Adeline Yen Mah
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £0.01 Good for us curious westerners eager for knowledge. Frustrating on coming to China having the Chinese tell me things I already know. Surely if I am this well read I would have realised this before.
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 | A Thousand Pieces of Gold: A Memoir of China's Past Through Its Proverbs by Adeline Yen Mah
Buy new: £4.83 / Used from: £0.01 Really fascinating the way the tales of the first emperor is told her, intwined with memories of Yen Mah's life. Very readable.
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 | River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler
Buy new: £7.06 / Used from: £0.01 Great insight from a laowai teacher! Any one planning to TEFL should read Wild Swans, and this. Hilarious in places.
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