China Books

This is a gem of a travel book. I didn't think a book set in Yemen would be this interesting or entertaining. I was pleasantly surprised by the author's adventures and his attention to detail on his journey. Highly recommended.

I read this book 6 years ago. It made me laugh and really appreciate the author and his adventures.
I shall read it again. It's one I saved just for that purpose.
I really recommend this book for anyone interested in the Yemeni culture or just for the appreciation of this author's wit and writing skills.

Great book and a good insight into the culture in Yemen and surrounding areas. Really shows the differences between life and bureacracy there and here in the US. Loved the ending, don't want to spoil it for anybody, but it wasn't what I expected. Highly recommended read.

This is a very interesting book that proves life is more interesting than fiction. The improbablity of searching for those notebooks....
I like the calm approach that Mr. Hansen took to the most unpredictable of circumstances he was in.
If you need a prod to get up and go on that trip you have been dreaming about for years, let this book fuel the fire.

"Khat ... also known as qat, gat, chat, and miraa ... is a flowering plant native to tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula... Khat contains the alkaloid cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant which causes excitement and euphoria... Traditionally, khat has been used as a socializing drug, and this is still very much the case in Yemen where khat-chewing is predominantly, although not exclusively, a male habit... Khat consumption induces mild euphoria and excitement. Individuals become very talkative under the influence of the drug and may appear to be unrealistic and emotionally unstable. Khat can induce manic behaviors and hyperactivity... A recent British study found khat to be much less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol." - from Wikipedia

Peripatetic scribblers wander to such obvious destinations as Italy, France, Greece, China, India, Australia, the Amazon, or Alaska, then write a book to tell the rest of us vegetables all about it. Here in MOTORING WITH MOHAMMED, accomplished travel writer Eric Hansen immerses the reader in North Yemen. (Where, you say?) North Yemen squatted next to the Red Sea just to the south of southwest Saudi Arabia, and joined with South Yemen in 1990 to become the Republic of Yemen.

Hansen's narrative is served up in two parts. Well, three, actually. The first takes place in 1978 when, after a 7-year period of wandering in other backwaters, the author is shipwrecked in the yacht "Clea", on which he was part of a five-person crew, on the uninhabited North Yemen island of Uqban. The first four chapters describe this experience, during which, for safekeeping, he buried on the island the wrapped journals of his previous adventures. The trouble is, he forgot to take them along when he and his companions were eventually rescued after fourteen days.

The book's second part - thirteen chapters - takes place during a ten-week period a decade later when Hansen returns to North Yemen to retrieve his cached journals. Unbeknownst to him, however, is that Uqban Island lay in a security zone virtually inaccessible to foreigners. This fact becomes frustratingly clear as he unsuccessfully conspires with local help to cross the twenty miles of water separating the mainland from the island. Meanwhile, he cools his heels exploring, and falling in love with, much of the rest of the country. It's this developing love affair with North Yemen that's the basis for most of MOTORING WITH MOHAMMED.

Whether he's tiptoeing across a precarious slope in the interior mountains, or witnessing the execution of a murderer, or participating in a communal qat chew, or sweating in a bathhouse, or feasting on stewed sheep's heads, Eric has a talent for observing the details that enrich the subsequent tale:

"There is a trick to cracking open the skulls. You place the thumb of one hand in an eye socket (with the eyeball still intact), and span the skull and grip the roof of the mouth with the fingers. The other hand grasps the lower jaw. A sharp twisting motion is accompanied by a sickening snap and a popping sound. When done properly, the slippery skull and jawbone come away in two pieces. Then you prise open the cranium." (Happily, this passage refers to the feast, not the execution.)

As the eighteenth and last chapter reveals, the author made the fortuitous acquaintance of the Yemeni ambassador to the United States at a Washington, D.C. photo exhibit of his nation's architecture eight months after the former returned to America sans journals. In the Middle East especially, it's all about whom you know. Thus, five months after that, Eric, shovel in hand, is sloshing through the Yemeni surf to a "fishing boat that smelled of rancid shark oil and pureed dates", which, Allah willing, can convey him and an agent of the National Security Police across the sea to Uqban. Truly, as the title of this chapter implies, "It was written."

I shall most certainly never make it to Yemen. Yes, researching "San'a", the capital of Yemen, on the Web does almost compel me to visit on a whim. But, being married, my own happy-go-lucky journeying days are over. Besides, Yemen seems at times to be, um, a bit too raw. But, through Hansen's eyes and wonderfully evocative prose, I'm taken there in fine style, and that's what a five-star travel essay is all about.

It's good to have an electronic copy of this book on your Kindle as a reference when you need it. And you can't beat the price. Well worth it.

The Art of War is ostensibly about winning battles in ancient China, but has endless implications for life today. It is in print in wide circulation mainly because people see it as valuable for business strategy, but it is also a useful way to think about politics in this election season, to pick only one other example. This particular edition is wonderful, giving the Chinese and English versions and commentary in an attractive package.

I expected the classic book, "The Art of War" to be written similar in the way that "The Prince" was, I was mistaken. In Sun Tzu's book it merely outlines various beliefs he has acquired over time without going much into detail about why to do things a certain way (He basically outlines objectives necessary to winning a war). The book itself seems to be broken into direct statements and is less than 80 pages long (the original that is). This version of the book with commentary I found to be incredibly helpful as it pushed forward the ideas of Sun Tzu while providing additional information about the times and other information that anyone would find helpful who does not have a perfect understanding of how history played out back in those times. I'm definitely happy I purchased this version of the book above others, however, now that I have read this one I would be interested in reading another version with additional commentary.

The most compelling book for understanding military strategy and tactics. You will be able to destroy your enemies if you can apply the principles of Sun Tzu effectively.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R15PR8H4737MEJ This is a magnificent book that tells as much about psychology as it does military strategy.

I have loved Tintin books since before I even knew how to read. Though I enjoy them all, there are a few that stand out above the rest for various reasons.

Tintin in Tibet is one of my five favorite Tintin adventures. I love the varied landscapes, the cultural references of the exotic region where the story is set, and the humor in the book. This book allows one to be taken to a far away land, one which most readers will probably never have the chance to visit in person in their lives. It also is different than most Tintin books in that there is no true villian to speak of. Instead, it turns out to be a story of hope and perseverance. In the end, it is a most satisfying adventure.

This is essentially Herge's spiritual soul searching 'hippie' book. If it had been done in the late 60s it would probably have been seen as being quite in tune with the popular culture of its time. Yet this was actually done ten years earlier in 1958, which makes it an almost visionary work. It was even orignally supposed to have had an all white cover, much like the beatles white album. All in all, one of the most enjoyable Tintin books, and also a timeless classic of 20th century popular culture.

Herge, Tintin in Tibet (Methuen, 1960)

Tintin in Tibet is a complete anomaly in the Tintin series, a diversion from Tintin's usual world of intrigue to follow a dream. Tintin finds out his old friend Chang (from The Blue Lotus) has been involved in a plane crash in Tibet, he and Haddock rush off to the crash site. Tintin is convinced Chang is still alive; everyone around him, including Haddock, tell him it's not possible. Tintin's quest to find out the truth of Chang's fate leads him into a monastery full of mystics and, ultimately, a search for the legendary yeti.

This is an amazing piece of work. It is, perhaps, the most universally lauded Tintin comic (Lofficier, in The Pocket Essential Tintin, says it's been voted the greatest French-language graphic novel of all time), and it is without doubt one of the best. ****

"Tintin in Tibet" is my first Tintin adventure. I am a librarian seeking new stories and saw this in a review. It looks like a story my older elementary students would like.

Others on the product page are long-time fans, beginning in childhood, with "Tintin in Tibet" as the favorite in the series of books written and illustrated by Herge. Not knowing anything about the back story, I will begin.

First, the book itself. It is 11 3/4 inches high and 8 3/4 inches wide with full-color illustrations on slick paper, making this a very nice looking graphic novel. The book is well worth its price. The covers of the other 24 adventures are shown on the back cover.

I'm not sure who Tintin is--maybe a teenager, or the Captain, definitely someone fond of Tintin and uncle-like, who watches out for Tintin, who in turn really doesn't need watching over. Tintin is on vacation when he learns of the plane crash of Chang, a Chinese friend his age, in the mountains of Nepal.

Tintin has a dream that Chang is alive and determines to go rescue him. Of course, the Captain goes along. Through hook and crook, they manage to put together a team to take them trekking through the mountains of Nepal to find the crash site and look for Chang. Tintin's dog Snowy also goes along. He makes me laugh with his stubborn and feisty comments. The funniest is at the beginning when he complains (in the cartoon bubbles) that his feet are going to be worn off with all this hiking on rocks. Tintin has no idea his dog has this attitude.

There are several episodes in which Tintin miraculously pulls through, along with the Captain and Snowy. Tintin is clearly a hero figure but so modest, his heroism is almost surprising. He is like a Boy Scout with courage, cleanliness, right living, and dedication to service to others. He is kind and compassionate and downright likeable. Although the Captain is a whiny complainer, he always ends up doing the right thing and thus makes himself likeable. I love his cranky faces! And Snowy! So adorable!

In addition to character positives, the book also promotes cultural exchanges in a positive light--and this back in the '60's! Geography is highlighted. This might be a graphic novel, but it contains many bubbles with words.

Teachers, librarians, parents: This is a series worth exploring, for all its positive values. Other reviewers don't recommend this as a first to buy. Please read Texas Swede's review for an excellent summary of all the Tintin books to make your decision. I will be adding several of the books to my school library, including this one!

This album was first published in 1960. It is my favorite Tintin. Tintin has a vivid dream in which his friend Tchang is in serious danger. They soon find out that his friend was on a plane that crashed in the Himalayas. There were no survivors reported, but Tintin is still convinced that Tchang is alive. Tintin and Captain Haddock flies to India and then they go to the Nepalese/Tibetan border. The adventure that follows is gripping and full of mystery and it has some great humor. The cold and harsh Himalayan Mountains provides nearly insurmountable challenges and both strange and dangerous things will happen.

Despite the hardships Tintin forges ahead against all odds and against all advice. This story is a little bit slower and more philosophical than most other Tintin adventures, and it includes some paranormal phenomena. However, it is still exciting and gripping, and the humor is superb. I always get a good laugh out of this book no matter how many times I re-read it. The story is very much about the human spirit, hope, and the power of compassion. One thing that stayed with me forever was the lonely cry of the Yeti.

This is my favorite Tintin adventure because it is more than just an adventure. It was also my favorite Tintin album when I was a kid. However, younger children may like "Blue Lotus" or the "The Crab with the Golden Claws" better. I would recommend this album for adults and mature children before any other Tintin album, with the slight reservation that it is an untypical Tintin album and that you may also want to read a couple of the other albums. I should say that I loved the Tintin books as a kid and I still like them, and so does my American kids (I am Swedish). In fact my American X-Box and Wii playing kids read them all the time and like them even more than I did.

Finally I would like to list all the Tintin albums in order from my favorite to the one I liked the least. I will make this list into a list mania list next but put it here for easy access.

Skip this list if you don't want to read it (I know it is very long).

(1) Tintin in Tibet (5 stars). It was published 1960. It is my favorite Tintin. Tintin's friend Tchang (from Blue Lotus) is lost in a plane crash in Tibet. Everyone thinks he is dead, but not Tintin, who sets out to find him against all odds. It contains adventure, humor, and mystery; however, it is also about the human spirit, and compassion. Therefore it is also a very inspiring and thought provoking adventure.

(2) Blue Lotus (5 stars). This is Herge's first master piece; it is one of my favorites. This Tintin adventure from 1934 takes place in 1931 but is still the second best Tintin (after Tintin in Tibet) as far as I am concerned. Tintin is fighting Opium gangs in China when Japan invades. This adventure is dark, scary, exciting and fun. It is also a history lesson to a certain extent.

(3) Flight 714 (5 stars). This book was published in 1968. Tintin and his friends are invited to fly in the private jet of the billionaire Lazlo Careidas. The private jet is hijacked and they are taken by their kidnappers to a very mysterious Island. This adventure is filled with surprises, humor, it is fast paced and exciting, and is therefore one of my favorites.

(4) The Crab with the Golden Claws (5 stars). This was the first Tintin I read as a kid (in Swedish). It was also the first Tintin movie I saw. This is the book where Tintin met Captain Haddock for the first time. Just like the other later works by Herge it is exciting, and well drawn, but this is one is also very funny. It will make you and your kids laugh out loud.

(5) The seven Crystal Balls (5 stars). This Tintin published 1948, is eerie, mysterious, and exciting. It is the first one of a series of two, the second being "Prisoners of the Sun". In this adventure the members of an expedition that investigated the tomb of Rascar Capac an Inca King, become sick with a strange horrible disease. The mummy taken from the tomb mysteriously vanishes (escapes?) during a fierce thunderstorm.

(6) Prisoners of the Sun (5 stars). This is the second book of a series of two. Tintin and company end up in Peru. They save a boy Zorrino from Peruvian racists. Zorrino guides them to the Inca Empire which still exists underground in the Jungle. Towards the end Tintin saves himself and his company by using his knowledge of a coming solar eclipse. It was later plagiarized by Mel Gibson in Apocalypto.

(7) The Castafiore Emerald (5 stars). This adventure was published 1963. It is absolutely the funniest of them all. It is filled with a lot of good humor. However, to get all the jokes you need to be familiar with Tintin and Captain Haddock already. So I would not recommend this as your first Tintin.

(8) The Red Sea Sharks (5 stars). This adventure was written in 1958. Tintin stumbles into an organization selling African slaves (slavery still existed in the Middle East and Africa in 1958). A lot of old crooks from other books show up here, including Captain Allan, Rastapopolous, Dr. Muller, etc. This book is intensely exciting and full of action and is therefore one of my favorites.

(9) Tintin and the Picaros (5 stars). This adventure published 1976 is full of fun and adventure. Castafiore is being held by General Tapioca innocently accused of plotting against him. Well if you know Castafiore you now feel sorry for the poor old dictator.

(10) Explorers of the Moon (5 stars). Written 1954 this is the second book in a series of two. This book is a lot more exciting and fun compared to the first (Destination moon). The movie is, however, better than the comic book (they are the same but this comic makes a good movie). However, reading this science fiction style comic book is a lot of fun.

(11) Land of the Black Gold (4 stars). This book was published in 1950 (original version 1948). It takes place in the middle east and is about oil, war, and the fight against criminals like Dr. Muller (German villains were no longer taboo). Prince Abdullah the son of the Emir of the Arab Emirate of Khemed is kidnapped and Tintin and company sets out to rescue him.

(12) Red Rackham's Treasure (4 stars). This is the second book in a series of two, the first one being "The secret of the Unicorn". In this adventure Tintin and Captain Haddock goes on an expedition to find the treasure of Sir Francis Haddock. It is in this book we meet Professor Calculus for the first time. His underwater machine turns out to be invaluable, even though Tintin and Captain Haddock at first reject it.

(13) The Secret of the Unicorn (4 stars). This adventure was published in French 1943. This is the first book in a series of two (the second being Red Rackhams treasure). In this adventure it is discovered that Captain Haddocks forefather was a feisty sea captain who fought pirates and left a treasure behind. It is not as fast paced as many other Tintin adventures and contains a considerable amount of detective work.

(14) The Calculus Affair (4 stars). In this adventure Professor Calculus is kidnapped in Geneva and Tintin and Captain Haddock set out to save him. It turns out that Professor calculus is working on a secret weapon that the fictional country of Borduria really wants to have. It is an exciting adventure but not as humor filled and exhilarating as some of the other adventures. It was written 1956.

(15) The Cigars of the Pharaoh (4 stars). The Cigars of the Pharaoh is the first of the better Tintin books. In this adventure Tintin is on a holiday cruise but ends up traveling to Egypt and India on a dangerous adventure. It is an exciting and mysterious adventure that is not objectionable (unlike the three first ones).

(16) The broken ear (4 stars). This story from 1937 takes place in South America. Tintin fights dangerous crooks, gets caught up in political turmoil, is nearly executed, travels through the rain forest, encounters piranhas, and lives among the Arumbaya Indians. This is where Tintin meets General Alcazar for the first time. Lots of action but it is still not a top quality Tintin.

(17) King Ottokar's Sceptre (4 stars). Published in 1939 this book is an allegory for fascist aggression. In this adventure Tintin visits the mythical Kingdom of Syldavia. The leaders of Borduria, a neighboring country, plot to unseat King Muskar. They attempt to seize the symbol of the Syldavian monarchy, which is "King Ottokar's Scepter". This adventure was exciting but still not a favorite of mine.

(18) The Black Island (4 stars). FOUR STARS: This one was written 1937. It takes place in England and Scotland. I saw the movie version, and read the book in several languages. In this adventure Tintin is hunting down a gang of forgers. The drawings have a higher quality than "The broken ear" and the story flows smoothly. However, I find the story to be somewhat tedious and too British for me, and this is not one my favorites.

(19) Destination Moon (4 stars). First published 1953, this is the first book in a series of two (the second being Explorers of the moon). It is a very good concept, a sort of Tintin science fiction. However, it is not fast paced and at times tedious.

(20) Tintin and the lake of the sharks (4 stars). Published 1974 and based on a film from 1972, it is a little different than the other Tintin adventures. It is not directly written by Herge, but Herge supervised the creation of the film. The drawings are not typical either; they look like still pictures from the movie. It is also a little shorter. However, it is still a good adventure and my kids like it, so I give it four stars.

(21) The shooting star (4 stars). In this adventure (from 1941) the world comes close to annihilation when earth almost collides with a star. Tintin and Captain Haddock sets out on an expedition together with a team of international scientists to find a piece that broke off and landed in the Ocean. Well, stars are not solid and pieces don't brake off stars, but there are a lot more oddities in this unlikely story.

(22) Tintin in America (3 stars). Tintin in America" portrays America with an old fashioned European prejudice that is unrealistic and unflattering. His portrayal of the Indians is borderline racist, and the plot is essentially "gangster tries to kill Tintin, Tintin miraculously escapes" repeated a couple of dozen times. Having said that, the book is still entertaining, in its own way.

(23) The adventures of Tintin in the land of the Soviets (3 stars). This is anti-communist propaganda, which I don't mind; however, it does not make a good comic book. The drawings are also not that good. However, this comic book shows that people knew about the Soviet horrors back in the 1920's.

(24) Tintin in the Congo (3 stars). It was an exciting adventure with some interesting and fun twists. However, the quality is very far from that of the more modern Tintin books, and it is borderline racists.

It took me a long time to get through it but I found it was worth the effort. In my business, it's important to keep abreast of what's happening globally and Haley came through. Very insightful.

This is a serious book with some counter-intuitive conclusions. Logical, easy to read and based on a solid theoretical foundation - I recommend "chinese tao" heartily. At a minimum it will force you to think -- at its best it should bring about a serious retructuring of what it means for us to do business in China, and vice versa.

So you are doing business in China and are spinning your wheels. You've read the culture and etiquette books and the ones on market potential. STOP! Read no further until you read the Chinese Tao. This unassuming (though not little) book packs a punch. If you want to make money in China as a private business, everything is conspiring you -- history, culture, laws and managers -- and mastering them, or atleast anticipating the punches, is key to success in China. A thoroughly enjoyable book, and Usha and George display wry humor through the sometimes weighty material. Recommended reading!

I found this book very well-written, full of anecdotes and personal nuggets as well as statistical backing. In sum, it explained for me the contradictions, opportunities and pitfalls behind the "China miracle". I have read several books on China and I recommend this one over the rest.

A book of this kind is very difficult to write, as the authors chose to incorporate history, culture, modern business practices and the law (among other things!) to explain business success and failure in China. However, depsite their tall task, they did a good job. I especially liked the historical and political grounding combined with really fabulous personal interviews with CEOs. Some of the stories were fun (the golf story with Li Ka-Shing) and some were insightful (Pan Shi Yi's rise). I found the chapter on legal affairs in China useful but heavy going. However, regulatory risk is a big component of operating in China (just ask all those companies that have lost their patents there) and there is probably no "fun" way of communicating this. The authors' insights and recommendations were very useful.

This book should be read carefully and digested. I certainly do not advocate an overnight read (300+ pages!) but some chapters must absolutely be read before foriegners go to China -- and I think before the Chinese go abroad. George and Usha Haley have cut behind the hyperbole to reveal some very disturbing truths about this super power and the global business environment which it has changed for ever. More importantly, they have given us some ammunition to help us to control our destinies in this brave new world. A must read!

I found some information useful and interesting. However, what was disappointing was the stilted writing of the authors. I often got the impression that they were too repetitive and presented the work as if it were an instructional manual. Also, there was the feeling that the book was edited in a cut and paste format. Overall, there were interesting anecdotes, but this book will never be a THE reference for foreigners trying establish businesses in China.

This is an amazing story of God's love, grace, and saving power at work here on the earth! It was hard to put this book down and go to sleep at night. An inspiring, faith building and encouraging story. I recommend it!

This book held my interest and gave me good insite in and about the drug dealers in Hong Kong. I strongly recommend it.

The first time I read this book was in 2001, and it made a tremendous inpact on me. It's about an English woman in her early twenties being called to go to Hong Kong and start working among the drug addicts in the so called "Walled City". A couple of years later she met someone telling her about the importance of speaking in tongues, and she started praying in tongues 15 minutes each day. She had been talking to people in the "Walled City" about Jesus from the time she got there, but after 6 weeks of praying in tongues each day, the people she was talking to started believing what she was saying and received Jesus. She also saw that there was no way the drug addicts were able to get off drugs, if they didn't imediately started praying in tongues. "Each had his fascinating story and all without exception came off heroin without pain and trauma." This book is not only a story about what happened to Jackie Pullinger, but also a great teaching about the power source we have on the inside of us. Before she started praying in the Spirit she said: "Lord, I don't know how to pray, or whom to pray for. Will You pray through me - and will you lead me to the people who want You?" All of us who are baptized in the Spirit and received the gift of speaking in tongues can say the same thing and then start using what He has given us. We have "dynamite" on the inside. Let it "explode" each day, and people around us will want to have what we have!

My wife and I could not put this book down as we read it together. It is filled with excitement as the author battles against opium and drug abuse as well as every other kind of demonic evil. In every case, she wins the battle for the souls, minds, bodies and spirits of men and women in Hong Kong. There is one victory after another as men and women are set free by the power of God's Holy Spirit. We highly recommend this book for those seeking release from drugs, alcohol and demonic bondage.
Sincerely, Rev. Richard and Holly Lang

I LOVE this book so much because it is one woman's testimony of what GOD did & is doing with her-through her.
HIS HOLY WORD IS TRUE!
HE IS With Us, and just as HE did with the first Disciples of JESUS,
THE HOLY SPIRIT still works with those who preach the Gospel with signs and wonders following, confirming THE WORD.
I must confess, I don't have the book now - I gave it to my daughter.
I actually came in search for another copy for myself.
:) Well, for me until I give it away again. :)

I bought this book for my Chinese adopted daughter. She is only one right now, so I'm saving it for when she's older. I read the book and it is really well written, and definitely written from a kids point of view, which is why I like it so much. Lots and lots of colorful pictures in the book, and it also addresses the topic of abandonment in a very careful way.

The book arrived in a timely manner and in excellent condition as promised. Thank you.

By accident, i found this site! I am Chinese and my English teachers (They are a couple)were from the US. They also adopted a girl named Evie Xuezhi Braun from Changsha just the same city as Ying Ying.I was really moved by their adoptive actions when I heard they had no kids and wanna adopt a Chinese orphan. I can still remember the time they saw me off when I started for Shanghai to work there after my graduation.Evie was also there with her American Parents. I really wanna recommand this book to them. It sounds helpful to them and Evie. But we are all in China. I can't get the book~but I will tell them the name of this great book!! Thanks for your Americans' kindness!!! Many Thanks!!!

I liked this book written in the voice of a 9 year old girl, a very mature girl, I hope my daughter will enjoy reading this in the future, I enjoyed reading it.

This book gives us an inside look at an orphanage in Hunan Province and a young girl's homeland trip. It is full of big, color photographs from inside an orphanage, which is such a rare treat. Our 2 1/2 yr-old loves this book and loves all the pictures of the babies and the nannies. When it comes time to talk with our daughter about other issues surrounding her adoption, this book will be a valuable resource. In Ying Ying's own voice we hear about the one-child policy, infant abandonment and adoption.

"Kids Like Me in China" is a great book for children adopted from China and their siblings, cousins and friends. It can help adoptive parents bring up topics that may be difficult for us. It is a must-have!

This book was decent and somewhat interesting. The details are too few and the characters set at extremes or stereotypes. Many important events take place as silly coincidences and their is no real feeling for the novel. The descriptions leave much to be desired. Also all of these "strong" people weep constantly, are unsure of themselves, and break down in despair.

Clavelle's Shogun far surpasses this book. It gives you a real feeling for medeival Japan and an understanding of the culture of the time period. I know that Shike takes place before this but it does not do the same thing for its setting that Shogun does. Both books include a foreign main character trying to make his way in Japan and Shogun is the far more compelling novel.

A great story during that starts in Japan during the 13th century. An increasable tale of 3 people who come together by chance and who's lives have become intertwined, and find their lives intersect despite long periods away from each other and thousands of miles at times. This novel covers everything from love to friendship, adventure, war, deceit etc.... This book really has it all. Anyone who has interest in the Samurai period of Japan will find it especially interesting. I could barely put it down.

There are two major historical events which focus the great composition of this novel: the Gempei Wars and the Mongol invasions, making clear that the author, certainly on purpose, has mixed both to construct a more powerful historical drama, when the truth is that a century separates them. The two families which struggle to death in the novel, the Takashi and the Muratomo, symbolized by the red and the white dragon,respectively (much like the Houses of Lancaster and York in England, who fought the Wars of the Roses because of their red and white roses symbols)are the real Taira and Minamoto families, who fought the so-called Gempei Wars in the XII century, which was to end only by the creation of the Kamakura Shogunate represented by the first shogun in the history of Japan, Minamoto Yoritomo. On the other hand, the Mongol invasions planned by Kublai Khan took place in the XIII century, when the Minamoto had been replaced by the Hojo regents' rule. Nonetheless, "Shiké" is a powerful picture of the beginnings of feudal Japan, quite the seeds of what was to be known as the Sengoku Jidai in the XV and XVI centuries, apart from the fascinating accounts of Mongol campaigns conducted by the successors of Gingis Khan. Considering also that the characters (there are many) are wonderfully conceived, and that the beautiful love story between Taniko and Jebu lies at the very heart of the novel, it is a delicious reading, a very well done work of Literature, not a simple best seller.

I came across this book in the early 80's I was almost overwhelmed by the scope and well developed characters. This book transports us to early feudal Japan and immerses you in Japanese culture. An easy equal to Eiji Yoshikawa's classic prose. I have read and re-read this title many times and cannot get tired of it. It's enthralling and epic in it's development. I was heart-broken when I learned author Robert Shea passed away. I was also grateful that he left this priceless gift to the world. I searched for many years to find copies of this book in hardcover for my private collection of favorites. It is almost criminal that the publisher has let this title fall out of print. With such popularity being given to historical fiction novels; this is clearly a timeless best-seller. I urge all who want to be surprised to read this book. I find ragged and worn used copies and give them to friends. I am always ingratiated for gifting this book to them. All the women are moved to tears. (Sometimes the men, too.) Even I have been moved to being moist-eyed by the powerfully written chapters in this book. I urge the publishers to re-print this title and give it back to us. It has a high collectible value as it is. You will have dependably high sales. Maybe one day, some ambitious director will cast this book into film. If so, don't cheat us with a two hour movie. Give us the mini-series in full scope and detail. If my house was on fire; I would run into it and grab my hardcover editions and trade paperbacks and run back out again, thanking God it wasn't too late!!! That's how good this novel is!!!

I'm confused...is there a 3rd book to this series or not? If so, what's its name?

This book is a deeply moving and informative story about what has been going on in Tibet ever since the Chinese invasion and crackdown. It's a critically important story for anyone interested in the truth, in the ongoing oppression of Tibetans and Tibetan Culture, and in world affairs in general. The story of this one monk is representative of events at large. Whether you're a Buddhist or not, this book is not to be missed.

There is also a documentary about Gyatso Palden, called Fired Under the Snow, and if you are lucky enough to see it , it is also highly recommdned. I met Palden Gyatso at a recent screening and was deeply touched. He is old now, but free, and has devoted the rest of his life to telling his story so we can KNOW what's going on.
It is heart-wrenching but inspiring at the same time. Read it and spread the word!

An American friend was profoundly moved by the suffering she saw in Tibet recently...as red china gears up for the Olympics.
Palden Gyatso's is an incredible story of suffering and faith.
Tibetans' face an ongoing now 60 year struggle to retain their heritage and to not be `disappeared' up by a communist regime.
When I was much younger I read a book `With God In Russia"..this is its buddist counterpart!
What struck me about the other reviews is that they don't mention we the free world ESPECIALLY THE USA is now on the hook to Red China!
AND IT CAN HAPPEN ELSEWHERE!
MAO KILLED 60 MILLION...OR SO THAT'S THE NUMBER I READ....the other accountas of the book don't take this into account..what happened in Russia/china/tibet/Vietnam/north korea can happen elsewhere.....and china grows richer and stronger year by year.

I recently met Palden Gyatso at a Dalai Lama teaching and bought a copy of his book there, mostly as a way to support him. Though I read all the time I rarely finish a book as I usually lose interest 2/3 of the way through and move on to something else. But this book was an exception - incredibly interesting and inspiring - I finished it very quickly.

This is a great book. I am an activist for Tibetan independence and knew much about the atrocities taking place in Tibet since 1949, but this book put a face to the facts. I highly recommend this book if you're interested in Tibet, Buddhism, or in learning about a remarkable man who went through horrible oppression and has emerged gracefully.

This book is a testimony to the endurance of the human spirit, able to overcome the most nefarious system perhaps the world has ever known. The fact that Palden Gyatso is able to relay his story to you and me is nothing short of a miracle after what he had to endure for years inside China's prison system undergoing "reformation." The stories of torture, starvation and freezing nights will stay with you forever and make you question how strong your own beliefs are and whether you could do what Palden Gyatso did. I do not wish to reveal too much, but will say that calling the story compelling is a vast understatement.

This book is as important now as ever. China has the 2008 Olympic games and yet these brutalities continue to occur. Not to mention the fact that China is now relocating Chinese into the Tibetan region, threatening forever one of the world's great cultures through dilution of the society and culture.

Buy this book and see both the horrors of mankind and also his greatness in what he can overcome. If you like this book, I would also recommend Ama Adhe's book from a woman's perspective in the same system. We often hear the word hero, but rarely is it so appropriate as it is in describing these amazing individuals.

At 40, Madame Wu discovers what love is and what it is not as she invites a young village foundling into her home as 2nd wife. She is composed and beautiful and intimidating, but discovers that love is finding your true self. Beautifully written and a story that keeps me intrigued until the last page.

I love Pearl Buck's books. She is so adept at taking the reader right into a foreign world and making it understandable. One begins to see how we are all really the same underneath our outward appearances and social customs. In this book, wealtlhy Madame Wu changes the course of her entire family's lives because of her strong desires to ultimately satisfy self. At first, her actions appear to be somewhat self-sacrificing in a certain way. Some readers may find her attitudes and actions quite modern, but there are far-reaching consequences to those actions and one wonders how selfless those actions really are in the end. I found the surprise turn in Madame Wu's relationship/feelings for the exiled priest to be a bit far-fetched for a wealthy Chinese woman of her time, but life can take odd twists and turns. To me this book is a moral tale of actions and consequences. I do not belive she or her family were better off in the end in spite of her taking over the care of the priest's orphans. Very interesting reading...food for thought.

The movie was good but it doesn't follow the book and the book is much better.

I would have never picked this book up if it weren't for my book club. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down till I was finished with this book. It is a very moving and thoughtful book ~~ opening my eyes to something else that I would have never thought of reading.

This book is about Madame Wu, who decided to retire from married life at the age of 40. She suggested a concubine for her husband as she believes very strongly that his needs need to be met ~~ just not by her. Her excuse is that she didn't want to bear any more children, but that is just a public excuse, one she offered to everyone who asked. The truth is, she didn't love her husband and wanted to retire from that part of her marriage. Needless to say, it unsettled the entire family ~~ even the concubine was unsettled. It reverberated throughout the entire book till the very end, when everyone seems to have moved onto their own problems.

This is a book on a busy wealthy Chinese family. It is about traditions and ideas, non-traditions, love and finding purpose in life. It is about family relationships between father, son, mother, son, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, friendships, and even between mistress and servant.

Madame Wu never thought she'd find peace and happiness till one of her sons' instructors came along. He was a Jesuit priest and they struck up a friendship based on conversations (which she remembered after his death). He literally changed her life and thought process. From being a woman who always did what she was told, she was liberated to being a free-thinking woman who strove to find peace in her soul.

It is a book that I would recommend to all readers ~~ and it is definitely a book for a book club to discuss! It is a timeless classic novel ~~ and definitely a great introduction to an author that I have heard about but never have read. I can't wait to read her other books!

3-30-07

Wow. I find Pearl Buck to be an author that really holds my attention, and write about complex characters that I don't really always like, but in the end, because of the author's writing and vision, I come to see them as really complex human beings.

This book, in particular, I think is really spiritual. I really wish that I had a book group to discuss this book with. At the beginning, I didn't really care for or understand the main character, Madame Wu. She decides after her 40th birthday party, that her husband can have a concubine and that she can turn inward. In the beginning, this is really quite a difficult concept for me, but in a way, it's also very liberating. It's a form of birth control for her, and also a way to keep her husband satisfied. In the end, Pearl Buck, as an author, really shows this woman to be very multidimensional, and I feel, quite spiritual and not so superficial as I think she starts out to be.

In the background, there are daughter in laws who are more liberated than Madam Wu, and the chafe at the idea of a concubine. They are too modern for that and would not stand for having a concubine in the house. Some of this is quite historical fand relates gently to the communist revolution. Also it is showing generational differences and lack of understanding between generations. In the end, Madame Wu, I feel , is far more liberated than her daughter in laws, no matter how modern they are.

There is also a DVD of this story, and I think the DVD cover is on the book cover that I read. If it shows a white man in an embrace with a Chinese woman, as if they were about to kiss, I want to warn you that this Hollywood image is not really the book at all. And in fact, that picture does not occur in the book either. Really, that image is an abomination of the book.

I do know, by reading Pearl Buck, why she is a Nobel prize winner in writing. For me, it's this. She helps you to see characters (people) that you might really hate or disagree with in real life as real, very multifacted people. And though I might not always come to agree or fully care about her characteres, through her writing, I will learn to understand and respect them more than I would have if I had not read the book. And more than that, Buck weaves in real history and fact and makes is very interesting.

Please read her books. You won't be disappointed.

In addition to everyone's positive comments, I'd like to add that my now 6-year old daughter has enjoyed this book for over two years now. She doesn't like to have too many books read to her more than once, but likes to hear Ruby's Wish when we can't think of anything else. I think we're up to at least ten times now! She's a Chinese-Japanese American who likes how Ruby overcomes everyone's (low) expectations of girls' academic achievement, her love of bright colors, and her inner strength! I'm looking forward to my daughter reading the book to me soon.

The book Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges, takes place a long time ago in a city in China. A rich man married many wives and had over one hundred children. So since he had so many children he hired a teacher. Girls never really learned how to read and write. That's why girls had to work extra hard. The girls were supposed to just learn how to cook and keep house. All girls stopped going to class accept for Ruby. Ruby wrote a poem that her teacher and her grandfather were impressed with. She wanted to go to university than get married. So when she got older her grandfather gave her a red packet. When she opened it, it was a letter from a university saying they would accept her as one of there first female students

Ruby is a fantastic student she had the best calligraphy in her class. Even when all the other girls stopped going she stayed.

Ruby really wants to learn. Shirin Yim Bridges wrote, "When the boys had finished there studies for the day, they were free to play." "But the girls had to learn how to learn about cooking and keeping house. Ruby wanted to go to university even though it was unusual for girls to do that.

Ruby is a really hard working person. She chose to go to school because if she didn't want to she didn't have to. Ruby had to work hard since she was a girl. She worked so hard she was accepted to university.

By Jesus

Our six year old daughter really likes this book. It has a great message and darling pictures.

I loved this book! Ruby is a Chinese child living in China with her very large family. As a child, she knew that she was destined to marry, like all the females in her family, but she really wanted to
go to the university. It is a childrens' book with beautiful illustrations. There is a special little twist at the end that makes the story even more endearing to the reader. We have given it as a birthday present to a few of my 5 year old daughter's classmates, as well as to her teachers for a year-end present. We highly recommend this book!

Set in turn-of-the-century China, young Ruby wants to go to school, but tradition holds that only boys get an education - hence the title, _Ruby's Wish_. The artwork is beautiful, with abundant details, but the book's strength is the story itself and the morals of the value of an education and working for what one desires. The ending is also very sweet. Particularly recommended for young girls.