China Books

The most heartbreaking story I have ever read...Ngor tells his story with a lucid and clear voice and keeps you forever wondering how people can do such things to one another. A definite introduction to the history of the Cambodian genocide, and one that will humble you when you think your problems are too large.

That said, it it so worth the reading. The writing flows and moves you to see such a human spirit survive.

Before this book, I had only vaguely heard of the name Pol Pot and the nation of Cambodia. Where I go to school, we have history for four years, but never get past the Civil war.
As I was changing the television station, I heard the name Pol Pot and Cambodian again. This time I was determined to educate myself and I bought this book.
I was horrified, I was ashamed, I was overwhelmed. First we had allowed the Jews to endure the Holocaust, and now we had let millions of Cambodians die the same way.
Maybe the history teachers in my area just need to come into the 20th century and repeat IT over and over again, because obviously we're not learning from our mistakes.

This book is on top of my list as the best reads ever. It truly is an amazing story and will leave you thinking about this world we live in. I reccommend this book to all...what a great learning tool to use in the classroom also!

I first spotted this book at a tourist book shop in Phnom Penh and after scanning its pages, I was hooked. It is an immensely absorbing tale, both harrowing and hopeful. I was drawn not only into Dr. Ngor's story but into Dr. Ngor himself. As I kept reading, I felt hungry, exhausted, terrified and sad. But if I wanted it to stop, I simply had to close the book. Not that simple for Dr. Ngor.
I pray that Ngor Haing is now with his Sweet, living the life that was so cruelly denied to them. This book is definitely one of the best I've ever read in my life, and I hope that in your heaven, you can hear me say Thank You, Dr. Ngor.

If you are interested in reading the memoir of someone who survived the reign of the Khmer Rouge, then I can't reccommend any other book higher. I have read two other books from survivors, but Ngor's book was by far my favourite.

What sets Ngor's book apart from the others that I have read is that Ngor was an adult when the Khmer Rouge took over. His memories are very lucid, and he fully comprehends what is going on around him. He watches his young wife die in his arms, those close to him betray, and everyone around him suffer. There are no high points throughout the entire odysey. Ngor brings you to the senseless and incomprehensible suffering that pervades every aspect of life under the Khmer Rouge.

One element I particularily enjoyed about Ngor's book is the extensive descriptions of Cambodian culture, attitudes and behaviour. Cambodian society (from what I can gather from what I have hitherto studied) is highly formal, with a rather complex series of formality set up for intereaction with others and a rather reserved character in regards to expression of feelings. The most important of which in this context being "kum," which is a sort of bitterness and longing for revenge, that becomes evident in a lot of what is happening. You will leave this read with a feeling of not only being inside of what is happening, but also for the actual mechanisms guiding behaviour.

This is, however, not a pleasant read in the least. The descriptions of the atrocities are beyond anything that I was expecting, and for that reason, I would seriously warn others that this is not for the faint at heart. Luckily, Ngor offers notes at the beginning of graphic chapters so that one can skip over them. You will lose sleep, and I can guarantee you that it makes any of those goofy horror movies like "Hostel" and "Turistas" look like a day at Disneyland. This horror is real, and not far in the past. Being that my normal area of study is Russian history, I have read a lot about the horrors of communism and tyranny, but nothing from the basements of Lyubyanka Prison or Mao Tse Tung's Cultural Revolution comes close to the abominable atrocities of Pol Pot's Cambodia.

Ngor also describes his role in the classic movie, The Killing Fields, as well as his integration of life in America. An afterword by friend Roger Warner ends the book on a particularily haunting and sad note, but rightfully so, none the less.

There are a lot of truely excellent books available by survivors of the Killing Fields, and this is the quintessential starting point for those who wish to learn more.

A colorful, engrossing story where real life is far more interesting than fiction as the author helps us relive his exploits. For war/aviation buffs, an adventure not to be missed.

This is a fabulous book! Incredibly good! Buy this book!

G. GORDON LIDDY

This story takes you back to a time when the world was a much larger place. Men and machines were the means to accomplish great deeds. Computers did not tell you how and when to do everything. Men actually flew by the seat of their pants and when they made a mistake they were quite often the only one's who ever knew. Laugh at the funny side of combat and feel the heat of tears when a friend is lost. Don't miss this wonderful story.

Bill Band has managed to capture the essence of a bygone era and make it live for those of us who weren't there. An exciting read.

Bill Band has told this story in a manner in which the reader understands what went on in this little understood albiet important theater and why it happened that way. It is a personal account which is engaging and well told. I'll bet Mr Band has more stories to tell .. and I hope he does.

This book is a very useful resource, but for who? See below.
The book is detailed, informative, and has many historical sections that are interesting to read. The author, whom I traveled long distance to learn from after reading his book is a genuine sword enthusiast and expert fighter in the use of the Chinese straight sword. He is a historian with extensive knowledge of Chinese antiques and metallurgy. He also deals in authentic antique arms and armor from China, so he has a very in depth grasp of how swords work. In fact, a wide range of Chinese sword forges and other sword manufacturers currently approach him to evaluate and do reviews of the quality and authenticity of their contemporary sword productions.

WHO WILL THIS BOOK BE USEFUL FOR?:
1. People who are learning Chinese straight sword forms who want to learn how their system works.

Read the book then attend a seminar with Mr. Rodell. Then read the book again. Then apply what you have learned to whatever lineage you are studying. That's what I did about four or five years ago, and it has taken me a long way in my study of Chinese sword usage.

2.People who want to compare and contrast their interpretations of the widely practiced Yang Style "Public" taiji jian set, and see detailed applications. You will probably gain many insights from this book. You may also want to look at Yang Jwing Ming's Shaolin and Taiji(same form) books on straight sword and "The Art of Chinese Swordsmanship" by Zhang Yun (WU style). All these books complement each other well.

3. Any student of Yang Jia Michuan jian. A must have.

4. People who study any double edged sword style from any culture, or any other weapons system for that matter, who would like to cross-reference what they are doing.

5. People who think that Japanese swordsmanship is better than Chinese swordsmanship and that Kali is the only weapons system that really works.
YOU need to read this book and broaden your horizons a bit. These guys fight too.

6. Taiji and other CMA stylists who wish to begin studying swordplay and want to do it REALISTICALLY and SYSTEMATICALLY.

7. Curious people. This book still makes interesting coffee table reading if you are none of the above.

This book, unlike other books about Taiji and weapon forms, describes the sword form from the application point of view. How has the Jian developed to become what it is per today, who used it and what techniques are used in combat? He describes clearly the differences between the Yang family style and the public sword form. What I find remarkable are the differences between the public form described in the book and the public form described by (for example) Chen Wei-Ming. This book is worthwhile studying for those who want to have more background in Taiji sword.

I bought this book, read it and was utterly amazed that someone with the knowledge and skill level finally wrote a reference guide for those of us who haven't been able to go that extra mile because of lack of the information available. I really recommend this book for someone who is learning Taiji sword (from a teacher of course), because it will be of big help to you when you need to refer back to it.

The book is about the Yang Family Taiji Sword Tradition. Two different styles are presented: one which most of us are familiar with that was down from Yang Chengfu's lineage and taught to Mr. Rodell by Master T.T. Liang; the second one came from Master Wang Yen-nian of the Yang Jianhou (Yang Chengfu's Father) tradition. Those that are familiar with the history of Yang Taiji will understand that there is a difference between father and son's technique.

The book begins with the Author's Introduction and then History, Sword Ettiquette (which I found particularly interesting), Jian (sword) Anatomy, how to hold the sword and perform the secret sword fingers, basic stance and sword cuts. Then both forms and their applications(!) are shown using real antique weapons from the Ancient China. There is also some interesting stuff in the Appendices.

I hope you buy this book it will be of great benefit to your training.

You can not learn a martial art by reading a book. That said, this book is a wonderful companion to a class.

Without a doubt, Scott Rodell has written one of the most accessible and comprehensive books on swordsmanship (Chinese or otherwise) I have read. The book welcomes the novice reader and makes him feel comfortable with the subject, while the seasoned martial artist immediately understands the author's intended message, without feeling lectured to. Scott speaks the language common to traditional martial artists with quiet elegance and confidence.

Andrew Winston

There is adventure and mystery in every corner of this well-researched and well-written historical. 1BookStreet.com Book Reviews

A superbly crafted blend of Asian and Western intrigue, cast in a magnificent tale of adventure, steeped in mystery and suspense. Historical fiction at its best! Harold Stephens, author, At Home in Asia

A really well done mystery/thriller, obviously well researched, that takes you right into the period of history. The trial scene is superb and the psychology and humor match the wonderful scenes with violence. I very much look forward to the sequel, Thieves Hamlet.

The author seems to have intended this novel to be many things: a mystery, a thriller and a real picture of Hong Kong as it was in 1857. I think he succeeded in all areas. In fact, maybe he lived there at the time because he seems to know every detail. And yet the details never bog down the book; in fact, they seem to move the action forward. The chapters from the Chinese point of view are wonderful. Makes it a balanced account and lets us get into the minds of both sides of the conflict. Loved it!

This monster of a historical adventure takes 1857 Hong Kong as its venue, and places an American tavern-manager/adventurer at the center. Like George Fraser's rogue Flashman (from the series of the same name and set roughly the same era), Andrew Adams is prone to making unwise decisions, and usually has several women on the side. The story is a complicated one, involving a nefarious plot by an English pirate lord to try and take the port of Hong Kong while the bulk of the British force is away shelling Canton, and an unrelated, but simultaneous plot to poison the entire foreign population. There are load and loads of characters, from all classes and parts of society, and Barrett succeeds in making each indelible. The books flags at times, but Barrett is mostly successful in juggling all the plots and players while dishing out loads and loads of daily life detail on his setting. It's a quite impressive--if slightly old-fashioned--historical entertainment. One small annoyance is the fluctuating spelling of one of the main villain's names. A much greater annoyance is the lack of any kind of map!

It was great to find this. My husband read it as a boy and wanted to find a copy to read to our sons.

This is a touching story written from the perspective of a little Chinese boy and his journey home through war raveged territory. I've read it over 5 times (including each year to my 5th grade class) and it's sweetneess still brings tears to my eyes.

Boys can be picky readers, so I always take notes if they actually love a book. My 8 year old carried this book everywhere and told be about it every night for a week. Besides Redwall or Harry Potter, this is the first book he has raved about.

I read this book aloud to my sixth grade reading class. They loved it, and always wanted to hear more. Its also a great way to introduce students to some of the history of China, Japan and US involvement in the war there.

I read this book as a child and, in turn, read it to my children. It has a permanent place in our hearts. It is the well written story of a young Chinese boy and his beloved pig, "Glory of the Republic", who get separated from his family and caught behind Japanese lines when Japan invaded China in the late 1930's. It has some very scary moments. It also has tragedy. I think your child should be about 5th or 6th grade to be able to fully appreciate it. But the book will open your eyes as to what it might be like as a child to be caught in a war. The boy does get reunited with his family, but have your kleenex handy. As a parent you will definitely need it at the end.

I agree with a lot of the readers of this book. I just recently have gotten reaqainted with this story after seeing it for the first time when it came out. To young to understand, it was a movie with cool love scenes. But now as a grown woman, it has envoke an interest and emotion like never before. I am not finished reading this but I have seen the movie and read "the Lover" several times in the past month. It has awakened a dragon that was lying dormant for a long time. I am sooooo glad to read this book, because it has answered so many questions that the movie did not. WHile "The Lover" is my favorite movie, I was left lingering with many questions unanswered. But in reading this book, I feel much more fulfilled. Excellent read and I cannot wait to read more of Duras' work. Look out for my screenplay in the future. While it is nothing like that story, the emotion that was envoked in me by loving this story, allowed the art inside of myself to reappear. Like an old friend lost in time...

this is like a writers version of a directors cut of "the lover"...
if you loved the lover then you will love this :)

it fills in a lot of details that were not included in "The lover"...

answers some of the questions you might have been asking about "the lover"...

This is the first time I've read Marguerite Duras' book and I love her style of writting - superb, beautifully written and her usage of words. The translator get some credit of it - though I cannot compare since I dont know french.

If you have watch the movie, 'The lover', this book is must read. Many of the feeling, reaction .. just cannot be portrait enough in the movie.
From the starting of this book where the child met with the chinese man, it moves me deeply, in knowing their passions, their suffering and their seperation - far much than express in the movie as we will have a much broader idea.

I am not indicating that the movie is bad; it isnt at all. But, it is through this book that, the author has bring you into their capturing world, as if, you were there; you feel their pain and their love affairs.

Considerable addition to "The Lover", actually much better. Her notes which include her ideas as to how the book should be filmed are particuarily fascinating.

I read this book because I love the movie. Marguerite Duras's novel is a fascinating retelling of the domestic experiences of her adolescence that have shaped her work. This book is far more daring and truthful, it emphasizes the tough realities of her youth in Indochina and reveals much that her earlier works concealed. This book both shock and entrance me. It's initially written as notes towards a film script for the "The Lover"; the book has grainy, film tic qualities of a documentary. Gone are the romantic and nostalgic readings of the past.

Here are the humiliations and passions of the poverty-ridden world in which Duras grew up: the intense sexuality of the young woman who was her friends and classmates, a group of adolescents impatient for the experiences of adulthood while still caught up in the conflicts of childhood. From one book to another, the lover has changed by counting his bankroll in front of the destitute whites, the older brother ready to kill for his drugs, the younger brother is transformed, the "child", and herself express differently with her stubborn desire and her pain.

Neither her worldly success nor the fuss about the "The Lover" have caused this novelist to deviate an inch from her desire to tell all, about the freshness of desire, the violence of loving, which makes us understand the work. Everything is here, immediate, sensual. "The North China Lover is a brilliant book that is both stunning and diabolical. Highly recommended.

Wow... I just started reading this book two days ago and I'm completely engrossed... wished i had started reading it on a weekend, in order to read it faster!!!
Having been in China just a couple of months ago, I wish I had read this before my trip. Seth Faison provides lots of information about China society, culture, history and politics without sounding too judgemental. This is one book I'm sure I'll come back to. Essential reading for these times!

I'm sure that with technology, there are no secrets. I give it four stars instead of three stars because people who take issue with his contradictions will want to read this. Break out the highlighter pens. I laughed when he acknowledges for the first time (and then frequently throughout the book) that Chinese women are fodder because I've heard the lengthy and boring explanations by those who refuse to admit that about themselves. Use a different color to highlight the many times he feels that Chinese have developed an "obsession for money" and that Chinese women use him to get magazines, currency exchange and see him as marriage material while they cannot afford his expat coffee or sundae. (The kinds of things he was asked for, many people would have no problem giving without the burden of the economic and racial differences between the giver and the receiver. Obtaining magazines are a big deal FOR EXPATS in China. There have been some socially retarded incidents of too much asking but I think the Chinese are better at showing when that's been inappropriate of Chinese so I think he could have been clearer about that.)

Then use a third color highlighter for the many times that he is reliant on the generosity not just material but the generosity of Chinese attention that helps him acclimate and get his job done. People and perhaps especially Chinese fail to draw the comparison that the percentage of Chinese immigrants who enjoy that thorough a level of generosity overseas is much less than the percentage of nonChinese who are helped by Chinese in China. I bear him no rancor though I can't imagine he would appreciate this review. I haven't laughed so much READING in a while. The pungent motives and unspoken assessments are not a shock and I think he's very clever and remembers that many Chinese know this so he presents them for consumption. It's his admissions that save him just as when Kip Fulbeck's narrator admitted that he wouldn't want his daughter dating someone like him. LOL. I wonder if M. Faison (French Huguenot! LOL) has ever been frustrated that Chinese don't realize how clever he is. This book is not about "dating." It's about world politics and its instruments. And his cleverness is not in his confessions of eliciting confidences but in the entire book.

A good companion to this book is Thailand Fever written from both Western and Thai perspectives (as interpreted by a Westerner apparently) with tips on how to successfully navigate the cultural misunderstandings to forge successful romantic relationships. The tone of Thailand Fever is different because the goal for the Westerner is different. I don't think that the authors of either books speak for all Westerners although Thailand Fever tends to generalize. Some expats may welcome South of the Clouds and refer to it to reinforce their criticisms; however, this book fails to explain that Asians and notably the Chinese are very good at ignoring other people and becoming invisible when they are not being appreciated or well-regarded sincerely so there is something to be said when they help you.

I'm fed up with the lack of Asian male faces in American media while Asian women are left exposed and devalued so that this kind of reporting is part of the mainstream depiction instead of just a blip. I'm calling quits on going to the movies and closely considering every American media purchase I make (including magazines) from now on. I've had it!

Faison brings us closer to the people of China and gives us an honest view of himself and how his own personal uncertainties influenced his choice of going to China and his life there. He dates a woman, who like China, has deep secrets, and he dates another who's personal choices help him understand himself. He visits the sauna massage to have a human touch and someone to talk with.

I like this sort of armchair "travel" book because it skips the tourist sites, hotel/restaurant reviews and encyclopediac history in favor of narratives about the people and the times. You will not read about the Great Wall nor Summer Palace here, and the Xian soldiers are only here because they are part of a story about real, everyday people.

These narratives are rich and memorable: the emmigrants and their familes of Fujian, a bootlegger, a sadly compromised government guide in Tibet, the slow build up to and the ensuing confusion of Tienamen Square. The sky burial, haunts me now, a day after finishing the book.

I recently re-read Seth Faison's marvellous book on a return trip through China. I was in Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and then Hong Kong all in the space of a week. Faison's book was like a becalmed harbor that I could return to -- every time I got on a plane or settled down to bed. His crackling prose and incisive view of China and the gentleness with which he explained what is a tangled and complex place were something I looked forward to each day. It's a great book and deserves the widest possible attention.

I've spent over 8 years in Asia with much of it in China and have always enjoyed reading books about China. Many though, do not come close to capturing the modern thoughts of China as it changes from an agricultural to industrial power as this book does.

If you are looking for a deeper understanding of how many Chinese feel on the street, with threads of intrigue, history and current events I heartily recommend this book.

Joan Criddle has woven a gripping account of the personal experience of one young woman, Teeda Butt Mam, and her family under the oppression of the Khymer Rouge. Although I knew a little about Cambodia's killing fields, this book reveals in considerable detail the brutality and horror of Pol Pot's regime. Yet, it's an inspiring tale of survival, courage, and family loyalty under the most extreme conditions of deprivation, fear and suffering. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have had the strength, ingenuity and willpower to survive such horror. The book also includes many interesting details about traditional Cambodian life and culture.
I highly recommend this book. It's an amazing story!

Joan Criddle has woven a gripping account of the personal experience of one young woman, Teeda Butt Mam, and her family under the oppression of the Khymer Rouge. Although I knew a little about Cambodia's killing fields, this book reveals in considerable detail the brutality and horror of Pol Pot's regime. Yet, it's an inspiring tale of survival, courage, and family loyalty under the most extreme conditions of deprivation, fear and suffering. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have had the strength, ingenuity and willpower to survive such horror. The book also includes many interesting details about traditional Cambodian life and culture.
I highly recommend this book. It's an amazing story!

Joan Criddle has woven a gripping account of the personal experience of one young woman, Teeda Butt Mam, and her family under the oppression of the Khymer Rouge. Although I knew a little about Cambodia's killing fields, this book reveals in considerable detail the brutality and horror of Pol Pot's regime. Yet, it's an inspiring tale of survival, courage, and family loyalty under the most extreme conditions of deprivation, fear and suffering. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have had the strength, ingenuity and willpower to survive such horror. The book also includes many interesting details about traditional Cambodian life and culture.
I highly recommend this book. It's an amazing story!

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOK I EVER READ. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH VITOU AND I HAD THE FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF HIS STORY. HE NEVER STOP TO AMAZE ME FOR THEIR WELL TO SURVIVE.THIS STORY SHOW THE TERMENDOUS COURAGE AND STRONG WELL TO SURVIVE AMONG MONSTERS WHO HAVE NO REGARDS TO FELLOW HUMANS, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD AND RISK YOUR LIFE EVEN FOR THE BASIC NECESITY OF LIFE JUST TO SURVIVE. THIS IS AN EPIC OF FORGOTTEN HOLOCUST AND THE STORY OF A CAMBODIAN FAMILY GOING THROUGH HELL AN BACK. A SUCCESS STORY OF A FAMILY MOVING TO A COUNTRY WITH A DIFFERNT CULTURE AND LANGAUGE AND MAKING SOMETHING OF THEMSELVES. I AM PROUD TO BE A FRIEND OF VITOU AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM. EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK, IT WOULD MAKE YOU APPRECIATE MORE OF WHAT YOU HAVE IN LIFE.

When I was younger I heard bits and pieces about Cambodia and Pol Pot in the news, but didn't really know what it was about. Through "Destroy You" I finally know about the horrendous and evil history that was being made in that country during the 70's and 80's. This biography follows the story of one particular educated Cambodian family who was exiled from Phnom Penh, along with the entire city full of inhabitants. The Khmer Rouge was doing its job of "cleansing" the city of anything of western influence. Most of the educated populace, including doctors, teachers, lawyers, etc., were murdered, leaving a population of mostly uneducated slaves whose job was to work in the rice fields all day long. Music, laughter, and play were not allowed. The people were taught that everyone was of equal value and equally dispensable, and everyone should work hard to contribute to the good of all with the meekness, acceptance, and fortitude of the water buffalo.

Meanwhile, entire villages were massacred if complaint about the government was overheard. Life was incredibly miserable, especially knowing of friends and relatives that had been killed or had disappeared. When Viet Nam invaded Cambodia tens of thousands of Cambodians attempted escape to Thailand, but Thailand did not want them all, and forced many back at gunpoint, killing anyone, including children, who refused to climb down the treacherous, land mine-studded cliff back into Cambodia. Throughout this book I was grieving about the incredible evil that humans can perpetrate against other humans, and amazed at the endurance and determination of this family and others that managed to survive all this horror.

A story like this can yank us out of any tendency towards self-pity or complaining about the minor difficulties in our lives. I have also read the follow-up book, "Bamboos and Butterflies", about this family after they immigrated to the U.S. Their will to survive is carried on as they integrate into a new culture, and reminds us of why so many seek refuge in the U.S.

This has been a favorite of mine since I was a child, both because of the moral of the story, the fantasy of the main character's adventures, and the stunning illustrations. I used to stare at the illustrations and see if I could find some new detail I hadn't noticed before. It's a shame this book is out of print, buy a copy now! Your sons and daughters will enjoy it! This is probably best for kids over 6.

I had a similar situation with this book. My mom read it to me when I was around 5 or 6. I'm 22 now and really wanted it for my kids but neither one of us could remember the name or author. All we could think of was the beautiful illustrations in it. I am so excited to get it for my kids now!!

There are only a few books that have stayed in my memory from childhood, and this book would be one of the two. I got this book when I was 9 or 10, and absolutely fell in love with the art, as well as the enchanting story. I remember looking at it for hours and examening all the details. I remember it inspiering me to get art paper and pencils. I spent weeks trying to draw the cover, as well, as some of the beautiful details inside the book. I moved around a lot as a child and lost the beautiful book in one of the many moves. I never forgot the book. Now I'm 32 and I have a 2 year old son. Every time I'm looking for books I always look for a book that might inspire his creativity the way The Weaving of a dream inspired me. I wanted to purchase this book for him for when he get's older but for the life of me could not remember the title. And then recently I came across a recommendation list on Amazon called "The Most Beautiful Illustrations". And found the book listed there. I immediately bought it. I was bummed out that the Hardcover version was no longer available. I am happy to
report it's just as beautiful, and enchanting as I remember it.

My mom gave me this book when I was about 10 or so...and it STILL stands as one of my favorite children's books. The illustrations captivated me for hours...they are absolutely gorgeous. The story is fanciful, mysterious, and teaches a lesson of being good when others may be greedy. For the young artists, or artists to be, this is a must. Again, the illustrations are brilliant. The tones are very red in this book, with lots of little nuances in the pictures to look for....enjoy!

Like other reviewers here, I also first encountered this book as a child. I remember spending hours staring at the beautiful pictures- wishing I could be there!

Over the years, I would remember the book fondly, wondering if I would ever see it again. Then, I just happened to find it on Amazon- of course, I ordered it right away!

When I received the book, I must say I was at first a bit disappointed. While the pictures were still beautiful, the colors were not as bright as I remembered. Perhaps my memory fooled me?

Then I started reading the story- and I once again transported to a place long ago and far away.

I was quickly drawn into the mystical tale of the old widow, weaving her dream palace with not only thread but her tears and blood. How, after it was blown away by the wind spirits, she asks her three sons to fetch it for her, otherwise, she will surely die! How after two of her sons fall pray to fear and greed, her third son succeeds by crossing the mountain of fire and the lake of ice to reach Sun Mountain, the home of the fairies. How the brocade comes to life and they all live happily ever after.

Each time I turned the page, I would gaze at each picture, taking in all the details. The picture of the palace continues to enchant me, as it had enchanted the old widow and her sons, with its "garden, the flowers, the beautiful palace, song-birds of every kind, luscious fruits and vegetables ready to pick, all in the most perfect detail." Reading the book and viewing the pictures, its almost as if I am there.

Read this book and you too can be drawn into this enchanting dream!

Everyday Chinese life and the Chinese Cultural Revolution clash in Xujun Eberlein's collection of short stories on love and loss. In "Snow Line," the author combines poems written by friends with her own prose to depict a love triangle. Shiao Su is torn between his romantic untouchable love for an artist who uses his poems in her art and his relationship with his fiancée. Unable to have both, Shiao Su struggles to maintain his equilibrium.

In "Feathers," ten-year old Sail learns lessons of life and death suitable for someone much older than herself. Her older sister, Jia, a Red Guard, dies during the Cultural Revolution. Trying to maintain the family's stability, Sail uses reality and fantasy to protect those who might not be able to handle the truth about her sister.

In "Pivot Point," the narrator, a brilliant woman who had "been caught in the epilogue" of the Cultural Revolution, leaving her too old or too intellectual for marriage, falls in love with a married man, Lambo ("the Chinese pronunciation of 'Rambo'"). They have an affair while waiting for his divorce which she realizes will never come. Her intelligence fails to help her solve this emotional dilemma.

Each short story provides readers with a clue to life before, during, and after the Cultural Revolution, a period of visible adjustment, while the yin and yang of relationships provide compelling underlying drama. Readers anticipating apologies will wait longingly for the next book to appear by this engaging writer.

by Susan Andrus
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

Growing up in Chongquing, China, Xujun Eberlein came to America in the summer of 1988 to advance her education. Receiving a PhD from MIT in 1995, after graduation she became a computer algorithm developer until 2003 when she embarked upon a new career as a writer, for which she has since been awarded a number of literary honors for her stories and personal essays published in the United States, Canada, England, Kenya and Hong Kong. Xujun Eberlein currently hosts the literary and cultural blog 'Inside-out China'. Now eight of her stories have been collected and published by the Livingston Press as "Apologies Forthcoming". These erudite and compelling stories focus on the experiences of people during China's 'Cultural Revolution' which saw the intellectual class of a generation of Chinese under Mao subjected to humiliation and repression. Included in this outstanding anthology of realistic fiction are Snow Line; Pivot Point; Feathers; Men Don't apologize; Watch the Thrill; disciple of the Masses; The Randomness of Love; and Second Encounter. Documenting Xujun Eberlein as an exceptional talented author, "Apologies Forthcoming" is especially recommended to readers with an interest in superbly presented and engaging fiction deftly showcasing the human condition with a particular flair for realism in both character and dialogue.

This impressive collection of short stories gives the reader a glimpse into the world of China's Cultural Revolution and its legacy. Reformed Red Guards, city kids "inserted" in impoverished farming villages, educated women looking for love with men who find them "too high to reach," all grapple with the harsh realities of the times that are guaranteed to reveal any character to its depths. Xujun Eberlein's witty, economical and often breathtaking prose makes for many memorable moments: a girl's attempts to transform her grief into art by writing letters to her grandmother in her dead sister's name, the desperate efforts of lovers seeking intimacy in a society hostile to erotic expression, the hollow eyes of a mother who has lost everything she loves, a showdown between a respected scholar and the man who once humiliated him, which brings no apologies, but illuminates for the reader the tragedy of good men at the mercy of history. Apologies Forthcoming offers more than a window into a foreign place and a distant time, however. The protagonists' dreams and disappointments and the compromises they make are also profoundly familiar. This book stretched my mind, charmed my sensibilities, and touched my heart. These are the reasons why I read fiction, and I give it my highest recommendation!

I am charmed by Apologies Forthcoming but haven't been able to put my finger on precisely why. Xujun Eberlein writes with quiet intimacy. The stories are like listening to a really interesting person at a social gathering... someone uninhibited, unafraid to admit earthy things to a stranger.

Wow. This is a stunning short story collection, a frank look into the minds and hearts of ordinary Chinese citizens who have lived through their government's folly-filled shifts in policy and politics.

Eberlein writes deftly, unassumingly, of matters she knows well. She is not afraid to show the warts in her characters or the country in which they were born, but she does so with the talent of a fine storyteller, using weakness, strength and humanity to build her scenes. This is the stuff missing from history books, the stuff that would actually make those dry accounts of movements and political actions interesting and relevant to us mortals. It's history written not by the winners, but by the survivors.

Although the stories are simple on the surface, they present situations that are tremendously complicated, both emotionally and technically. Eberlein is very good at rendering characters who refuse to be entirely good or overwhelmingly evil, a fact that sets her apart from much prose written about China in general and the Cultural Revolution in particular. She also gives us a fine sense of place, whether her characters roam the halls of a factory, wander the market, or huddle for warmth against the wall of a barn.

I loved this collection. Now...we need a novel.


Susan O'Neill, Author: Don't Mean Nothing: Short Stories of Vietnam