Reviews (2)

Two Years In The Melting Pot
As of you always heard people saying America is the melting pot, or a salad bowl, well this book tells the story of a Chinese man learn what it is to be and how hard it is to adapted to another culture. As the heart broken story start with him leaving his home of his family and children are waiting for him when he get back from his educational journey. Nearing half of his life away, he have leave home many times some times even long and much more dangerous then this journey to America but everyone still strong, but the story, the author have his way of describing the sadness of leaving his home and his family.
Liu Zongren shown a lot of honesty in himself with other, and also the humor of how the author describe the ways that he adapted to the American ways with his many questions of the cultures he barely know and soon be leaving again. As the author dealing with cultures shock you will be drawn into the book and soon you will feel that you are dealing with the culture shock with the author also, the writing of Liu is very strong and it will attract you to the book as you read along.

two years in the melting pot
Are you interested to know how a Chinese person experienced cultural shock in the US ? Then this book is a MUST. No book that I have read about the Chinese (and I have read many indeed) has touched me as profoundly as this precious glimpse into the personal feelings (rarely shared with Westerners) experienced by a gentle Chinese man during his two year stay in the Chicago area during the early 1980s. His English is excellant and his literary style very expressive and easy to read. His honesty and humor can not fail to touch the soul of the reader. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Liu for sharing his thoughts and experiences with us. ... Read more

Book Description

This monumental collection gathers the essays, travel journals, letters, poems, and translations of one of the most influential literary voices of the twentieth century.

Gary Snyder has been a major cultural force in America for five decades-prize-winning poet, environmental activist, Zen Buddhist, and reluctant counterculture guru. Having expanded far beyond the Beat poems that first brought his work into the public eye, Snyder has produced a broad-ranging body of work that encompasses his fluency in Eastern literature and culture, his commitment to the environment, and his concepts of humanity's place in the cosmos. The Gary Snyder Reader showcases the panoramic range of his literary vision in a single-volume survey that will appeal to students and general readers alike.

Prose selections include letters to Lew Welch and Philip Whalen; journals from his travels to Saigon, Singapore, Kyoto, Ceylon, New Delhi, and Daramshala; meditations on Buddhism and the surrender of self; a cultural survey of communal living; and notes from the lookout tower on Sourdough Mountain, where Snyder once watched for forest fires. Also included are two long interviews with Snyder from East West Journal and The Paris Review.

The Reader also gathers poems from each phase of Snyder's long career-from his first collection, Riprap, to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Turtle Island, through his recently completed poem cycle, Mountains and Rivers Without End. It also includes Snyder's little-known translation of the great "Long Bitter Song" poem by Bai Juyi, the longest poem in the Chinese language.

From freighter to firetower, Zendo to Himalayan mountain ridge, Snyder's writings reflect a lifetime of study, journey, and mindfulness. Time and again, his work has captured key moments in our changing culture, transforming our concept of literature and its place in a purposeful life. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Teacher, Intellect, Poet and hero, Gary Snyder is for you!
Gary Snyder is an amazing person. He is an intellect. He is a poet. He is a teacher, a traveler, and he is a deeply spiritual man. He lives the life that we should all attempt to lead, a conscious thinking, methodical, contemplative life, asking questions arriving at conclusions and taking action.

The Gary Snyder Reader is a good compilation of his life's work, the variety inside includes essay, interview, and poetry. This book is a well rounded view of his feelings and belief's about nature, and that of the nature of the soul, the nature of man. I agree with other reviews written here about the power of Synder's writing. His is a strong voice which is able to make a terrific argument about everything from the history of the Christian church and some reasons for underlying social perils to making a call for more activism in one's own community. Make a difference, be responsible, see things for what they are, yes this is all there.

There is also the voice of pain, loss, suffering, anger, and very deep love. Above all else, one REALLY gets the feeling that Synder loves, passionately. Gary Snyder is an extremely talented writer and poet. The same voice that won the Pulitzer is still here. Do more than read and enjoy his works, read and be changed.

a primer for the 21st century
most of us first heard of snyder though kerouac's dharma bums. and i must confess that is why i was 1st attracted to him and his writings. but to list snyder as just another beat it not only inaccurate it does a diservice to him, his writings and his fearless intellect. snyder is not only a great poet but is also an insightful naturalist and a true zen master. this anthology is actually a zen bible for the 21st century, filled with enjoyable reading and great insights. these writings would make the soul of han shan dance, and sakyamuni smile. this is one of my favorite books. just reading it will lighten your spirit and make your soul dance with joy.

A word gardener sampler
Gary Snyder's power appears to come from mountain, meandering and meditation. In this thick sampler we visit his life to age sixty-eight through notes, prose and poems. The soil of his writings range across a fire lookout station in the Cascade Range, a Japanese Zen temple, the engine room of a Pacific freighter, an audience with the Dalai Lama, work and climbs with Ginsberg, Kerouac, Lew Welch, and Nanao Sakaki, travel in Botswana and Zimbabwe with his sons. The essence of his power is nature. "Nature is not a place to visit, it is home-and within that home territory there are more familiar and less familiar places." Two sons, one Pulitzer, many other awards so far. He writes, he reads, he teaches. One hopes that he never tires of planting words in the soil that is us. If there are any legitimate Earth heroes, Gary Snyder is one.

Capturing the spirit of a poet
Gary Snyder has been an inspiration to me and to a lot of other people for many years now. This book is a joy to read because it gives us so much of his poetry, as well as his philosophy of life, nature and Buddhism over a course of 46 years. Much of it has been pulled from his various books, but reading it again after time has passed brings a new perspective and an added appreciation for the work. Thanks Gary, for doing the real work for all these years.

Snyder has got to be one of the best poets in modern poetry.
Snyder has a way of showing things in life, that the rest of us miss because we are to busy living. Basically I can't say enoough good things aboout his work. ... Read more

Book Description

A Thousand Pieces of Gold is a cultural memoir as well as a personal account of China's past, illustrated by proverbs taken from a fascinating period of history when China was ruled by the First Emperor, Qin Shihuang (259–210 B.C.E.), the sovereign who united China, built the Great Wall, and standardized the Chinese language.

New York Times bestselling author Adeline Yen Mah combines fascinating historical insights with personal stories from her own life to show the enduring relevance and influence of proverbs in Chinese life, even to the present day. Yen Mah recreates a lost world in which warlords, scholars, and courtiers plot and counter-plot to create some of the world's greatest dramas. Her unique perspective creates a window into the Chinese mind, enabling Western readers to better comprehend Chinese thought and culture, while being mesmerized by stories first told by the legendary historian Sima Qian, China's Herodotus. Combining probing historical analysis with stories of tremendous personal insight, A Thousand Pieces of Gold is a work of heartfelt intimacy and a singularly authentic portrait of Chinese culture. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

worth every penny
Unlike Romance or Western languages, Chinese does not have an alphabet, it is written in calligraphic symbols which have been refined down the ages from their original representational caricatures. When we say: A picture is worth a thousand words, we are actually expressing a very Chinese idea. These proverbs consist of four characters, & speak pithily about things military, political, domestic & educational. What we call aphorisms.

In A THOUSAND PIECES OF GOLD Adeline Yen Mah, whose memoir FALLING LEAVES Rebeccasreads also recommends, introduces us to the long tradition of the Chinese proverbs, & to the utterances many modern men have made upon the events of our own interesting times.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends A THOUSAND PIECES OF GOLD as part memoir, history lesson, language study & insights into the Chinese way of looking at life.

Nice read for a "guai low"
I'm an overseas Chinese. I tried reading this book through the eyes of a "guai low" (foreigner) to see if it was a book that would open the eyes of the westerner to the thoughts of a Chinese.

If you aren't Chinese, grew up in a western civiliation, and want to try to understand something about how the Chinese think, this is a great introductory book.

What I felt could have been done better is the explanation of the proverbs (cheng yu). I feel strongly about this possibly because Chinese proverbs has defined my life and values. Then again, that might have made the book unnecessary lengthy and boring.

There are 3 stories in this book. That of the first emperor of China - Chin Shih Huang, Mao Ze Dong and the author herself. All 3 are important stories.

Kudos to the courage of Adeline. Only another Chinese can understand what it took to write her books.

Two Chapters in Chinese History Brought Together
Having just read her other book, "Falling Leaves", I was instantly struck by how well the two books go together. Anyone who has read "Falling Leaves" and loved it should read this book. In it she ties ancient and recent Chinese history together in an enjoyable and approachable way while including more detail from her own life.

I have read many other books on China. Most of them have been dry and unexciting. This book, however, brings Chinese history to life and applies it to the modern world. Finally I understand why Mao Zedong and the first emperor of China are so often compared. Yen Mah brings it all together and binds it with proverbs that I well remember hearing from my own travels in China.

If you are a student of Chinese history, or you're simply curious, definately read this book. It will bring you in and give you a unique insight into not only China of the past, but China now and in the future.

Universal Truths
Adeline Yen Mahs latest book is a perfect interweaving of personal reminiscence and ancient Chinese history. She has translated accounts from Shiji, a historical record published in China in the last century BC and therefore referring to events in the two centuries before that, and related them to contemporary events in her own life. Accounts of the First and Second Chinese Emperors, their wars and the intrigues of their courtiers, are interspersed with original proverbs which are depicted in the Chinese script. This English reader, relying on the English translations of these proverbs, was impressed with their universal truth. Why should that be a surprise when human beings worldwide are a single species with emotions and actions that are universal? William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe sixteen centuries later, encapsulated similar human frailties in their plays. Even the characters of the two Emperors, the weaker following the stronger, show parallels in English history: for example, the weaker Edward II followed Edward I, the weaker Richard II followed Edward III, the weaker Henry VI followed Henry V. There is a lot of Chinese wisdom in these texts. - Paula Alderson

Universal Relevance
A thousand pieces of gold: Adeline Yen Mah's latest book is a perfect interweaving of personal reminiscence and ancient Chinese history. She has translated accounts from Shiji, a historical record published in China in the last century BC and therefore referring to events in the two centuries before that, and related them to contemporary events in her own life. Accounts of the First and Second Chinese Emperors, their wars and the intrigues of their courtiers, are interspersed with original proverbs which are depicted in the Chinese script. This English reader, relying on the English translation of these proverbs, was impressed with their universal truth. Why should that be a surprise when human beings worldwide are a single species with emotions and actions that are universal? William Shakespeare, sixteen centuries later, encapsulated similar human frailties in his plays. Even the characters of the two Emperors, the weaker following the stronger, show parallels in English history: for example, the weak Edward II followed Edward I, the weak Richard II followed Edward III and the weak Henry VI followed Henry V. There is a lot of Chinese wisdom hidden in these texts.
Paula Alderson ... ... Read more

Book Description

Now considered a classic, this is an eloquent and compellingly told account of the Dalai Lama's exile from Tibet after its conquest by China. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A tragedy easily confirmed
This book tells the sad history of Tibet under chinese rule through personal histories. This is not a difficult story to confirm. "Tears of Blood" by Mary Craig, "Whispered Prayers" by Steven Harrison and regular international media tell the same story of an opressive Chinese government. Read this and visit the official website of the Tibetan government in exile www.tibet.com or chick out www.tibetanphotoproject.com for a beginners introduction to Tibet. This story is relevant as we make decisions that will make China richer, or rather make a select few leaders richer and more powerful. If you truly want to understand the nature of what it means to deal with the Government of China read any of the above books and this one or go ask a Tibetan what it means to do business with the government of China? Genocide, torture, forced abortion and sterilization...This is an important book towards understanding the nature of the Government of China and what it means to do business with it.

Riveting and realistic
A must read to truly understand the complex story of Tibet, although it may disuade you from ever going there. This is the story of the destruction of Tibet, told through a narrative of political history and a few well-chosen personal stories. Internal squabbling contributed to the Tibetan's own downfall, but in the end this small underdeveloped nation could not have withstood the Chinese without significant support from the rest of the world, and that support was shamefully lacking in the 50's. The destruction that followed was unbelievable. I've always thought it would be fascinating to go there, but I now realize that the treasures of Tibet are probably now in China or in the hands of private collectors after the Chinese sold them off, and what's left is part of a carefully constructed show for tourists. I agree with the reviewer who says that Tibetan independence seems a long shot at this point, but the world should keep the pressure on until the Tibetans gain some measure of cultural and religious freedom. My only criticism of this book is that it ends in the mid-80's, and the newer edition that came out in the late 90's contains a rather feeble attempt to update the story through a chronology. Interesting though is the interview with the Dalai Lama.

Not easy to take
If your serious about learning about Tibet and the Chinese take- over read this book.Some of the more explicit chapters made me really angry and kept me questioning "How can humans treat each other this way"?

The Time for Dreaming is Ended
If you have had any Shangri-La type illusions about Tibet, this book will soon blow them away. Not that that is a bad thing, but just be warned. This book will open your eyes, make you laugh, weep, clench your fists and probably curse before you're done, but it will not leave you unchanged, either in your opinion of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, and especially of China.

This is a very balanced account from the Tibetan perspective of the period roughly from the end of WWII until 1990. In addition to an unvarnished account of Tibetan bravery, desire to retain their homeland at all costs and credulity, and unlimited Chinese brutality and treachery, there is a great deal of social insight woven in. This is not a "feel-good" story to garner sympathy for the Tibetans, this is a tell-it-like-is book whose message is so daunting that I'm not sure most of the world, much less the Tibetans themselves are ready to face much of it.

This is not a book so much about religion, although you cannot write about Tibet without writing about Buddhism, as about world politics thundering down on a small, isolated nation. It is about the bravery and resourcefulness of the Tibetan people and the greatness of their leader. And it is about the utter shameless cupidity and determination of the Chinese to lay hold of this strategic bit of real estate and anihilate its native population. This book should serve as a powerful reminder of what the PRC is capable of and just how much their talk is worth.

After reading this, I believe (and HHDL must realize) that the chances for any kind of an autonomous, much less independent, Tibetan region are slim to none, but that the facade needs to be kept up for political and morale reasons. None the less it is a bitter truth that the Chinese have done the rest of the world a favor: by driving the Tibetans out of Tibet, they have released a great force for peace and good to the rest of us in the form of Tibetan Buddhism and the presence of HHDL.

I do highly recommend this book.

Truth
Books Like "In Exile from the Lands of Snows and Movies like "Seven Years in Tibet" and "Kundun" destroy the myth of Shangri-La while portraying Tibet as real through participation in the production and giving advice on the historical accuracy of both movies and book giving Tibet complexity. The myth of Shangri-La as laid out by James Hilton in "Lost Horizon", as far as the West is concerned, is as real as any Homeric myth can be. Westerners, mired in the irony of losing a fantasy, do not have to deal with real flesh and blood issues. Deconstructing by examining the power relations lifts the veil of fantasy and offers a more authentic discourse. Read this book with an open mind and be ready to discard old notions of myth, fantasy and construction. A resounding 5 stars! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Compelling story of friendship and perseverance
Charlie Two Shoes is a fascinating story of one man's friendship with a group of US Marines and his incredible perseverence in getting re-united with them. Peterson and Perlmutt tell the story through Charlie's eyes and those of his Marine pals. They give us an intriguing look at life behind the Bamboo Curtain. More amazing than Charlie's budding friendship -- he was around the Marines for about four years as a teenager -- is his enduring perseverance in keeping his dream of a reunion alive. The dream survived decades, including years in a Chinese prison and more under house arrest in his small village. After all that, his eventual reunion in the U.S. had drama of its own. One Marine buddy turned out to be more interested in his own fortunes than Charlie's,and Charlie's efforts to stay got mired as much in domestic politics as international. A good read by gifted writers.

An epic of faith, courage and loyalty set in war torn China.
Charlie Two Shoes and the Marines of Love Company is not only an inspiring story about friendships and loyalty, but also an excellent retelling of some little known American history. Set in Northern China starting at the end of World War II and continuing to recent times, the reader will learn about the atrocities visited upon the Chinese peasantry by the Japanese, the communist take over of China and America's futile efforts to stop it, the severe poverty and starvation the Chinese people endured, and the political repression and corruption that continued for years. Into the shadows of these desolate and hopeless conditions, the warmth and charity that the American Marines and missionaries brought with them to China and to a young boy, nick-named Charlie, shine brightly. The reader is invited on a journey through Charlie's life of joys and travails, but is pulled aside by the authors from time to time for some excellent and concise description of the historical context. Thus this true tale of friendship and suffering also enables the reader to also learn the larger story of the historical events which ultimately were its cause. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lisa See, daughter of novelist Carolyn See, brings a novelist's skill to this sprawling ancestral history. Books tracing the roots of overseas Chinese writers are not uncommon these days, but See uncovered in her family tree a capsule history of the Sino-American diaspora: her great-grandfather, Fong See, founded a California business, married a Caucasian woman and fathered many offspring, and returned periodically to China to redistribute some of his wealth and launch another family. See, a Publishers Weekly writer, has conducted extensive interviews and drawn on family lore for an enthralling saga of ambition, prejudice, love, loyalty, and sorrow--social history at its best. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A new family
I wish I had read this book first. I read Lisa's Flower Net and enjoyed it so much that I looked to see what else she had written. Finding On Gold Mountain (thanks, Amazon) I became immersed in the life of the author and her family. I have read so many stories of Chinese families in Mainland China and Taiwan, but this is the first I have read of the Chinese American experience. It is doubly interesting because of the marriages between Chinese and Caucasians, and how they resolved their cultural differences during a time when China itself was undergoing so many cultural changes. I highly recomend the book for its content and for its excellent narrative style.

An odyssey of a read
Lisa See, in describing the journey of her family over one hundred years, also takes the reader on a literary journey. I have read many auto-biographical and semi-auto-biographical accounts of the Chinese diaspora and Lisa's book is amongst the best. We can read her book as an adventure and also as a history. A history about which she must be proud. This book has inspired me to write about my own family, who made a similar journey, over a hundred years ago, but in Australia

The author carries you along on her odyssey!
Lisa See's path to discover where and how she fits in in this gifted, and far from ordinary immigrant American family is as much your story as it is hers. Her writing is fresh and alive enough to hold your interest and make you want to hear more from and about this author. Her mother is Carolyn See, who has written a little about Lisa's history in her own book, Dreaming: Good Luck and Hard Times in America. Look over both books and be prepared to hunker down for a while. ... Read more

Book Description

To this day, we still do not know the extent of China's penetrations of our nuclear weapons complex.But we do know that its espionage efforts have obtained highly sensitive, classified data on our most sophisticated warheads and that it is now beginning to field a new family of long-range nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles based on the technology that comprised the core of our strategic deterrent. Notra Trulock was Director of Intelligence at the U.S. Department of Energy throughout the 1990s.In this spellbinding book, he takes us inside the U.S. nuclear labs. He describes how he came to suspect that Chinese spies were compromising our security and how the trail he followed led to Wen Ho Lee. Trulock tried to warn the President and Congress. When he was ignored, he blew the whistle, creating a domestic crisis for the Clinton administration and forcing it finally to address the security breaches in our nation's nuclear weapons complex. "Code Name KINDRED SPIRIT" takes us directly into the murky world of nuclear espionage. But it is also a daunting story about the fate of the man who brought the bad news.After the scandal broke, Trulock found himself the targeted by the Clintonites who resented him for speaking out.He was smeared as a bigot and a mentally unstable alarmist. When he attempted to tell his side of the story, the FBI tried to silence him by claiming he had revealed classified data.He was demoted and driven out of government, his career and his personal reputation ruined.

"Code Name KINDRED SPIRIT" tells the inside story of one of the major spy scandals of recent years.It reads like a Le Carre story told by Franz Kafka. ... Read more

Book Description

What does it mean to be "Chinese?" This controversial question has sparked off a never-ending process of image-making in Chinese and Chinese-speaking communities throughout the twentieth century. This introduction to Chinese national cinema, written by a leading scholar, covers three "Chinas": mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It traces the formation, negotiation and problematization of the national on the Chinese screen over ninety years.Historical and comparative perspectives bring out the parallel developments in the three Chinas, while critical analysis explores thematic and stylistic changes over time.

As well as exploring artistic achievements and ideological debates, Chinese National Cinema also emphasizes industry research and market analysis.The author concludes that despite the rigid censorship systems and the pressures on film makers, Chinese national cinema has never succeeded in projecting a single unified picture, but rather portrays many Chinas. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A TRUE STORY OF 20TH CENTURY SAINTS...
This is an absolutely extraordinary book. Never have I read a book in which the spiritual beauty of the author so resonated throughout the story. The purity of heart that manifests itself in this inspiring saga of a heroic, Dutch family in Nazi occupied Holland during World War II is stunningly beautiful.

This is the true story of the Ten Boom family who, during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands, upon seeing what was happening to their Jewish neighbors and friends, asked themselves this age old question "If not us,...who; if not now,...when?" They answered it, ultimately, at great cost.

The Ten Booms were devoutly Christian and lived a simple life. The patriarch of the family ran a watch shop that had been in his family for a century. Some of the family members, the author among them, worked there; selling and repairing clocks and watches. They also lived in the house in which the shop was located.

When the Nazis occupied their country, the reality of what it meant slowly dawned upon them, as they saw the treatment given to their fellow Dutch citizens of the Jewish faith. Moved by their plight, the author at the age of fifty, together with other members of her family, including their father who was nearly eighty, became active in the Dutch underground.

When it became clear to the Ten Booms that Jews were being targeted for deportation and death, they had a false wall constructed in the author's bedroom, thereby creating a secret room. There, they would hide the terrified Jews who were staying with them, in the event of a Nazi raid upon their home.

Eventually denounced by someone to the Nazis, the Ten Booms were arrested and their home raided and torn apart by the Gestapo, in their search for the Jews they believed to be hiding there. At the time of the raid, the Ten Boom home was filled to capacity with Jews in hiding. So well concealed was the hidden room that had been created by the erection of the false wall, that these poor, terrified Jews managed to escape detection.

The Ten Boom family did not fare so well. It was upon their arrest that they learned first hand of man's inhumanity to man, and their faith was put to a test that they had never dreamt possible. It was faith, however, that sustained the author in what was to be her hour of darkest despair. To find out what happened to the Ten Booms, read this book. It is the story of an incredible family, who had the courage to put their convictions to the test.

This book is a masterpiece. The reader is sure to be captivated by the goodness and spiritual beauty contained within its pages. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Memoirs To Savor
This book is a work to savor, rich with stories, lore, wisdom, e.g., the tale of Grand-Uncle Three and his coffin, the man who put rat's meat in egg noodle soup (ugh!), the description of Ms. Tham's bossy paternal grandmother, the author's coming to terms with the death of her younger sister (Jadegreen Plumblossom) and father, and so much more. I wasn't left at a distance by the fact that the memoirs are about a girl growing up (i.e., would there be something that I as a male could relate to there?) because Ms. Tham captured so much that is universal. If she or the book were more akin to the Princess Nohran or Fadzillah whom she described in it (Ms. Tham was, at one point when she lived in Malaysia, a tutor in English and Mathematics to princesses in a royal family), i.e., bubbling over with fascination regarding the merits of Revlon versus Elizabeth Arden skin-care cosmetics, that would have been a turn-off. But not the beautiful rendering of the past that deals with family, love, marriage, death, mythology, and art that is in evidence throughout the memoirs.

Multi-cultural to the Umpty-Umpth
I've read (and own) all of Hilary Tham's books. Most of them are volumes of poetry, wise, lucid, direct, witty poems. In her poems, Hilary is a great story teller, so it should be no surprise that her first prose work, a memoire, is moving and rich. The material of her life is, in itself, intriguing: She's Chinese, but raised as part of a Chinese minority in Malaysia, married an American Peace Corp. member, converted to his faith and became active in her synagogue in the U.S. Besides her Chinese background (with its stew of Confusianism, Buddhism and Taoism) and her Judaism, she was educated in a Catholic school -- she "covers" a hell of a lot of culture. But apart from the interest of her unusual background, she has wry charm, humor, truthfulness, common sense and a warm, friendly presence in her work. ... Read more

Book Description

With a Foreword by Prof. Louis B. Barnes of Harvard Business School, this book records the experience of a Chinese business woman who pioneered and succeeded in modernizing the aging Chinese retail business. Based on her years of business experience, the author recounts the turmoil, clashes of concepts and behind-the-scene decisions in the Chinese retail business, as well as psychological shocks, emotional perplexes, and intellectual apprehension she had gone through.

Breaking Grounds reveals how, in a series of groundbreaking moves, Bingxin Hu redefined Chinese retail, integrated Western management with the Chinese tradition and culture, and developed a unique and effective model that was copied by many other retailers.

The Chinese version of this book was an instant hit. Hu’s first-hand description of her endeavor has benefited many Chinese retailers. A valuable case study on Chinese retail business and its management, Breaking Grounds also serves as a guide on Chinese market operation and investment strategies for Western business people who have invested or are thinking of investing in China. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A true and compelling story for all interested in China
I just read this book and I cannot begin to describe the author, Yue Daiyuan's experiences and anguish during both the Anti-Rightist movement and Cultural Revolution in China. Her story is compelling and also reveals how indoctrinated and committed the young people during the early PRC period were to Communism and Mao Zedong. The book is one long record of the sad and horrendous events that were committed in the name of Revolution. If you're interested in modern Chinese history, this book is a must read since it provides so much first person account of what took place during the senseless period of the 1960's known as the Cultural Revolution. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A very beautiful book of memories and pictures
This book is just what it says, a book of memories and photo diary. I bought this book for myself because I love Michelle and wanted this beautiful book of memories and pictures of her. And I'm 54 years old. Michelle is a wonderful role model and her books are an inspiration to everyone, including older people and not just little girls. I would reccommend it for anybody of any age.

Michelle Kwan
I loved the book,and the photos.The book shows her fans a side that no one else knows about her.

Worth the Money
I have to start off by saying I am a bit confused as to the complaints about this book being a rip-off -- it is printed on almost indentical grades of paper and a fraction of the price of other similar photo-centered skating books, so how could this possibly be a rip off in comparison to others in the genre? Although many of the photos are not new, the book is nicely laid out and presented, like a personal scrapbook. I enjoyed it, but with its simple presentation it is most definitely geared towards Michelle's younger fans.

Nice Pictorial History of Michelle!
I really enjoyed this book! Michelle's book focuses only on positive things -- her own skating, friends, family, and favorite things. Michelle is truly a class act, and this book is yet another reflection of what makes Michelle a true champion.

Great Photos From Michelle's Career!
Great, full-color photos featuring Michelle in all her best-loved programs over the years. A must-own for any Michelle kwan fan! ... Read more

Book Description

With the continued expansion of the literary canon, multicultural works of modern literary fiction and autobiography have assumed an increasing importance for students and scholars of American literature. This exciting new series assembles key documents and criticism concerning these works that have so recently become central components of the American literature curriculum. Each casebook will reprint documents relating to the work's historical context and reception, present the best in critical essays, and when possible, feature an interview of the author. The series will provide, for the first time, an accessible forum in which readers can come to a fuller understanding of these contemporary masterpieces and the unique aspects of American ethnic, racial, or cultural experience that they so ably portray.

This case book presents a thought-provoking overview of critical debates surrounding The Woman Warrior, perhaps the best known Asian American literary work. The essays deal with such issues as the reception by various interpretive communities, canon formation, cultural authenticity, fictionality in autobiography, and feminist and poststructuralist subjectivity. The eight essays are supplemented an interview with the author and a bibliography. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Intriguing!
An haunting book that details the life of a Chinese American woman who struggles to find herself. Although the non-chronological structuring of the book is rather hard to follow, it is amazing. This book leaves an indelible mark on the mind and pierces the soul. Extremely recommended!

This autobiographical work is complex but eye opening.
Maxine Hong Kingston's autobiography is a complex work that takes careful analyzation. To fully understand how she uses this piece to tell her story, one must examine several aspects of Chinese culture. It is an interesting work that requires thought. ... Read more