A brilliant and tasteful aunt bought me Bridge of Birds when I was in my late teens or early 20’s, Shortly after when the book came out. She’d turned me on to Shel Silversteen, and this book had even greater impact.…
Dream of the Red Chamber: the Story of the Stone
One thing I love about camping, is that it will get me started on a piece of great literature that might not compete well against all the distractions of modern edutainment. I finally read The Dream of the Red Chamber.…
Summer East-West Center Retreat in Oahu
This summer focused on history, which ironically may be of more relevance to me for my English classes than if it focused on literature (especially poetry). I’ve had the unique opportunity to work with some truly gifted bilingual Ph.D.’s, and…
American Born Chinese: graphic novel review
American Born Chinese provides an easily accessible introduction to the immigrant experience in a graphic novel format. It is an award winning book that even my 4 year old was drawn into, but the subtle allegory can be brilliant at…
Red Mandarin Dress: an Inspector Chen Mystery.
I really enjoyed The Red Mandarin Dress (again, available cheap on Amazon and in kindle), though irreconcilable confusion and contradictions seem to be a deliberate theme. The title, and most of the book, insists on using term “mandarin dress” though …
When Red is Black: Inspector Chen Mystery
This book has interesting information on architecture, as well as traditional Chinese literature and language. Evidently shikumen – or traditional Chinese dwellings developed initially for one family – when adapted for mulit-family use converted a tiny room on a landing…
A Loyal Character Dancer: Inspector Chen Mystery
This book is also available at Amazon cheap, and in Kindle ebook. I particularly like how this book teaches lessons in essential Chinese vocabulary. (For more details and resources see China Composition Wiki here). Loyal is on the cover, and…
Death of a Red Heroine: Inspector Chen Mystery
As I described how this Award Winning book won me over earlier, let me offer some practical information on the text and some details. There is some sex – but it’s SFW. It’s done well. There is also some implied…
Inspector Chen Cao: Qiu Xiaolong’s Mystery Series
The Inspector Chen mysteries by Qiu Xiaolong came highly recommended by retired JCCC librarian Andrea Kempf. I approached the first novel, Death of a Read Heroine, skeptically and read resistently for for the first 30 or 40 pages, but have…
Judge Dee & Dee Goong An
Robert Van Gulik lived most of his life in the far East, worked professionally as a translator, and married a Chinese woman. He introduced Judge Dee mysteries partly in an attempt to counteract the dose of racism that came with…