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.…
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…