Habitual Reader Profiles - Page 2
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Name: Jana McBurney-Lin |
| City & State: Los Gatos, California | |
| Vocation / Avocation: Author |
Why I'm a Habitual Reader:
I feel as if something's missing from my day if I don't have a good book waiting for me on my nightstand.
My List of Ten: Stories with a Chinese flavor
1. Katherine
Author: Anchee Min
An interesting look into the ways foreigners were viewed by the Chinese right
after the Cultural Revolution
2. Life and Death in Shanghai
Author: Nien Chang
An amazing portrayal of the events that took place in the cities during the
Cultural Revolution
3. The Good Earth
Author: Pearl S. Buck
The struggle between modern ways and past ways as shown through the family's
method of farming
4. The Joy Luck Club
Author: Amy Tan
Delightful language, fascinating stories.
5. Red Azalea
Author: Anchee Min
A story of one young woman imprisoned in the countryside during the Cultural
Revolution and how that changed her.
6. Becoming Madame Mao
Author: Anchee Min
What's interesting about this--other than the history on Mao--is the way Min
changes points of view--from 3rd to 1st--so deftly. A fascinating piece of
art.
7. Dragonwings
Author: Laurence Yep
This is a young adult book, but I enjoyed this tale of a young boy brought
over from China during the mid 1800's--the culture shock, the customs, his
ability to not only adapt but create.
8. Waiting
Author: Ha Jin
Lovely words. Great story.
9. Little Red Scarf Girl
Author: Ji-Li Jiang
This is another fascinating young adult book. Jiang tells the account of her
childhood growing up during the Cultural Revolution.
10. Wild Swans
Author: Jung Chang
Very detailed, but has interesting stories about life in China.
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Have you read any of these titles? Review one now.





