Great Reads
Jan 21, 2006 17:14:45 GMT -5
Post by David Wong on Jan 21, 2006 17:14:45 GMT -5
"a Thousand Pieces of Gold" by Adeline Yen Mah, provides a real neat insight into China's past by weaving her own personal stories together with classic Chinese Proverbs. I really enjoyed Mah's book. She also wrote the best seller "Falling Leaves".
"The Soong Dynasty" by Sterling Seagrave, is a fascinating look into the powerful Soong family - patriach Charlie Soong, whose 3 daughters married the most powerful men at the beginning of the 20th century - Soong Ching Ling, Soong Mei Ling, and Soong Ai Ling - marrying, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Chiang Kai-Shek and industrialist tycoon, HH Kung; and son TV Soong, who at times served various high government posts including foreign minister and Premier. This was an absolutely intriguing book, and I've read it twice. You learn a lot about the underbelly of China prior to the Communists success and you learn a lot about the brutality of the times.
"The Rape of Nanking". For those with weak stomachs, I have no remedies. But I highly recommend this book to everyone. This book by the late Chinese American writer, Iris Chang documents the horrific, no, make that barbaric animalistic side of humanity. When you think about it, this happened quite recently...ie. in what we call "Modern times". After reading this book, I researched a bit more of the subject on-line and understood that there is a clear double standard in our world. The Jewish Holocaust was a significant and horrible chapter of history...and is accepted widely by all. But the Asian Holocaust is being ignored and condemned as "old history...and get over it!" by so many. After researching more on this topic, especially the 6 gruesome weeks of rampagin in Nanjing and the infamous human experiments at "unit 173" ... I couldn't sleep for nights.
I'll post some "crappy books" that I've also read on my next posting. In the meantime, turn off that TV and grab a book!
"The Soong Dynasty" by Sterling Seagrave, is a fascinating look into the powerful Soong family - patriach Charlie Soong, whose 3 daughters married the most powerful men at the beginning of the 20th century - Soong Ching Ling, Soong Mei Ling, and Soong Ai Ling - marrying, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Chiang Kai-Shek and industrialist tycoon, HH Kung; and son TV Soong, who at times served various high government posts including foreign minister and Premier. This was an absolutely intriguing book, and I've read it twice. You learn a lot about the underbelly of China prior to the Communists success and you learn a lot about the brutality of the times.
"The Rape of Nanking". For those with weak stomachs, I have no remedies. But I highly recommend this book to everyone. This book by the late Chinese American writer, Iris Chang documents the horrific, no, make that barbaric animalistic side of humanity. When you think about it, this happened quite recently...ie. in what we call "Modern times". After reading this book, I researched a bit more of the subject on-line and understood that there is a clear double standard in our world. The Jewish Holocaust was a significant and horrible chapter of history...and is accepted widely by all. But the Asian Holocaust is being ignored and condemned as "old history...and get over it!" by so many. After researching more on this topic, especially the 6 gruesome weeks of rampagin in Nanjing and the infamous human experiments at "unit 173" ... I couldn't sleep for nights.
I'll post some "crappy books" that I've also read on my next posting. In the meantime, turn off that TV and grab a book!