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Original poster

Books set in China

36 replies

melrose · 06/02/2012 10:13

Hi
can anyone recommend a good book set in China for a book club read? My book club are following the travels of one of our membesr who is travelling round the world and China is the next stop.

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putyourhatonsweetie · 04/03/2012 10:39

I appreciate the time may have passed now but...another recommendation for ma jian here. 'Beijing Coma' is wonderful but also 'The Noodle Maker' and "Red Dust'.

Raise the Red Lantern was also a good film I think?

Sky Burial by Xinran is nonfiction, but similar to others mentioned above I think it is still okay for a book club.

Shanghaidiva · 24/02/2012 15:19

Dream of Ding Village - Yan Lanke

AllPastYears · 22/02/2012 23:20

The Good Earth - Pearl Buck. Already mentioned above but wanted to second it.

I've read some of the Amy Tan books and enjoyed them, but The Good Earth has really stayed with me.

Selks · 22/02/2012 23:15

Also want to cast my vote for The Vagrants by Yiyun Li. It's an amazing book.

kirriemummy · 22/02/2012 23:09

Have you tried The Painted Veil by W Somerset Maughn? Its a great love story, and as I remember has quite a lot for book group discussions - its quite quiet and understated, but I loved it. It's also been made into a really good, if a little depressing, film if you are interested. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Painted_Veil_(novel)
hope this helps!

IamtheSnorkMaiden · 22/02/2012 23:01

The Vagrants by Yiyun Li
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers - short stories by the same.

Takver · 22/02/2012 13:24

I'd second River Town, absolutely unputdownable. Peter Hessler's other two books about China are also a really good read, but that's probably the best one to start with.

KatharineClifton · 22/02/2012 01:11

Definitely The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran. Incredible book.

Raise the Red Lantern by Su Tong is an interesting book. I read it a long time ago, but if memory serves it is quite a slim book with a lot to think/talk about.

anonymosity · 13/02/2012 05:53

The Drink and Dream Tea House by Justin Hill (2002?), its a bit, "meh" but will give you plenty to talk about especially the more misogynistic elements.

TheSmallClanger · 12/02/2012 23:12

Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard. Wartime China from an expat British perspective.

AlpinePony · 11/02/2012 12:07

Aimee Liu's 'cloud mountain'.

mixedmamameansbusiness · 11/02/2012 11:55

Definitely Wild Swans, long though although I read it very quickly.

The Binding Chair
EMpress Orchid

All those metioned really, loved all 3 of these. Wild Swans made me cry and cry and cry. It is even on my history readin list at uni now. There is a show at the Young Vic too.

(Not that I love it you understand)

notnowImreading · 10/02/2012 17:46

Oh, and don't be sucked in by The Something Concubine by Somebody Furnivall - it was the worst book I have ever read, and I quite like bad books.

notnowImreading · 10/02/2012 17:45

Wild Swans upset my mum so much it turned her into a mad biatch for the whole of our last ever family holiday. Just saying.

IndieNile · 10/02/2012 17:41

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is brilliant - much better than its title suggests

Bunbaker · 09/02/2012 19:07

I have that one as well. I loved it.

Cloudminnow · 09/02/2012 18:31

'The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices' by Xinran is brilliant. Although it's non fiction it would still be very suitable for a book group. It tells the stories of ordinary Chinese women, through interviews and letters received by a female Chinese radio journalist in the 1980s.

LadyMedea · 09/02/2012 18:21

Beijing Coma by Ma Jian is a really good more current novel. It revolves around the Tianamen square occupation.

SimoneD · 08/02/2012 15:52

Also loved The Book of Loss by Julith Jedamus

SimoneD · 08/02/2012 15:51

The Good Earth - Pearl Buck
Empress Orchid - Anchee Min
The Vagrants - Yiyun lee
Shanghai Baby - Wei Hui
Snowflower and the secret fan - Lisa See
Peony in Love - Lisa See
Monkey - Wu Chung En
The Story of the Stone - Cao Xueqin

All brilliant books but v different from each other

JiltedJohnsJulie · 08/02/2012 11:44

I loved Empress Orchid too, read it a few years ago and am just about to start on the sequel. Wasn't very impressed with the Secret Madarin though, found it a bit dissappointing.

Thetokengirl · 08/02/2012 08:23

Not sure you can beat Wild Swans IMO.
Been years since I read it, but have a sudden urge to get it back out Smile

Bunbaker · 08/02/2012 08:20

"I really enjoyed Empress Orchid."

So did I, and Wild Swans.

LeBOF · 08/02/2012 08:17

Gosh, there are loads of brilliant ones. Wild Swans is probably the most seminal, but all the Amy Tans, or 'Daughter Of The River' are all really good too.

highlandcoo · 08/02/2012 08:10

I really enjoyed Empress Orchid.

Also look at Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. The description of foot-binding is agonizing .. but a great book.

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