Literary Journey – The List (Updated)

Thanks to those of you who came out to my talk last week about China books.  It was great to see you. Those of you who didn’t make it might  be curious to know which books I consider key in my understanding and love for China.

I am posting here the list for your reference.

Starting tomorrow I will post in more detail about each of the books and its influence.

My Literary Journey to being a “Sinophile:” Books that have Shaped My Love for and Understanding of China

Sinophile:  a person who admires or has a strong liking for China, the Chinese, or their culture; friendly to or having a strong liking for China and the Chinese (dictionary.com)

Pre-1984

• The Chinese: Portrait of a People, by John Fraser

1984-1986

• Son of the Revolution, by Liang Heng and Judith Shapiro
• Thunder Out of China, by Eddie White
• Stillwell and the American Experience in China, by Barbara Tuchman
• Shantung Compound, by Langdon Gilkey

1986 – 1990  

• Coming Home Crazy, by Bill Holm
• The Joy of Getting Along with the Chinese, by Fred Schneiter
• The New Emperors, by Harrison Salisbury
• The Search for Modern China, by Jonathan Spence
• Evening Chats in Beijing, by Perry Link

1990’s

• Wild Swans, by Jung Chung
• China Wakes, by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
• The Man who Stayed Behind, by Sidney Rittenberg
• Red China Blues, by Jan Wong
• Pavilion of Women, by Pearl Buck
• To Change China: Western Advisors in China, by Jonathan Spence
• A Million Truths, by Linda Jakobsen
• The Chinese Have a Word for it, by Boye Lafayette De Mente

2000’s

• Turning Bricks into Jade, by Mary Margaret Wang, et.al.
• The Good Women of China, by Xinran
• Rivertown, by Peter Hessler
• Oracle Bones, by Peter Hessler
• Jesus in Beijing, by David Aikman
• China Road, by Rob Gifford
• Last Days of Old Beijing, by Mike Meyers
• Factory Girls, by Leslie Chang

2010’s

• Country Driving, by Peter Hessler
• Dreaming in Chinese, by Deborah Fallows
• Snowflower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See
• God is Red,by Liao Yiwu

Which ones have you read?

UPDATE: More detailed descriptions of the books on this list can be found in the following posts:

Literary Journey – the early 1980’s

Literary Journey — the late 1980’s

Literary Journey – the 1990’s

Literary Journey – the 2000’s

Literary Journey – the Tens