Welcome to Litsy!

It‘s baffling what people do to inflict pain on other people. I don‘t understand it, yet I know how capable I am of doing it. Even in small ways like how I might talk to someone who upsets me.

Of course, the Rape of Nanking was a massacre not a mild social interaction. Iris Chang describes a lot of atrocities. At first they turned my stomach (literally) but she never stops describing them. Is it intentional?

I‘m still left with WHY.

Not all about the Forbidden City but a nice little book.
Mine is from 1972.
Goes well with my medal from the Conqueror Challenge

Following 4 young people and their families, this book looks at life in Shanghai during the Japanese occupation in WWII then on to the communist takeover of China and thereafter. It‘s a terrific, personalized way to explore history and excellent narrative nonfiction. I can‘t recommend it enough.

A vivid portrayal of China from 1976-81:

"...Informative, disturbing, poignant and absorbing...personal encounters with individual Chinese that (were) almost unprecedented for any American journalist (at this time this book was written)." - NYT Book Review

Fascinating. I learned that I know less than I ever could have imagined.

I found this narrative history to be a good introduction to this amazing woman.
Cixi arguably laid the groundwork for modern China, she was a moderate reformer who made hard decisions but was not a harsh ruler. She accomplished a lot while working around centuries of tradition and laws that made it difficult for even the most talented women to lead.
3/5, read to learn about this amazing woman, & what the author thinks about Cixi

This was a sometimes difficult but also fascinating listen. It tells the story of three generations of women in China and provides a personal perspective to life through and after the Communist Revolution.

#audiobook #nonfiction #1001books #ReadTheWorld #ReadingTheWorld #China #DeweysReadathon #DeweysOctober2023

Good morning! I‘m looking forward to listening to lots of audio and reading some print today as I participate in the 24 hour Dewey‘s readathon. I‘m starting my day by listening to Wild Swans while I have breakfast and read some early posts.

#DeweysReadathon #DeweysOctober2023 #Readathon #BookAndBreakfast #audiobook

Since I am reading Pearl S. Buck novels I am more open to Chines literature. I saw this one on one of my Litsy friend's profile so THANK YOU if you recognise yourself because it was amazing!

I‘m enjoying a wonderful fall weekend! Today I‘ve caught up on laundry, canned a batch of apple pie filling, took a 3 mile walk with Luthien, and cooked a pot of chili. For a good part of this afternoon, I‘ve also been listening to this fascinating memoir/biography of a Chinese family. It was my planned September #FoodAndLit book, but I‘m running a bit behind.

#1001books #audiobook #nonfiction #ReadingTheWorld #ReadTheWorld #China

This is the latest title for one of my book clubs. The story was interesting, but it also felt like a work of hero worship. I‘m curious to hear what the rest of my book club thinks.