I've been doing Throwback Thursdays for a while but I noticed that I wrote a lot of reviews in a short time when I first started. One of my blogger friends always posts the reviews of one month but that would be too much. So, these are my reviews from March 2012.
Jung Chang's grandmother was born at the beginning of the last century, when girls in China still had their feet bound. The mother was an active Communist. They go through all kinds of troubles in the China of Mao When Jung gets the chance to study abroad, she takes it. In England, she writes this memoir of her youth, her parents' and grandparents life.
Apparently, this is the biggest grossing non-fiction paperback in publishing history.
Dai, Sijie "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress" (French: Balzac et la Petite Tailleuse Chinoise) - 2002
A great story about the Chinese Cultural Revolution in its later years. Two boys from an educated family are sent to a village for re-education. Through the stories of Balzac (whose books they find and steal), they get to know a village girl who is known as the Little Seamstress.
A great story about the Chinese Cultural Revolution in its later years. Two boys from an educated family are sent to a village for re-education. Through the stories of Balzac (whose books they find and steal), they get to know a village girl who is known as the Little Seamstress.
Walker, Alice "The Temple of My Familiar" - 1989
A story of a couple of people whose lives are interwoven. Several characters from "The Color Purple" appear, you could say it is a sort of sequel to it. Or - you could say it is a story of hundreds of people during the centuries. Any kind of people turn up, any colour, any state, slaves, slaveholders, rich and poor.
A story of a couple of people whose lives are interwoven. Several characters from "The Color Purple" appear, you could say it is a sort of sequel to it. Or - you could say it is a story of hundreds of people during the centuries. Any kind of people turn up, any colour, any state, slaves, slaveholders, rich and poor.
Winchester, Simon "The Map that Changed the World: A Tale of Rocks, Ruin and Redemption" - 2001
One of the most interesting scientific books I ever read. William Smith, an ordinary boy in the 18th century, discovers the history of our planet. He was the first to find that the earth is arranged in layers. If you love maps and their story, this is the book for you.
One of the most interesting scientific books I ever read. William Smith, an ordinary boy in the 18th century, discovers the history of our planet. He was the first to find that the earth is arranged in layers. If you love maps and their story, this is the book for you.
The Map That Changed the World does sound like an interesting one.
ReplyDeleteIt is really interesting, Lark. I love maps, so this was the book for me.
DeleteI love maps, too. My dad was a geography teacher so our house growing up was always full of maps. :D
DeleteMy dad wasn't a teacher but my sister-in-law said the other day she remembers he would always look up a place in the atlas when he didn't know where it was. I remember that well and I still do that today.
DeleteMy brother gave me a copy of The Map That Changed the World, and said "here, read this!" I still need to read it, but I do like Simon Winchester's books.
ReplyDeleteI can only second your brother's recommendation, Jane. I was not too pleased with The Letter even though I also love letters.
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