Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Books/movies set in China

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)

- Asia (https://www.fodors.com/community/asia/)

- - Books/movies set in China (https://www.fodors.com/community/asia/books-movies-set-in-china-179280/)

In april I go to China, (si Dios Quiere!) so in preparation I have been doing much reading! Most of these titles I did get off this board and this is what I think. Now remember this is only MY opinion....so no flames please. I only want to read and prepare so I will be a somewhat intellegent visitor. Wild Swans Jung Chang If you can read only one book before you go this should be it. Good history of China and a quick and interesting read. The Soong Dynasty Sterling Seagrave Also excellent for a good history of how the rulers of the revolution rose to power. Easy to read and full of good gossip! He also has a 2nd book on the last Dowager Empress that is also excellent and gives new insight to her. Everything by Amy Tan.....read them all......good fiction, good writing and history. Spring Moon & Middle Hearts Betty Bao Lord......I already forget what they were about..sigh!..but I know I enjoyed Spring Moon more. A Certain Smile..romance modern and I thought rather silly The Language of the Threads & Women of the Silk Gail Tsukiyama Both excellent books and gave good insight into the women of the silkworms and what that kind of life is like. An Empire of Women...could not get into sorry!!! The Judge Dee Mysteries Robert Hans VanGulik fun mysteries, ancient China and he is rather like an oriental Sherlock Holmes. Read about 6 of them, out of order but still enjoyed them. Falling Leaves, The story of an unwanted Daughter Adeline Yen Mah Good story but something rang untrue to me...have no reason why? A Single Pebble John Hershey Novella....and poetic account of the men who used to pull the boats up the Yangtze Rape of Nanking Nicholas Kristof checked it out....and did try to read it. But the pictures were so gruesome I just decided I didnt want to know all the details. It was a horrid event....that I know.....and that is enuff to know for me! A Woman Warrior ??? could not get into The Good Earth Trilogy The good Earth, Sons & House Divided. As the story progressed I lost interest and ended up scanning the last book. But still....the style of the first should be read and appreciated I think Also by PS Buck: Imperial Woman about the last Dowager Queen.....read it first then read the Seagrave book for more truth than fiction! Pavillion of Women ....again....glad to see the end I do like PS Buck....really I do!!! Tai Pan & Noble House James Clavell......Enjoyed Tai Pan..did not finish Noble House.....liked the history more I guess. In China w/ Harpo and Karl Sibyl James Fun novella of a teachers year in Shanghai Still have a huge list to read and will continue. I find most the stuff Im reading sad and gray in tone. But I have developed such an appreciation for China and what the country has been thru w/ their history. Much of it is tragic to this westener!!!.......now to travel there and appreciate what is! Also have read and made notes on what I”ll be seeing from Foders, Lets go China and Small Planet. Ok...just wanted to report back as to what I have discovered and read....so far!

I just saw "To Live" on Sundance channel. It was a marvelous movie covering 40 years of Chinese history as seen from one family. Well acted and well done.

So glad to see this thread pop up again. I did my trip....and can only say that I'm soooo glad I did all the reading I did. I was so much smarter! I just seemed to have a greater appreciation of what I was seeing. I always read like this...but for China it just seemed like a greater return. I also watched every single movie made in China I could get my hands on.....and loved them all. They are making some excellent films I think. OK Dave!...."To Live" Got it and will see if its at the video stores!!! Thanks!!!

So Leanna - How was your trip with PDT? We went with Uniworld in May. You can read about my trip "The Road to Hong Kong". If you know someone who can get Sundance channel, it is being shown again today, Wednesday, and Thursday.

I know I sounded like a commercial but I really did love my trip. We talked before about Uniworld right? I debated long and hard between them and PD....but was very happy w/ my choice. We had only 9 on our tour, and that was fun cause we could dart and move so quickly. I did see a Uniworld Bus along the way...and thought..hey that coulda been me!!! Now I"m going to search out your post if I can find it.....I must say by the time we got to HK I dont think I appreciated it the way I should have....I really was homesick for mainland China and the peace I found there!!! Great trip!!!

We just watched "China, A Century of Revolution", the definitive six-hour history of China as seen on Public Television. We purchased the DVD set on the internet and it was a real eye-opener and very interesting with actual news footage, etc. We'll watch it again before our trip to China in October.

I just think that when you know some of China's history it makes you more tolerant of how far they have come in a short time. When our guide in Guilin talked about his time on a work farm as a young student....I KNEW what he was talking about. When I saw the freshly woven straw sandals they still wear I remembered how they wore them on the Long March thru the snow and swamps ...and was amazed how anyone arrived w/ feet still attached. Also as I read and talked to the few Chinese people I know.....I formed opinions and listened to theirs so it was interesting to hear opinions from the locals...sometimes they differed and sometimes they were ever so gracefully glossed over....and sometimes I had to listen between the lines!!!! There were tons of things like this. I am 58 and consider myself somewhat well read....but I was not familiar w/ the history of China and how much they have suffered, so for me this has been a year of growth on lots of levels. Now this is just my opinion.......:)

What, no "Crouching Tiger, hidden dragon"? I went to Huangshan and Anhui province last year where some of the scenes of this film was filmed. It was breathtakingly beautiful. A friend let me a book by Simon Winchester "A river at the centre of the World". I read it while I was doing the Yangtze River. Some fascinating insights by the author. I used it my guide book for the cruise. Update on films from China: Suchou River, Beijing Bicycle both films are about life in modern China. Worth watching.

Hi Carrie, thanks for the update on China movies......I can see I have a good weekend in store soon!!! Also the book you mentioned is one I did not read...had it on the list...just ran out of time. Should try to read it......but I'll probably start on Greece stuff soon...that is the next travel location for me!