I am making my first trip to China April 22 and love historical novels in the genre of Gone With the Wind and The Good Earth. Does anyone have a good novel suggestion which would enrich my trip? Going to Guilin, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Yangtse River.

There was a lot of discussion of books to read for china on here last year. Do some digging and see if you can turn that old discussion up. I know I spent 6 months reading and it was fabulous...I was sooo smart when I arrived and then just learned a ton more. I know there was one book..Something with Swans in the title. Its about 3 generations of women and if you read only one book read this one....It gives you a lot of history w/ the story. I"m sure others will help...but also see if you can dig out that old discussion. Good luck.

I think the poster above is talking about Wild Swans, Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. It is an excellent book. Other good choices would be:<BR><BR>Life and Death in Shanghai, by Nien Cheng - one woman's true story of life during the Cultural Revolution<BR><BR>The Soong Sisters by Emily Hahn - fascinating story of the Soong family and the three sisters, all educated at Wesleyan College in the US in the early 1900's. One married Sun Yat-Sen, Chiang Kai Shek, one married a Chinese finance minister. <BR><BR>Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah - sad and true story of an unwanted daughter in a wealthy Shanghai family in the 1930's.<BR><BR>Dream of the Red Chamber - Chinese classic<BR><BR>Sun Tzu on the Art of War - very timely today<BR><BR>On a Chinese Screen, Somerset Maugham - short stories about China in the latter part of the 19th century and the early 20th century<BR><BR>There is an author named Sterling Seagrave who has written a number of no-fiction books on China's past and future that you might find interesting. He has a way of making history come alive. My favourites are Dragon Lady, about the Empress Dowager, and Pacific Destiny, which discusses the rise of the Pacific Rim nations generally, especially China.<BR><BR>Movies:<BR>The Last Emperor<BR><BR>The Joy Luck Club <BR><BR>Raise the Red Lantern (Mandarin with English subtitles)<BR><BR>The Oilmaker's Wife (Mandarin, with English subtitles)<BR><BR>Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (Mandarin, with English subtitles)<BR><BR>

Wonderful list. Thank you very much. I bought the first one today!

Yes yes..thank you Cicerone. Wild Swans.....read that above all...its fabulous. I read many of the ones Cicerone listed: Life &amp; Death is excellent as is the S. Sisters and read a couple things by S. Seagrave.....C is right..he does make history come alive. There is also a bio on Mao by his dr..which is interesting and a fast read...gad...if only I had kept my lists...sorry!! <BR><BR>As far as videos go...there is quite a wonderful Chinese movie industry and many many good movies to watch. King of Masks is one of the best I think...but there are others as well. Get the ones w/ subtitles so you can really appreciate the energy of the acting. I think I watched 12 movies in one weekend and loved them all but one! Hit the video store!

A really fascinating book about the Yangzte River is called River at the Center of the World: A Journey Up the Yangzte and Back in Chinese Time. It is by Simon Winchester.