NON FICTION The China Fantasy: How our leaders explain away Chinese repression by James Mann The China Fantasy is a slim expose which focuses not so much on the grim reality of political repression (for that, check out a number of the China related blogs on the right) as the fallacy of American political policy through the years, and the striking lack of difference between liberal and conservative viewpoints. Bookstore browsers, find a comfy couch & check out chapter 5, a vaguely comedic prediction of what to expect from the coverage of the Beijing Olympics and the implications for both Americans and Chinese. The River at the Center of the World by Simon Winchester You might wonder if Winchester ever considered using an editor, but on the whole this book is an entertaining and informative journey down the Yangtze, or the Chang Jiang. Discussing the history as he passes through each town and region, this is a good light introduction to Chinese history.

The Mongols: a History by Jeremiah Curtin
In the 13th century the Mongols rule stretched from Korea to Poland. Their influence on the balance between Christianity and Islam could fill volumes in itself, and their military tactics influenced military strategists for centuries.

A Thousand Pieces of Gold: Growing Up Through China's Proverbs by Adeline Yen Mah
China's proverbs are four character phrases which stretch the gamut of life's subjects, some coined thousands of years ago. Adeline Yen Mah discusses the meaning, history, and origin of some of these proverbs, filling in the cultural blanks with anecdotes from her own life. Good for anyone interested in the language, she provides the characters and pin yin (minus tones) for each proverb as well.

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
Chang's memoir and biography of her mother and grandmother traces China through the 20th century. If you are interested in the changing place of women in Chinese society, this is a good place to start.
BANNED in China

Son of the Revolution by Liang Heng and Judith Shapiro
Born the son of intellectuals in Changsha, 1954, Liang Heng tells the story of growing up in the cultural revolution in Hunan.

Touch the Body, Touch the Soul
Written by my friend Frank, Xiangtan millionaire and writer. These are his memoirs of growing up during the cultural revolution in Xiangtan, Hunan.
This is partially available online here
BANNED in China.

Splendid Slippers: a Thousand Years of an Ertoic Tradition by Beverly Jackson

FICTION

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers: A Novel by Xiaolu Guo

Excerpts from Three Classical Chinese Novels, Panda Books
This includes "Journey to the West," a popular story about the Monkey King. The Monkey King's adventures are immortalized in beautiful ancient Chinese art and pottery - and now he has a TV show too!

A Hundred Gems of Ancient Chinese Poetry: Illustrated Chinese-English edition, Elephant Press
This is especially good for those studying the Chinese language. Each poem is presented in Chinese characters, pinyin romanization, and English translation, with Author biographies and commentaries in both languages. Each poem also features an illustration of traditional Chinese art.

Waves: Stories by Bei Dao Author DEPORTED
Stories from the Cultural Revolution by one of China's premiere modern writers and poets.

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
The famous, award winning story of farming life in pre-revolutionary China. This is a quick read.

FILM

Shanghai Triad for those who like exploding guns and mean gangsters. The story of a cousin from the country who gets a job in the big city as the attendant to a mobsters girlfriend (Gong Li).

The Road Home while trying to arrange for a traditional burial for a parent, a child finds out about mom and dad's love. This is exceptionally boring. Starring Zhang ZiYi.

Not One Less a 14 year girl gets a job substituting at an elemetary school in the country. The mayor of the town promises to give her a bonus if none of the students drop out, so when a student goes to the city to find work she tracks him down come hell or high water to get those extra jiao. This is cute and endearing if you have the patience to sit through it.

All About Love Starring ANDY! Andy Lau is a veritable pop star in these here parts. In this movie he plays a doctor who neglects his annoying wife. When she dies in a car accident her heart is given to another woman who looks remarkably like the first girl. In a stunning coincidence, Andy is a dopelganger for this new woman's boyfriend (also Andy). He falls in love with her, there's lots of retarded angsty hospital scenes, and it's pretty dumb. Typical Chinese love story - the men have no idea what's going on and mess everything up, and the women bravely suffer and die for it, blindly loving Andy until the end.

The IMDB China guide

Hunan