By: H. Lincoln

H. Lincoln — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:01:34 +0000

The Carnal Prayer Mat is on my shelf! Glad to have it re-recommended — I’ll get on that. Thanks for the suggestions.

By: 沙

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:24:31 +0000

There’s also some risqué ancient Chinese literature such as “The Carnal Prayer Mat.” As far as modern Chinese lit, I am a big fan of Su Tong, namely “Wives and Concubines” and “Rice”. Laowai books can (occasionally) be good reads too – when they aren’t trying to prescribe ways to “save China from itself.” Alan Paul’s “Big in China”, about a foreigner who plays in a Beijing blues band, was fun. Food-writer Fuchsia Dunlop’s “Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper” was a unique spin on the laowai experience. Tom Carter’s photography book “CHINA: Portrait of a People” has a permanent spot on my coffee table. Paul French’s true-crime “Midnight in Peking” was gripping. And, of course, *anything* by Jonathan Spence. So many books about China, so little time…

Comments on: What Chinese books to read?

By: H. Lincoln

By: 沙