Books with category 🇨🇳 China
Displaying 8 books

Lady Tan's Circle of Women

2023

by Lisa See

The latest historical novel from New York Times bestselling author Lisa See, inspired by the true story of a woman physician from 15th-century China—perfect for fans of See's classic Snowflower and the Secret Fan and The Island of Sea Women.

According to Confucius, "an educated woman is a worthless woman," but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.

From a young age, Yunxian learns about women's illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other's joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.

But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.

How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions, go on to treat women and girls from every level of society, and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? Lady Tan's Circle of Women is a captivating story of women helping other women. It is also a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.

Babel : Or the Necessity of Violence

2022

by R. F. Kuang

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.

Babel is a profound exploration of the complexities of language, power, and colonialism, set against the backdrop of the British Empire's expansion.

When orphan Robin Swift is brought from Canton to London by Professor Lovell, he embarks on an intense education in languages and translation, aiming for a bright future at Oxford University's Royal Institute of Translation, known as Babel. This institution stands at the heart of the Empire's superiority, harnessing the mystical power of silver working to manifest the elusive meanings lost in translation.

As Robin becomes entrenched in the scholastic utopia of Babel, his ties to his heritage pull him into an inner conflict. When an aggressive war threatens China over silver and opium, Robin is torn between the comfort of academia and the call for justice. He must confront a crucial question: Can change come from within, or is violence an inevitable part of revolution?

Sinopticon

Sinopticon: A Celebration of Chinese Science Fiction is a groundbreaking anthology that brings together thirteen extraordinary tales of speculative fiction from China, translated into English for the very first time. Curated and translated by the critically acclaimed writer and essayist Xueting Christine Ni, this collection offers a diverse and captivating array of stories that will take readers on a journey through the imaginative landscapes of Chinese science fiction.

From the celebrated Jiang Bo's 'Starship: Library' to Regina Kanyu Wang's 'The Tide of Moon City', and Anna Wu's 'Meisje met de Parel', readers are presented with a tapestry of narratives that span a variety of themes and perspectives. The writers featured in this anthology include award winners, bestsellers, screenwriters, playwrights, philosophers, university lecturers, and computer programmers, showcasing the breadth and depth of Chinese SF.

Sinopticon invites readers to explore the transformational and often visionary world of Chinese speculative fiction, making it an essential read for all fans of the genre.

Death's End

2021

by Cixin Liu, Ken Liu

Death's End, the third installment of the Remembrance of Earth's Past series, marks the thrilling conclusion to Cixin Liu's highly acclaimed near-future science fiction saga. This epic narrative, which has captured the imagination of readers worldwide, is soon to be adapted into a Netflix Original Series.

Set half a century after the Doomsday Battle, the story unfolds in a future where the principle of Dark Forest Deterrence has maintained a fragile peace, keeping the Trisolaran invaders at bay. The Earth basks in prosperity, enriched by Trisolaran knowledge, leading to rapid advancements in human science and a cultural exchange that suggests the two civilizations might finally coexist without the looming threat of annihilation.

However, this era of peace has rendered humanity complacent. Enter Cheng Xin, an aerospace engineer from the early 21st century, who emerges from hibernation into this newfound utopia. Her reawakening and the knowledge she carries of a long-forgotten program from the dawn of the Trisolar Crisis could destabilize the delicate equilibrium between Earth and the Trisolarans.

As the narrative explores the complexities of interstellar politics and the human condition, readers are left to wonder: Will humanity seize the opportunity to expand to the stars, or will it succumb to a premature end?

The Dark Forest

The Dark Forest is part of a near-future trilogy that presents the first opportunity for English-speaking readers to delve into the multiple-award-winning universe created by China's most beloved science fiction author, Cixin Liu. In this installment, Earth is on edge with the disclosure of an impending alien invasion set four centuries in the future.

The defeat of the aliens' human allies is overshadowed by the fact that sophons—subatomic particles used by Trisolaris—grant them instant access to all human information, leaving Earth's defense strategies utterly transparent to the enemy. The human mind, however, remains an enigma, concealed from the aliens. This secrecy is the driving force behind the Wallfacer Project, an audacious initiative that empowers four individuals with vast resources to devise covert strategies, concealed through trickery from both Earth and Trisolaris.

Among the Wallfacers are three prominent statesmen and scientists, but the fourth is a mystery. Luo Ji, a modest Chinese astronomer and sociologist, is puzzled by his newfound prominence. His only certainty is that he is the Wallfacer marked for death by Trisolaris.

No, Really, Where Are You From?

2012

by Nancy Ng

No, Really, Where Are You From? by Nancy Ng offers an insightful glimpse into the lives of eight Chinese individuals who navigate the complexities of being a visible minority in Canada. Through vivid storytelling, Ng explores the experiences of these individuals with their Chinese culture from childhood to adulthood, painting a portrait of the diverse ways in which they connect with their heritage.

The book delves into the broader themes of global migration and its significant impact on ethnic identity. It presents the nuanced and often challenging journey of ethnic identity retention and loss, which is not a matter of absolutes but is in a constant state of evolution and redefinition. Nancy Ng's work is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit in the face of cultural shifts and societal pressures.

Mao's Last Dancer

2005

by Li Cunxin

The extraordinary memoir of a peasant boy raised in rural Maoist China who was plucked from his village to study ballet and went on to become one of the greatest dancers of his generation.

From a desperately poor village in northeast China, at age eleven, Li Cunxin was chosen by Madame Mao's cultural delegates to be taken from his rural home and brought to Beijing, where he would study ballet. In 1979, the young dancer arrived in Texas as part of a cultural exchange, only to fall in love with America—and with an American woman. Two years later, through a series of events worthy of the most exciting cloak-and-dagger fiction, he defected to the United States, where he quickly became known as one of the greatest ballet dancers in the world. This is his story, told in his own inimitable voice.

The Good Earth

2001

by Pearl S. Buck

The Good Earth narrates the poignant tale of a Chinese farmer and his family in old agrarian China. The humble Wang Lung glories in the soil he works, nurturing the land as it nurtures him and his family. Nearby, the nobles of the House of Hwang consider themselves above the land and its workers; but they will soon meet their own downfall.

Hard times come upon Wang Lung and his family when flood and drought force them to seek work in the city. The working people riot, breaking into the homes of the rich and forcing them to flee. When Wang Lung shows mercy to one noble and is rewarded, he begins to rise in the world, even as the House of Hwang falls.

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