What Red Read: China Rican book requests

Friday, April 15, 2011

China Rican book requests

I'd like to walk you through a conversation between Boyfriend and I that took place while we were wandering around NYC this past March.

Boyfriend: What are all these signs for "her-story" for?
Me: It's Women's History month.
Boyfriend: What? It is? Black History month then Women's History month? Everyone gets their own month. Where's my month?
Me: Whiny boy month? Isn't that every month?
Boyfriend: Shut up, we need a China Rican month!
Me: So, is that studying the history of your family? I don't know if you're going to get a huge groundswell of followers for that.
Boyfriend: It's exclusive.

Admittedly he has a bit of a point. I can't say my Chinese history knowledge is super keen and my Puerto Rican history is even worse. I don't plan on picking up any history books to fill in the gaps, at least not at the moment, but I am willing to do something to support his fake history month. Now I don't expect to find any China Rican authors but I figure I'll read books about each half. So now I need to fill my literary deficiency and I'm hoping you guys can help. Does anyone have any recommendations for books written by Chinese or Puerto Rican authors or else about China or Puerto Rico?

I own The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I realize she's Chinese-American so it only kind of counts but I already have it so I'm going to re-read it for this little mini-challenge. I found a memoir called When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago, which is about her growing up in rural Puerto Rico and then later moving to NYC. So both of the books are split between China/Puerto Rico and the US. At least there's a theme there. And Pete from What You Read recommended Ma Jian's Bejing Coma so that's another for me to be on the lookout for.

So if anyone has any recommendations, please send them my way because I'm really at a loss. And if anyone would like to join me in this, Boyfriend has declared June as China-Rican month because he likes warms weather. Is there more that usually goes into deciding on a [blank] history month?

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Loni · 726 weeks ago

I think I can help with China. I have two books that come to mind. There's The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. She's not Chinese, but lived in China most of her life. The book is amazing and from what I've read, gives an accurate depiction of rural Chinese life. The other book I haven't read, but purchased and plan on reading. Binu and The Great Wall by Su Tong. Su Tong is apparently a leading Chinese author. Binu is part of the Myth Series, which is why I picked it up. I've read several of the Myth Series books already.

1 reply · active 726 weeks ago

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What Red Read 121p · 726 weeks ago

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll check those out :)

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lyndseyjenkins 29p · 726 weeks ago

I'd recommend Wild Swans by Jung Chang if you fancy a chunkster? Three generations of Chinese women through the 20th century. Really thought-provoking.

1 reply · active 726 weeks ago

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What Red Read 121p · 726 weeks ago

Sounds interesting but chunksters intimidate me a bit! I'll look into it though!!

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Jennifer · 726 weeks ago

I have no requests, but I think it's really nice that you're making an effort to learn about your boyfriend's heritage! Even if that conversation was relatively lighthearted, it probably means a lot to him.

1 reply · active 726 weeks ago

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What Red Read 121p · 726 weeks ago

He seemed happy when I told him I was going to do a reading challenge for it. Although he didn't have any suggestions for me

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SarahReads2Much 43p · 726 weeks ago

Lisa See writes some wonderful books based in Chinese folklore - My favorite is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but also loved Peony in Love. She has a couple more that I haven't gotten to yet. I also have Wild Swans sitting on my TBR shelf right now. Chinese history is fascinating to me. Unfortunately, don't have much on the Puerto Rican heritage though!

1 reply · active 726 weeks ago

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What Red Read 121p · 726 weeks ago

I really like the idea of reading some Chinese folklore! I'm getting some great Chinese suggestions and like nothing for Puerto Rico. I know they must have some sort of literary culture but they're hiding it. Or it's in Spanish

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petekarnas 39p · 725 weeks ago

Sorry I can't add anything about Puerto Rico - even though I did have a course on Cuban and Puerto Rican literature in college, I can't for the life of me remember any of the books we read. But, I'm going to throw a few more titles into the China suggestion box aside from "Beijing Coma". Wild Swans is a great book and, even though it's long, it's a really fast read. I'd also suggest anything by Ha Jin, Waiting is particularly good, it won the National Book Award in the late 90's. If you're looking for a bit more of a challenge, check out Gao Xingjiian. He won the Nobel Prize for literature and his "Soul Mountain" and "One Man's Bible" are brilliant. Thanks for the mention in your post and I can't wait to hear your thoughts on whatever you decide to read.

1 reply · active 725 weeks ago

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What Red Read 121p · 725 weeks ago

Just the fact that you had a class on Cuban and Puerto Rican lit gives me hope I'll find something PR to read.

Thanks for the all the suggestions! I figured when I decided to do this challenge you might have some ideas for me :) I have a feeling I'll be reading a lot of Chinese lit, even if I don't get it all read in June.

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Paul · 680 weeks ago

Sorry for coming up to your post right now almost a year later hehe!!
I wonder if you have read puerto rican books yet? Let me tell you the best most exciting person of our times in puerto rican history ( I say that because the first time i got to hear him i was 16, now im 27 and since that day my puerto rican pride has become bigger) Jesus Omar Rivera " el boricuazo" Im telling you, you can you tube it, you can buy his book, you can facebook him, anyways the guy tells the most interesting puerto rican history in the most interesting way. Totally recommended :)

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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What Red Read 121p · 680 weeks ago

I really only found 1 book (When I Was Puerto Rican) and I was not a fan. I will check out Jesus Omar Rivera. I was sad I couldn't find more Puerto Rican authors because I know they must be out there!

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Friday, April 15, 2011

China Rican book requests

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