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Chinese Lessons

I just finished this book, which was recommended to me by a co-worker. The author was one of the first US exchange students to study in China after the Cultural Revolution.

This is the quote on the back of the book by the former US ambassador to China,

"John Pomfret has written a brilliant, insightful book describing the dark side and the human cost of the 'Chinese economic miracle.' His feel for China, based on years of living there, his fluency in Chinese, and his reporting genius cut through the sham and spin of much current coverage."

The book recounts the lives of five of his classmates and Pomfret's life and interactions with China, including his expulsion after the Tienanmen square massacre. This is a great way to learn about recent Chinese history and give more perspective to the current issues in China.

I would strongly encourage everyone to read this before the Olympics in Beijing.

d

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

Terry Ryan wrote this book about her mother. It is pretty funny, as you would expect when there are 10 kids in one house. To help pay for expenses, the mother starts entering writing contests. And she wins--a lot! Here is a little teaser:

"She began her contesting career simply enough, with Burma-Shave roadside rhymes. In the 1950s you couldn't drive down a highway without passing a Burma-Shave roadside billboard campaign, six signs spaced at hundred-yard intervals down the road, one line to a sign, the last always "Burma-Shave". The verses were clever and meant to amuse, their content ranging from shaving to safe driving and current culture. My mother's submissions added to those topics an occasional touch of irony:

Race little roadster,
Fairly Fly.
You'll be
Used parts
By and by.
Burma-Shave.

Successful Burma-Shave jingles inserted a not-so-hidden advertisement into the mix, and in one entry Mom went for broke--if you don't shave close enough, you could kill yourself:

Hairpin turn,
Hotrod ditched.
Lost control,
His whiskers
Itched.
Burma-Shave."

Susan Vreeland

Just a short note on Passion of Artemisia. It was sort of a let down. I really loved Girl in Hyacinth Blue, so I was looking forward to another book from this author. Only one thing really happens in this book though. Maybe if I had known more about the art ahead of time I would have enjoyed it more.

French Impressions

by John S. Little--sort of. It's actually mostly taken from notes written by his mother while they were abroad. Cute stories about their adventures in France. Good book. Who loaned this to me? I'm ready to give it back.