THE BOOK THREAD

[getafix]

Hi Lupina,

No doubt, You also enjoy spelling the town backwards?
DT's private joke

with Best

G

[lupina]

 

lupina

[Ugly Betty]

I love it too.  I think the books we read as children can have a really magical effect on us and that's why I worry whether children and older read enough these days.   :-/

There is a very good autobiography about the effect of children's literature called "The Child that Books Built" by Francis Wheen.

His special obsession was Narnia - which always left me cold.  Each to his or her own!

Hi Macaw.  I totally agree with your post.  Reading as a child affects you in ways that no other reading in your life does.  

Children are reading a lot these days.  Too bad it's MySpace pages instead of quality books.  

I also never warmed to the Tolkien or Narnia books.  I always found it difficult to identify with mystical creatures.  I prefer my heros and heroines to be human but that's just me.

[hanzo1]

I traveled China and a part of Tibet this time last year for allmost 3 months as a backpacker. I really loved It! It's such a fascinating country that I'm sure I'l be back there, maybe even this year

Before I went there I read "wild swans", which I thougt was terrific and gives an insight to old china. What I really found intresting was to read about women roles before the revolation. Not being "the first wife" or even being and treated as mistress, without any rights or controll on your life.
It's also intresting and sad to read how people  experienced the "cultural revolution" and all of Mao's crazy ideas.

I think that the writer is the one that wrote the Mao biography, I bought It but didn't had the time to read It, yet. I read that some historians criticized the book and clamed that the writers exaggerated with the way Mao was potrayed.

[hanzo1]

The next book I'm going to read as soon as I have the time is "white man, black gods" written by an Israeli psychiatrist that worked in Ghana. It touches two passions of mine: psychology and antropology. I think that western psychology could use to learn how other cultures are dealing with psychological problems sometimes even more successfully. The way I see It, the vilige witch with It's witchcraft and the shrink or psychiatrist are doing the same job.

[Macaw]

Hanzo, after I read "Wild Swans" I came to the conclusion that Mao was just about the most harmful person who ever lived. 

And it also shows how the strength of a family lies in its womenfolk (but I'm sure we knew that already.....) even when their social status is about equal to an animals.

This is also really beautifully captured in the film "Raise the Red Lantern"...have you seen it?  It's a masterpiece, with the wondrous Gong Li.

[hanzo1]

Hanzo, after I read "Wild Swans" I came to the conclusion that Mao was just about the most harmful person who ever lived. 

And it also shows how the strength of a family lies in its womenfolk (but I'm sure we knew that already.....) even when their social status is about equal to an animals.

This is also really beautifully captured in the film "Raise the Red Lantern"...have you seen it?  It's a masterpiece, with the wondrous Gong Li.

I don't know If he was the most harmful, but he is definitely up there with the "big ones"

I havn't seen this movie I would look for It tomorrow at the d.v.d store.

Reading this book and seeing how the war with Japan is still an open wound for the Chinese make you somehow understand why they are keeping their "communist" rulling.

[Macaw]

Hanzo: yes, at the very least he was among the most dangerous and destructive people in history.

But here's the difference....unlike some others we know of eg Hitler, there are still lots of people who think Mao was kind of cute and they have memorabilia of his that they show off. 

Remember when Prince Harry was (rightly IMO) attacked for wearing a swastika?

He deserved the attacks as far as I am concerned, but one commentator did point out that there would not have been the same uproar if he had worn Mao memorabilia - not because anyone thinks Harry is a communist  but because among the leftist intelligentsia it's somehow "OK" if a mass-murderer also called himself a communist.

And in fact, as you said, plenty of commentators dispute what Jung Chang has said about Mao in her new book.

Please do see that film and let us have your opinion!!!!  You'll see how dreadful a fate it was to be the number 3 or 4 wife, especially if you didn't give birth to a boy.   

[hanzo1]

Hanzo: yes, at the very least he was among the most dangerous and destructive people in history.

But here's the difference....unlike some others we know of eg Hitler, there are still lots of people who think Mao was kind of cute and they have memorabilia of his that they show off. 

Remember when Prince Harry was (rightly IMO) attacked for wearing a swastika?

He deserved the attacks as far as I am concerned, but one commentator did point out that there would not have been the same uproar if he had worn Mao memorabilia - not because anyone thinks Harry is a communist  but because among the leftist intelligentsia it's somehow "OK" if a mass-murderer also called himself a communist.

And in fact, as you said, plenty of commentators dispute what Jung Chang has said about Mao in her new book.

Please do see that film and let us have your opinion!!!!  You'll see how dreadful a fate it was to be the number 3 or 4 wife, especially if you didn't give birth to a boy.   

Your are absolutely right! I travled China with a friend of mine and we were buying some presents home. They sell in tourist shop bags with Mao's potrait, she bought It because she thought It was cool and I told her It was terrible and at the end she threw It away. I think she was ignorant  and didn't know his history.
I see what you are saying but I don't feel It where I live. Communism is really vilified where I live which sometimes makes me sad. I'm not a Communist but If It wasn't for Communism I would never have been born (I wrote the story on RB forum)

It's truth that many in the left don't see him in a very negative way It's all comeing to ignorance and turning a blind eye.

As for how misreable Chinse women used to be was also the practice of feet binding. Have you ever seen the size of these shoes? price Christian could fill them next year. Just another example of how men are making woman cripples over the centuries when planting in their minds that It's beutiful and desireable, the same goes for corset and nowdays skinney clothing sizes.

As for the movie I'l have keep my fingers crossed since the local dvd store has mainly new movies.

[Macaw]

Hanzo , you have come to the right place.

I have a friend who collects and frames those ancient Chinese shoes (and I criticise Fru Denmark for being friendly with the likes of Amber Petty  ) - they are incredible!

I remember reading, in "Wild Swans", how it required constantly re-breaking the feet to keep them tiny.

It's revolting.

And as you say, it hasn't really changed!!!!!!!

The pressure on women to be thin ie look fragile is greater than ever, what with size zero and everything.

Today I read that the daughter of Donatella Versace is being treated for anorexia, ditto the daughter of Olivia Newton-John.

[aluminata]

BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEM.

ULTIMATE ASSHOLES RIDDING YOURSELF!

[dwi]

I just found out that there's a double 0 size???!!!!!!!!!  Is that literally a stick size.  Sounds anorexic to me.   

[Macaw]

Can negative sizing be the next fad......

[hennabane]

My husband bought me a box full of Stephen King books for Christmas so I've been delving into those quite a bit as of late.  :D

Favorites, though, that I can read over and over again include anything by Dickens and Jane Austen.  Also love the Harry Potter books (really well written stuff!) and am looking forward to starting 'Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad this weekend (found it free, in e-book form, online).

[Diogenes]

HB, it's good to see your posts again!  I go back to RBHQ but only to read, very rarely to post unless it's to say hello to old "friends."