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I've had this interest in China lately, but it's hard to find books, or documentaries, or anything that I'm looking for. Sure, there's a lot of books trying to explain the bits here and there, especially the contemporary political and economic goings on, as well as the historical and cultural overviews and such. What I'm looking for is, something that would explain the deeper things, the things that everybody would understand implicitly but wouldn't talk about, because it's just obvious to them. Like, if you were chinese and read this book, you'd feel that it's about your own life or something. Though I'd read a historical book too if it's written by someone who really cares.
Dec 08 · 9 days ago · 👍 stack
☕️ protoc0l · Dec 08 at 19:28:
It almost sounds like you're looking more for "books about the human experience in China".
If that's the case, that would be an interesting read indeed, if anyone posts recommendations.
Lived in China for 15 years.
I can’t think of a single book ever published in English that accurately or adequately portrays life there.
I can’t think of a single book in Chinese that does it either since who wants to read about either boring days or horrible days you don’t want to remember?
Good luck.
1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows
by AI weiwei was pretty good.
I agree with pista. However, a possible alternative would be biographies and autobiographies of certain chinese people that have left the country that had been translated to english. I recommend "Red Roulette" it talks about politics and corruption and history.
You might also have some luck with popular fiction novels that were based on historical events, which have also been popular enough to have been translated. Consider "The Three-Body Problem" by Cixin Liu which is based on the cultural revolution.
If you're fine with movies and shows, there might be a lot more choices. The recent "Decoded" is also based on the cultural revolution.
🐝 undefined [OP] · Dec 09 at 04:58:
@pista that's a shame, though entirely expected.
🐝 undefined [OP] · Dec 09 at 05:17:
Sorry everybody, I understand that it was a bit too vague of a question. It's just that I'm frustrated somewhat that no matter what you read, it's either trying explain China as it relates to the West (usually either labeling it as a problem or a solution to our woes), or just lists events and people without giving you any explanation of why they matter. I'm fine with other media too ofc, not just books.
If you are looking at fiction and want to just get a general sense of Chinese society and political power struggles, author Jin Yong described his “Smiling Proud Wanderer” swordsman fiction book as a commentary on the Cultural Revolution, and really any cultural revolution.
Though these days I might argue it looks closer to America than China…
Fan translation to English is hosted as gem text on my capsule with some of his other works.
gemini://brainsocks.xyz/projects/novels/swordsman/
The Paper Menagerie
Ken Liu
— https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Menagerie-Other-Stories/dp/148142436X