Page 76 - South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures

The Haunted Monastery by Robert Van Gulik (Mystery) One of a series of historical mysteries,
featuring a Tang-era Chinese magistrate that are taken from the tradition of Chinese suspense
novels. Apart from the pleasure of the elaborate plots, the books are rich in details of court and
daily life in ancient China.

BTWO >bLY^ ?S]PP /L`RS_P]^ ZQ .STYL by Jung Chang (Biography) A riveting tale of three
generations spanning the end of Old China, Mao’s regime and the Japanese occupation. Chang
chronicles the enormous changes in China since 1929 through her family’s story, which
includes arrest during the Cultural Revolution, exile to the Sichuan wilderness and coming to
terms with the bewildering state of China today.

China in Ten Words by Yu Hua (Culture) Ten essays on wide-ranging aspects of Chinese culture,
such as economics, history, and politics, each summed up by one word or phrase like “leader”
or “revolution”.

Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China by James Fallows (Culture) Originally a series
of articles for Atlantic Monthly, each chapter can be read as a stand-alone piece or as part of
a whole. The same author has also written China Airborne, which focuses on China’s aviation
industry as a way of understanding the modernization of China.

Midnight in Peking by Paul French (True Crime) When a pretty Englishwoman is murdered on
the eve of war in 1937, will the detectives on the case be able to solve the crime before the
Japanese invade? It sounds like a mystery novel, but in fact is a historical case.

Leaving Mother Lake by Yang Erche Namu and Christine Mathieu (Biography/Memoir) In this
international bestseller Namu recounts her childhood amoung the Mosuo people, a matriarchal
tribe that lives in southwestern China. Recongnized early for her singing ability, Namu
left the tribe for the big city and a possible musical career, but not without experienceing
homesickness and culture shock—in her own country. An interesting insider’s look at a little-
known ethnic minority in China.

How Was China? by Dodie Johnston (Travel Narrative) Looking for a new adventure in
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humorously captures the local culture and tells her story of navigating life in China, as well as
the stories of people she’s met along the way.

Suggested Movies

Korea
Seoul Train (2004, Documentary) This documentary dives into the lives of North Korean
defectors who put their lives on the line to escape their homeland.

The Interview (2014, Comedy) Two hosts of a celebrity tabloid show receive a call from their
fan, Kim Jong-un, and hilarity ensues when they are recruited by the CIA to help with an
assassination plot on their trip to Korea.

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