The two friends discover that their friend in a neighboring village smuggled in a suitcase full of western books translated into Chinese, which are strictly forbidden under Chairman Mao’s rule.  They take delight in secretly reading these works and recounting the stories to other villagers (of course, they are unaware of the source).  I especially liked the scene where they narrated the Count of Monte Cristo, that being one of the best classics I’ve read.  The banned books opened up the boys imagination to a world that unfortunately will never exist for them.

The Little Seamstress refers to a girl in the neighboring village whom Luo is dating.  Being just a village girl, Luo sets out to teach her the ways of the city so she’ll become refined and sophisticated.  Much to his determinate, his plan backfires in a way that I can only describe as cruel.

Overall, I liked this fast, quick read but I know it won’t stay with me for very long (in fact, I just had to look up the ending because I had already forgotten). I love the cover.  That’s why I picked it up in the first place and I’m glad that I wasn’t disappointed.  I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from this author.  A movie came out a couple of years ago and I’ve just put it on hold at the library.  We’ll see if it’s any good.

This book did make me appreciate the fact that I have the right to read any book that I want.  Banned Books Week, sponsored by the American Library Association is coming up at the end of next week, September 27th – October 4th.  I’ll be posting more about that come September 27th.

The time: 1950.

The place: China.

Shu Wen and Kejun are married and love each other fiercely. Three weeks into their marriage Kejun receives orders in the army as a doctor to travel into Tibet. Less than a hundred days later Wen receives news that her new husband has died in an “incident.” Wen is unable to find answers and still believes that Kejun is still alive. She joins the army as a means to travel into Tibet to find out for herself. Her unit is attacked and she finds herself on her own. Wen doesn’t know the language or the customs, but finds refuge in the company of a Tibetan woman, Zhuoma (on her own journey as well). They in turn are rescued by a nomadic Tibetan family and as they move from place to place, she continually seeks answers about her husband’s death. Wen’s journey lasts more than thirty years in the vast, empty and silent landscape that is Tibet.

I found myself drawn into the story of Sky Burial by Xinran. Beautifully written, I felt drawn back into another time and place and learned much of the hardships and simple beauty of the Tibetan people. A very enjoyable read. Xinran also wrote The Good Women of China, a book that I now would like to read as well.

Daoud Hari grew up in a village in the Darfur region of Sudan. There he lead a simple life (although not always calm), loved his camels, loved the bright colorful dresses of the woman and girls, and loved to play games after dark. As an adult, in 2003 this life came to a shattering end. The government of Sudan, began gunning down villagers, raping and murdering it’s citizens, and burning villages.

The genocide had began.

Daoud’s own village was destroyed, his family had escaped and was hiding in the desert. Others were missing. Daoud, himself, had left the country but decided that with his knowledge of the English language and his familiarity of the region, he would lead foreign journalists back into Darfur. The government of Sudan had outlawed journalists, and thus by doing so, if caught he would be put to death.

Despite these risks, he helped journalists get the stories out, time and time again he helped interview hundreds of people, more than once he saved many peoples lives. About this he simply says, ” . . . you should always do what you need to do to be helpful.” And of the work itself, he says:

It is interesting how many way there are for people to be hurt and killed, and for villages to be terrorized and burned, and for children to die in deserts, and for young mothers to suffer. I would say that these ways to die and suffer are unspeakable, and yet they were spoken . . .

Speaking of the genocide:

As for the future, the only way that the world can say no to genocide is to make sure that the people of Darfur are returned to their homes and given protection. If the world allows the people of Darfur to be removed forever from their land and their way of life, then genocide will happen elsewhere because it will be seen as something that works. It must not be allowed to work. The people of Darfur need to go home now.

Speaking of the inadequate shelters being provided to refugees:

What, indeed could be built quickly enough for so many? Even so, with all the bright people in the world and so much wealth, could there not be humane shelters for such times if we are a family? Let a peace prize be reserved for those who can someday do this moral favor for humanity.

On how to keep going on:

You have to find a way to laugh a little bit each day despite everything, or your heart will simply run out of the joy that makes it go.

After his high profile capture and subsequent release he says:

I would work now in other ways to help get the story out and help return the people of Darfur and their homes in peace. What can one person do? You make friends, of course, and do what you can.

At the back of the book Daoud Hari provides a easy to understand primer to help us understand the Darfur situation as if you “were almost any Sudanese talking politics with your friends in an outdoor bar or at a university.” I found this very helpful to better understand the current situation. And I think that is what makes this book so powerful. This is not history, this is a current event! This is going on right now and we have the ability to do something about it right now!

But what can we do? Daoud says this,

Can you do that [meaning genocide] in this century? Can you solve all your problems by killing everyone in your way? That is for the world to decide. Deciding if and when the traditional people of Darfur can go home will also decide if genocide works or not, and therefore whether it will happen elsewhere again in the world. It seems to me that this is a good place to stop it forever.

That will require the repartition of the Darfur people who were expelled. The camps now in Chad can be moved to Darfur as new towns, bringing schools and clinics and opportunities for personal development to a number of areas that have never had them. From these new towns, village life and some new agriculture can blossom. A zone of protection can be created by the United Nations for this, just as they can be created for other people around the world who need protection in living balanced lives on the earth . . .

This can be done. What is more important for the world right now than preserving ways of living in balance with the earth?

I couldn’t help comparing this book to What is the What by Dave Eggers, which recounts the story of one of the Lost Boys, Valentino Acheck Deng. It is my opinion that everybody should read What is the What (see my review here) and after reading The Translator, this one should be added to that list as well. While What is the What is beautifully written with lyrical prose, The Translator has the feel of somebody speaking directly to you. It’s as if Daoud Hari is sitting in my living room quietly telling me the facts. I’m simply let into his life and allowed to quietly listen. Daoud’s amazing bravery and courage never ceased to amaze me. I was struck with how unselfish he was. This is truly a person who knows what it means to love. He knows what the right thing to do is and he’s not afraid to do it. Daoud Hari is proof that one person can make a difference in this world.

To learn more about what you can do visit Valentino Acheck Deng’s foundation website and also savedarfur.org. It should be noted that China is Sudan’s largest investor in oil and has played a critical role in Sudan and the continued genocide. To learn more about the Olympics and the role of China is Sudan visit Dream for Darfur. Also visit Daoud Hari’s website.

And if you’re not convinced to pick up this book yet, I leave you with a short film:

I’d love to know what you’ve thought of this one or your opinions on the current conflict.

Briefly stated, Edward is a very self-absorbed rabbit who is quite infatuated with himself. He cares for nothing and no one but himself. He is very loved by Abilene, who dots on him endlessly. Soon things change when he is accidentally falls overboard a ship. What to do? What to do? He can do nothing but wait and hope that he is found. And he is.

Over the next 10-15 years he is cared for by a old fisherman and his wife who treat them just like their own child (but as a girl!). But he feels very grateful; a feeling that he’s never experienced before. He then pairs up with a old tramp and his dog whom he begins to feel very fond of. Afterwards, he becomes the favorite doll of a dying little girl and he begins to feel empathy as he witnesses her slow decline. He finds himself actually caring for this small child. After her passing, he is repaired (after all, he’s looking quite raggedy by now) by a doll maker and waits for years to be purchased. During this time, he thinks of all the wonderful people he’s been with. Of all the love that he’s experienced. Of how once he was lost and finally he was found. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a cute story about love, loss, and coming full circle.

The allegory of Christ’s resurrection in this story wasn’t lost on me, and if you’d like to delve deeper into that area I’ll point you over to One Minute Book Reviews where Janice Harayda has an excellent post discussing just that.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this book was the quality with which it was rendered. The illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline were excellent, both the pencil drawings and full color. I haven’t read a book like this for so long that I eagerly anticipated the next illustration.

I enjoyed the pencil drawings even more, you’ll have to check them out. Visit the website for The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane or Kate DiCamillo’s website. This one is worth checking out if you haven’t done so yet.

As my blog is just three months old, many of you are still getting to know the face behind Maw Books. Six and a half years ago, I married into a wonderful Chinese family (well, technically, my husband is half Chinese, and his other Caucasian half is wonderful too!).  I have sense learned much of the Chinese culture but still don’t know enough to pass on to my children their culturally rich heritage background. Here are some excellent books for the little ones to learn about Chinese New Year:

My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz.
This fun and colorful way to introduce the Chinese New Year lets young readers follow one little girl as she learns how to welcome the coming year and experience all the festivities surrounding it (from the publisher).

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Happy, Happy Chinese New Year by Demi
“In a book that is itself a celebration, Demi explains the rituals and ideas behind the Chinese New Year festival. The last 15 days of the old year are spent cleaning and preparing (’Wash your hair and get a new haircut. Pay the debts that you owe and collect what is owed to you!’). On the eve of the new moon, a special feast is prepared. . . . The first 15 days of the new year are spent celebrating with lion dances, firecrackers, and other activities. Demi’s characteristic tiny, lively figures illustrate each page, with several spreads devoted to small, labeled pictures identifying things associated with the holiday. Infused with joy and filled with information.”–”Booklist

Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book by Joan Holub
It’s Chinese New Year and there are so many fun things to do! Shopping at the outdoor market for fresh flowers, eating New Year’s dinner with the whole family, receiving red envelopes from Grandma and Grandpa, and best of all-watching the spectacular Chinese New Year’s parade! Introduce the customs of Chinese New Year to even the youngest readers with this festive new lift-the-flap book.

Long-long’s New Year: A Story About the Chinese Spring Festival by Catherine Gower
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a little Chinese boy named Long-Long accompanies his grandfather into the city to sell cabbages in order to buy food and decorations for the New Year. However, selling cabbages is harder than Long-Long is ready for, so he goes off on myriad adventures in the hopes of finding a way to help his grandfather-and getting treats for his mother and little cousin.

Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story by Jonny Zucker
Here is a simple and delightful introduction to the festival of Chinese New Year—Suitable for even the very youngest child.Follow a family as they set off firecrackers, watch lion and dragon dances, and hang up lanterns to celebrate the start of their New Year 9from the back cover).

The Dragon New Year: A Chinese Legend by David Bouchard
From Library Journal-Grade 1-4. An original story that explains why the Chinese make noise and explode fireworks to celebrate a new year. The book begins in modern times, with a grandmother telling her granddaughter the reason for the commotion that frightens her on New Year’s Eve. In “olden days,” she says, people fled their village at the turn of the year, dreading the annual visit of a man-eating dragon named New Year. After watching the creature devour her fisherman son stranded at sea, a grieving old woman refuses to flee the following year. Offering hospitality to a mysterious stranger who turns out to be the Buddha, she is told how to use fire and noise to fend off the dragon. The wordy text is accompanied by large, flamboyant paintings reminiscent of oil works by European old masters, well composed and dramatic, but overpowering. In fact, the narrative seems contrived as a vehicle to showcase the art. An author’s note offers brief information on the Buddha, dragons in Chinese folklore, and traditional Chinese New Year customs. Not a first purchase. – Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams

Hiss! Pop! Boom!: Celebrating Chinese New Year by Tricia Morrissey
Hiss! and Pop! snap the firecrackers. Boom! says the drum to the Lion Dancer. Chinese New Year is here! Beautiful Chinese brush painting and elegant calligraphy illustrate each moment of the New Year celebration. Share the traditions with your child, and learn a few new things too!

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Oh, and by the way it’s the Year of the Rat. There are 12 animals in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, and the rat is the first in this series. Legend has it that all the animals concerned were in a race to cross a broad river. Displaying the canniness characteristic of its species, the rat rode on the back of an ox and jumped off to finish first. In China it is believed that those born in a Rat Year share the positive attributes of the animal. They are thus considered to be clever, ambitious, hard- working, quick and sociable.