Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language by Deborah Fallows

In light of my upcoming trip to China (more on that later), a friend recommended this book.

Deborah Fallows has a PhD in linguistics, and recently spent three years living in Shanghai and Beijing. She talks about the difficulty of learning Chinese (Mandarin), and weaves in and around her language growth some of the life experiences she had while living there.

It's a short book, and gives some interesting insights into the Chinese people and culture. I'm glad I read it. I think it will enhance my experience while I'm there.

I've read several books on China over the years - Wild Swans by Jung Chang, Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng, Mao's Last Dancer by Cunxin Li, Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, Pearl of China by Anchee Min, Gail Tsukiyama's books, to name a few. And of course The Good Earth by Pearl Buck.

Those books have all given me a small view into the vast country and culture that is and has been China. This book gave me a little glimpse of very current China in Shanghai and Beijing. It will be fun to see it in person.