Pearl S. Buck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Good Earth,” is a poignant tale set in the early 20th century that explores the life of a Chinese farmer named Wang Lung.
The narrative follows Wang Lung’s journey from poverty to wealth and the consequences of his rise on his family and traditional values.
Buck’s novel is a powerful examination of the changing social landscape in China, capturing the impact of materialism and the tension between rural and urban life.
Another significant work by Buck, “Dragon Seed,” offers a gripping account of a Chinese family’s struggle to survive during the Japanese invasion of the 1930s.
The narrative centers on the indomitable spirit of the novel’s protagonist, Ling Tan, and his family who endure the atrocities of war and the challenge of maintaining cultural integrity in the face of immense hardship.
This novel delves into themes of resistance, perseverance, and the human capacity for resilience.
Set during the Cultural Revolution, Dai Sijie’s semi-autobiographical novel, “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress,” recalls the story of two young men sent to a rural village for “re-education.”
Their encounter with a local seamstress and the forbidden Western literature they share with her opens up a new world of romance, imagination, and freedom.
This moving narrative examines the transformative power of literature and the human desire for intellectual and emotional connection.
Anchee Min’s historical novel, “Becoming Madame Mao,” presents a vivid portrait of Jiang Qing, the wife of Mao Zedong and one of the most controversial figures in modern Chinese history.
Told from Jiang’s perspective, the book delves into her tumultuous journey from an aspiring actress to the influential “white-boned demon” of the Cultural Revolution.
Min reveals the complex character of Madame Mao and her relentless pursuit of power within the patriarchal and political confines of the era.
“Waiting” by Ha Jin is a thought-provoking novel that explores issues of love, loyalty, and the clash between tradition and modernity.
It follows the life of a doctor in the Chinese army, Lin Kong, whose marriage was arranged by his parents.
Year after year, Kong attempts to divorce his wife to marry the woman he loves, only to be entangled in bureaucratic red tape.
Jin’s narrative offers a piercing insight into the stark realities of personal relationships in a society governed by strict rules and conventions.
In “War Trash,” Ha Jin tells the harrowing story of Yu Yuan, a young Chinese soldier who becomes a prisoner of war during the Korean War.
Dealing with cultural alienation, political indoctrination, and fellow prisoners with clashing loyalties, Yu struggles to retain his dignity and identity amid the conflict’s complexities.
This novel draws readers into the often overlooked experiences of Chinese combatants and the lasting consequences of war.
Yu Hua’s “To Live” is a transformative narrative that recounts the life of Fugui, a man whose gambling habit leads to the loss of his family’s property and sets him on an unexpected path through the most tumultuous periods of China’s history, including the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.
The novel provides a poignant observation of an individual’s capacity for endurance, love, and the simple joys of life amidst suffering and loss.
“The Seventh Day” by Yu Hua presents a unique take on the afterlife, following the journey of Yang Fei after his death.
As a recently deceased spirit wandering the earth, Fei encounters other souls, revealing stories of love, regret, and the complexities of human connection.
Through these encounters, Yu Hua engages readers with a meditation on memory, identity, and the disparities arising from China’s rapid modernization.
Amy Tan’s “The Bonesetter’s Daughter” is a deeply emotional novel focusing on the relationship between a Chinese-American woman, Ruth Young, and her mother, LuLing, who is slowly succumbing to dementia.
As Ruth delves into her mother’s past, she uncovers a legacy of secrets and the history of a bonesetter’s daughter in pre-Communist China.
The narrative weaves together themes of motherhood, identity, and the immigrant experience, traversing the landscapes of San Francisco and rural China.
“The Joy Luck Club,” one of Tan’s most acclaimed works, is a compelling saga of four Chinese-American immigrant families in San Francisco.
The novel unfurls a tapestry of interwoven stories about mothers and daughters, blending narratives across generations and examining the complexities of cultural assimilation, familial expectations, and personal identity.
W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Painted Veil” takes readers to colonial-era Hong Kong and the cholera-stricken interior of China.
In this tale of redemption and self-discovery, Kitty Fane embarks on a heartfelt journey after being caught in an adulterous affair.
Transferred to a remote village with her estranged husband, she confronts the meaning of love, purpose, and the human capacity for change.
“Empire of the Sun” is J. G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel set during World War II.
Through the eyes of young British expatriate Jamie Graham, readers experience the fall of Shanghai, the brutalities of internment, and the loss of innocence.
Ballard’s narrative portrays the resilience of the human spirit and a child’s perspective of war’s devastation.
Lisa See’s “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” transports readers to 19th century China, revealing the story of Lily and Snow Flower, who are brought together by a laotong match—a ceremonial “old same” friendship that is meant to last a lifetime.
Embedded within the historical narrative are the women’s struggles and experiences under the rigid cultural practices of foot binding and the nu shu writing system.
See’s novel is a testament to the endurance of friendship and the role of women in traditional Chinese society.
A sequel to “Shanghai Girls,” Lisa See’s “Dreams of Joy” follows the journey of Joy, who travels to Maoist China in search of her real father.
This historical fiction delves into the complexities of the Great Leap Forward and its catastrophic impact on the Chinese populace.
As Joy becomes enmeshed in the revolutionary fervor and subsequent despair, See explores themes of idealism, family, and the search for identity.
Qian Zhongshu’s satirical novel, “Fortress Besieged,” focuses on the comedic misadventures of Fang Hongjian, an aimless academic returning to China after failing to earn a degree abroad.
His experiences highlight the absurdities and the intellectual pretensions of China’s middle class in the pre-war era.
The fortress metaphor not only captures the entrapments of societal expectations but also the universal pursuit of love and happiness.
“Raise the Red Lantern” by Su Tong tells the story of Songlian, a young woman forced to become the fourth concubine of a wealthy master during the 1920s.
Inside the walls of the mansion she inhabits, the concubines compete for the master’s favor and the titular red lantern, signifying status and privilege.
This riveting account exposes the oppressive traditions and gender dynamics within antiquated Chinese society.
Mo Yan’s “The Republic of Wine” is a surrealist exploration of gluttony, corruption, and excess set in the fictional Chinese province of Liquorland.
With a blend of fantasy and allegory, the novel challenges the reader with a narrative where gastronomy becomes a manifestation of moral decay and social satire.
Through its intoxicating stories, Mo Yan brings forth a biting critique of contemporary China’s consumer culture and government corruption.
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Mo Yan’s “Pow!” presents a bold and picaresque reflection on Chinese society through the eyes of a young boy named Luo Xiaotong.
Drawing on his deep attachment to meat and a father who lacks integrity, the novel evolves into a larger-than-life tale of violence, sexuality, and a society obsessed with power and consumption.
“Beijing Coma” by Ma Jian is a powerful and politically charged novel that tells the story of Dai Wei, a student protester who falls into a coma after being shot during the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
As he lies immobile, Dai Wei’s consciousness traverses his past, the history of China’s pro-democracy movement, and the rapidly changing world outside his hospital window.
Ma Jian’s book is a haunting exploration of memory, political activism, and the personal cost of social upheaval.
Set in a dystopian future on the island of Silicon Isle, “The Waste Tide” by Chen Qiufan explores the environmental and social consequences of electronic waste recycling, which has turned the place into a dumping ground for the world’s e-waste.
Chen creates a richly imagined world where class struggles, tradition, and the relentless pursuit of economic growth collide, questioning the sustainability of our technological dominance.