With the latest wave of lockdowns currently underway, it looks as if this Chinese New Year will be celebrated very differently than in years past, and mostly indoors. If you’re like us, then that probably means you’ll be finding a quiet spot at home and unwinding with a few choice reads. In the spirit of the festive season, we’ve passionately pieced together a list of eight must-read novels—including the classic and the contemporary—written by Chinese authors from around the world.
The Noodle Maker by Ma Jian
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From the acclaimed Chinese dissident, Mi Jian, The Noodle Maker offers a satirical approach to life in a post-Tiananmen China. In a collection of short stories told over the course of an evening, the reader follows along the narrations of several extraordinary characters—like a young man who opens a private crematorium, or a heartbroken actress as she faces an all-too-public fate—as they face life through politics and destiny.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
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The ultimate classic of Chinese literature, this ancient military treatise dates back to 5th century B.C. Comprised of 13 chapters, with each devoted to an aspect of warfare, this masterpiece applies to military strategy and tactics as much as it does to business and life. This one may be a slow read for you, but it’s certainly the most influential book on this list.
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
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A memoir set during the Chinese revolution of the 1940s, The Woman Warrior blends folklore with the unique insight into the life of an immigrant in America. This complex and beautiful journey travel lyrically through the author’s childhood, a changing America, and a life surrounded by myth and memory.
Love in a Fallen City by Eileen Chang
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