My Half of the Sky

By Jana McBurney-Lin

Book Overview

Chairman Mao said, "Women hold up half the sky." For Li Hui, a recent university graduate, that means following her dream of becoming a teacher, finding love and fulfilling her family obligations. But... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977208117
• ISBN13: 9780977208111
• Release Date: July 2006
• Publisher: KOMENAR Publishing
• Length: 536 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.8" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Eternal Story of the Human Condition

This story invites you into the living room of a typical Chinese family and allows you eavesdrop on their lives. The phone is still in the store next door, but there are people using cell phones on the street. You follow Li Hui through her job search, which does not include anything online, and then to her temporary job at a tea shop. She learns the customs associated with drinking tea, "steeped" in tradition and not accepting of change, just like her world. In her village, the reader learns the humble and traditional ways of the people, the dangers of trusting the officials, and the bond that makes us all very much alike even when we are born and raised so differently, which is: how can we take care of our family? And somewhere along the way, if someone is lucky enough to fall in love, how hard will it be to defend that relationship from a society determined to tear it apart? Suddenly, just when you think you understand the ways of the small village, the Li Hui is whisked away to Singapore, where all the old rules don't apply and yet they must be respected. This tug of war between tradition and the modern world strips the characters to their souls and give readers greater insight into not just an ancient culture, but the human condition. Reading McBurney-Lin's "My Half of the Sky" gave me insight into modern China normally not allowed most westerners. The depth of the story is increased by the parables that accompany the characters' actions. Her characters not only tell a fascinating story, but in a way that challenges how you view their culture.

If Jane Austen were to write?

When I came across the promo for this book on a website, it read, "If Jane Austen were to write about modern women in China." I love Jane Austen, so I bought it. I hadn't read many pages before I felt I'd been misled, but not in a bad sense. As I read "My Half of the Sky," I was taken back again and again to "The Good Earth," the trilogy that won Pearl S. Buck the nobel prize for literature. Jana McBurney-Lin brings China to life. As I read, I could feel the village streets beneath my feet, smell the sweet and sour smells, feel hot air against my skin. It was so enchanting! When Li Hui is (essentially) sold to a husband in Singapore, McBurney-Lin had to have felt her confusion and fear, otherwise, she could not have written so convincingly. I can only hope that McBurney-Lin has a sequel planned for this book. I would buy it in an instant, sight unseen. Yes, it was that good. If you want a quick, light read, this isn't the book for you. However, if you are looking for a story that will come back to you again and again, even in your dreams, "My Half of the Sky," is the perfect novel for you. And maybe for the next book, the promo will read, "If Pearl S. Buck were writing today...", although I'm certain Ms. Austen would have been very proud to be compared to her, too.

Keeps your interest throughout and gives you a taste of China

When I first started this book I had a hard time getting into it. The main character seemed to accept her role as "victim" with no control over her own destiny too easily. But then I realized I was imposing my Western way of life onto hers, so I few months later I started the book again with fresh eyes and an open mind. Jana McBurney-Lin's descriptions and pacing makes you feel like you are right there, on the journey with Li Hui, feeling her frustrations, questioning her parent-imposed lifestyle choices, and ultimately rooting for her when she falls in love and tries to make her own decisions. Her sense of honor is unquestionable, whether to her parents or to her husband and his mother. But the reader and Li Hui also feel hopeless and beaten down as we go on her journey. This book seems incomplete without a sequel. I hope McBurney-Lin is at work on the next book.

Read this book - you'll love it!

Fascinating and wonderful story of a smart, thoughtful young woman from a traditional Chinese family and her search for love and a meaningful life. This book is a real page-turner and a dellight from start to finish.

A great read!

It's terrific. I've had no sleep because I couldn't put it down! The back cover describes it as "If Jane Austin were to write about women in modern China". I highly recommend it.