Happy Chinese New Year 2011

The Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring festival, starts with the new moon on the first day of the Chinese Lunar calendar, and ends fifteen days later. It is regarded as one of the most important holidays on the Chinese calendar, and is celebrated across the world in many countries, including Australia. This year is the Year of the Rabbit and it starts on 3rd February. According to Chinese astrology, 2011 is the year to slow down, calm your nerves and catch your breath, this being a quieter year than 2010, which was the ferocious year of the Tiger. Hopefully this means you have more time to relax and read! (Particularly as, according to Chinese tradition, you should not be doing any housecleaning through out this celebration, as this may cause you to accidently throw out the good fortune brought in by the New Year). So with this extra time available, here’s a list of Chinese authors you might like to try.
Chang, Jung. “Wild swans: Three daughters of China”, “Mao, the unknown story”
Chua, Amy "Battle hymn of the tiger mother" and others...
Chung Martin, Helene. “Ching chong china girl: From fruit shop to foreign correspondent.” (Biography) "Lazy man in China"
Gao, Xingjian. “One man’s Bible” (Noble prize winner 2000.) "The case for literature" "Soul mountain"
Guo, Xiaolu. “UFO in her eyes” "20 fragments of a ravenous youth" "A concise Chinese-English dictionary for lovers" "Lovers in an age of indifference"
Hong, Ying. “ Daughter of the river: an autobiography.” “The concubine of Shanghai”
Jian, Ma. “Stick out your tongue” "Beijing coma"
Jin, Ha. “The bridegroom: stories”
Lee, Janice Y.K. “The piano teacher"
Li, Cunxin. “Mao’s last dancer”
Liang, Diane Wei. “ The eye of jade” Paper butterfly" "The lake with no name: a true story of love and conflict in modern China"
Min, Anchee. “Empress Orchid”, “The last empress” "Pearl of China"
Mo, Yan. “Red sorgum” “Big breasts and wide hips”
Ouyang, Yu. “The English class” "The Eastern slope chronicle" and more...
Rong, Jiang. “Wolf totem”
See, Lisa. “Dragon Bones” “Snow flower and the secret fan” and more...
Su, Tong. “Raise the red lantern: Three novellas” “My life as emperor”
Tan, Amy. “The bone setters daughter” “The kitchen Gods wife” “The joy luck club” and others...
Wong, Jan. “Red China blues: My long march from Mao to now” "Beijing confidential"
Wu, Fan.(1923-) "February flowers"
Wu Fan (1973-) "Beautiful as yesterday"
Xinran. “Miss chopsticks” China witness:voices from a silent generation" and more...
Yen Mah, Adeline. Author of Chinese Cinderella series and “Falling leaves” and more…

Another tradition of the Chinese New Year you may like to celebrate is cooking and eating with the family. Why not whip up a Chinese dish to celebrate? The library has heaps of Chinese cookbooks (found under 641.5951) with delicious recipe ideas available. Do you know which of the twelve animals in Chinese astrology represent your year of birth? It is believed that you take on the characteristics of the animal representing your year of birth, see if you agree! Perhaps you have always yearned to travel to China. The library has a great selection of travel guides you can check out to help you plan a trip- maybe in time for 2012 Year of the Dragon celebrations.

Gung Hei Fat Choy,
Monique