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Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and his Rendezvous with American History
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Review Date: 10/21/2011
Charlie Chan by Yunte Huang is a well researched and well written book about the development of the fictional Chinese detective from magazine to silver screen hero. In the process, the author provides a portrait of the real life Honolulu detective who provided the inspiration to Earl Derr Biggers and thoughtful commentary on the racial stereotypes in the movies. I found this book to be very interesting especially from the point of view of someone who had immigrated from China and whose interest in the subject was stimulated by the purchase of a Charlie Chan novel at a garage sale. This book is recommended for anyone who has an interest in the history of film or of the Hawaiian islands.
Review Date: 11/1/2013
W. S. Maugham's tale of misplaced values, deceit, arrogance, and loyalty set in the China of the mid twentieth century when colonial rule meant exploitation is well worth the time . Maugham's masterful depiction of characters and his transformation of his major protagonist is a study in character development. There are no winners or losers in this story of fragile and vulnerable characters just a tale of misplaced dedication and ordinary human beings pretending to be more than they really are.
Starvation Heights: The True Story of an American Doctor and the Murder of a British Heiress
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
22
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
22
Review Date: 5/16/2012
Starvation Heights is a well documented and engaging historical narrative of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard's exploits as an osteopathic woman physician in the early 20th century.
She started her practice of purging the body of illness through starvation which resulted in the death of many of her patients. Her dominant personality and charismatic charms allowed her to win many converts to her controversial treatments. For her efforts she rewarded herself by having her patients make her the beneficiary of their estates.
The author, Gregg Olson, was inspired to write this story after moving to the site of her Sanitorium in Puget Sound. Using court documents, letters, and archival documents from sources in New Zealand, Great Britain, and Washington, Mr. Olson weaved a narrative which read like a contemporary expose on graft, duplicity, and murder. Situated in the formative days of Washington state, the reader is exposed to the politics, people, and country of the that time.
An exciting read in which a true tale can be as suspenseful as a fictional murder mystery.
She started her practice of purging the body of illness through starvation which resulted in the death of many of her patients. Her dominant personality and charismatic charms allowed her to win many converts to her controversial treatments. For her efforts she rewarded herself by having her patients make her the beneficiary of their estates.
The author, Gregg Olson, was inspired to write this story after moving to the site of her Sanitorium in Puget Sound. Using court documents, letters, and archival documents from sources in New Zealand, Great Britain, and Washington, Mr. Olson weaved a narrative which read like a contemporary expose on graft, duplicity, and murder. Situated in the formative days of Washington state, the reader is exposed to the politics, people, and country of the that time.
An exciting read in which a true tale can be as suspenseful as a fictional murder mystery.
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