January 2012: The Distant Land of My Father (Caldwell)

Post date: Jan 20, 2012 1:40:27 AM

Many rarely seen book club members came out to discuss this work of fiction about a daughter, her father and his addiction to Shanghai. Most readers felt Bo Caldwell's writing was economical and has some serious page turning qualities. It was an easy read. Maybe too much so. Many readers noted that they would put it in the category of airplane reading.

The genuine-ness of the main character's experiences and feelings were the cause for debate. Were the descriptions of Shanghai a little forced? Can a child really understand as much about adult emotions as Anna seemed to? Was Joe content or destitute at the end of the book?

One of the things that all readers seemed to agree on, and which shed light on pretty much everything, was that Joe was addicted to Shanghai. In a way, this is a story about addiction told from the child's point of view.

A number of related books and films that readers may enjoy were discussed. They include:

• • Empire of the Sun (book by J. G. Ballard, film by Steven Spielberg)

  • Pearl S. Buck: A Cultural Biography by Peter Conn

  • 24 City a film by Zhang Ke Jia

  • Shanghai Ghetto a documentary about Jews in Shanghai

(submitted by Susan)