The Bitter Sea

In this haunting and illuminating memoir, Charles N. Li brings into focus the growth pains of a nation undergoing torturous rebirth and offers an intimate understanding of the intricate, subtle, and yet all-powerful traditions that bind the Chinese family. Born near the beginning of World War II, Li Na was the youngest son of a wealthy Chinese government official. By the time he was 21, he had witnessed enough hardship, hope, and tremendous change to last a lifetime. He went from being Li Na-the dutiful Chinese son yearning for a harsh, manipulative father's love-to Charles, an independent Chinese-American seeking no one's approval but his own. Lyrical and luminous, intense and extraordinary, The Bitter Sea is an unforgettable tale of one young man and his country.