BOOK about CHINA Posted on July 28th, 2008
China Connections – A Personal Journey
by Ruth M. Lehtomäki
She was nine when he died, but she ‘found’ him again forty-six years later in a mountainous village in SW China, where he had been a missionary and had helped American flyers in the China-Burma-India theatre of the Second World War.
Ruth Lehtomäki née Fisher, English, but now living in Finland, has spent her life trying to understand her father and his love for China. Her search eventually took her to Lanping, Yunnan Province, where she discovered his house and heart. Harry Fisher (1895–1960) lived in China from 1928 to 1944, only leaving with his children when Japanese forces were near at hand. During the last years of his sojourn, he helped American flyers, who had had to bail out over the Hump and in late 1944, American authorities were able to assist him and his family in their escape. His family still has the notebook with their messages and letters. Will Ruth be able to make contact with any of them so many years later?
This book is Ruth’s personal journey through life to ‘find’ her father, and her two physical trips to China in 2006 and 2008 with members of her family, including three siblings who had been born there. On her first journey she visited a rural community to meet the child her family supports with monthly donations through Plan International – an eyeopening experience to see how millions of people are living their daily lives. Beijing, Chengdu, Lijiang, Shanghai, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Xian were also ports of call, and descriptions of these varied places add to the adventure.
‘She will draw you into her world as you laugh and cry at the absurdities of Chinglish—and the aching in her soul.’
Personal travel writing with a difference — for pleasure, and with a purpose.
Book Review on Radio86.com
Stina Björkell from “Radio86″, who came to interview me in February, has posted a book review on their site.
. . .’China Connections’ is an ideal read for anyone who takes an interest in China and wants to learn about the things that one might find a bit striking when visiting this captivating, yet complex country for the first time. In addition, it presents an intriguing story about a child’s fascination with a mystery called China and of the desire of a daughter to somehow reinforce her bond with a father she has lost at an early age. The beautifully written book also has great entertainment value as it provides an ample dose of humor and, as an added bonus, lots of useful information about the Chinese culture. . .
You can read it all at . . .
Available in America from the following Internet bookseller:
Available in other parts of the world from the following Internet bookseller:
The book is on Amazon sites in different parts of the world and also on other bookseller sites as well. If you have a particular seller that you have used before, please try them.