My Half of the Sky

by Jana Mcburney-lin

Overview

The late leader of China, Chairman Mao said that, "Women hold up half the sky." My Half of the Sky is the story of a contemporary young Chinese woman who strives to be modern, strives to hold up her half of the sky, but the traditions of her village keep pulling her back. While the narration takes place in China/Singapore, the story is universal: where do we reconcile the past with the present? Traditions with modern times?
My Half of the Sky has been given numerous literary awards, including being chosen as a National Booksense August Pick of the Month and Forbes Book Club Pick.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940013014305
Publisher:	Redwood Publishing
Publication date:	08/28/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Jana McBurney-Lin lived half her adult life in Asia. (Japan/Singapore) While there, she wrote and edited fictional stories as well as non-fiction articles for magazines/journals/newspapers in seven countries. She was an editor at ALC Publishing in Tokyo when she met her husband, a native of southern China. One year, while in his village, she got the idea for her first novel, My Half of the Sky.

Editorial Reviews

A lot is expected of a young Chinese girl. My Half of the Sky by Jana McBurney-Lin is the story of Li Hui, a young girl who has just achieved marriageable age... She must balance career, romance, and family, all to somehow make everyone happy, a tough endeavor indeed. An engaging and entertaining read from beginning to end, My Half of the Sky is a poignant tale of the modern Chinese woman, and recommended for community library collections.

Midwest Review

I nominate My Half of the Sky by Jana McBurney-Lin as an August best pick. Though the culture in contemporary China is quite different from our own, family issues are universal. This is a powerful and moving coming-of-age story, and readers will cheer Li Hui on in hope that she finds her way as she attempts to "hold up her half of the sky" while being a respectful and dutiful daughter.

Keri Holmes

Jana McBurney-Lin's debut novel, My Half of the Sky, is a masterpiece....From the first word to the last, the reader will be captivated by the way the author uses words and nuance and simplicity to create rich characters and setting so vivid it feels like you are watching a classic movie....My Half of the Sky is a hard book to put down, but you will force yourself to do so just to make the reading experience last longer. It's a story you'll want to savor one piece at a time,like fine chocolate.

Jackie Houchin

McBurney-Lin tells a wonderfully entertaining story with the traditional coming-of-age theme (which is experienced universally)...weaving in the cultural challenges of growing up in China's rapidly changing social system.

Mary Warpeha

It is a rare women’s novel that sensitively describes the life of a young educated woman in modern-day China in its full complexity, without resorting to unnecessary sentimentalism. Jana’s deep knowledge of the realities of life in China and Singapore makes the reading extra rewarding. In fact, with every new page the novel gets harder to put down and you find yourself gobbling it up before you know it.

Izabella Sluzek