World Cultures China

Specially printed in color, and accessible with stunning back-lit color images, this “single” recounts the adventures of Jackie Chase in China. She typed emails on primitive keyboards, and wrote, “I planned to see the cormorant fishermen tonight. When I got there, they offered a real touristy thing they had set up. They had put huge floodlights and birds on the bamboo, and a ninety-seven-year-old man with a pointed, white beard sat beside them, with seats on the raft behind him. I want to see the real thing, not something set up for tourists. The cormorants learn, as babies, to give the fish they catch to their owners, but for safety's sake, the owner ties string around their necks to prevent them from swallowing the fish. Legend says the owner takes the string off after they dive seven times so they can enjoy some fish for their hard work.” [The author set out to see rural China, not what the tourist sees; this book is incredible to read as you ride on the bicycle seat with her, peering through her camera lens.]