Wild Swans is a riveting story of the lives of three women in 20th century China. It delineates the lives of a concubine grandmother, a communist spy mother, and a student daughter. This was an extremely comprehensive book containing not only the life stories of three generations of a family, but also the stories of their relatives, relations, and of historical occurrences. It gives an extraordinary first hand account of China's history spanning from imperialist China to the rise of communism, and through the Cultural Revolution.

Jung Chang does a very good job of describing and explaining the history of China and the changes that occurred, including details down to what kinds of foods people ate during certain time periods. She gives descriptive images of shocking oppression and violence, which had been everyday occurrences in China. Although these descriptions initially prevented me from putting the book down, near the end, the violence does become somewhat repetitive and tiresome (yet you can't blame the author because constant violence was part of China's history).

Overall, I think this was a very fascinating book. The author successfully gives a detailed description of the history, recounting tales of the various things different families went through, while also telling the dramatic stories of her relatives. She does a good job of describing what people went through during the changes in Communist China and after reading this book, I have gained a very clear understanding of what happened during the time and why it happened. This was a very entertaining book which I also learned a great deal from.

There are few histories that read as well as this one. It tells the history of three women who see three ages of china. A grandmother who lives during the war lord period, the nationalist and Mao. A mother who is loyal to her party who along with her whole family is tormented and tortured under Mao. And finally a daughter who is raised in the cult and the disilluion of Mao.

This book is also a great introduction to modern chinese history. The reasons for the rise and fall of all the political regemes in china are outlined. As well the faith and loss of faith in communism in china is well out lined. This history is factual and personal at the same time. Her is a look at three generation of Chinese who struggled with warlords,the Kumingtong and the cultural revolutions. Women and men of character who were tormented for their belief by there own political party.

I loved this books and believe that Chung Jung has created a master work that is for all time. This is hard to say about a history, but the truth is in this book.

This is the best memoir about China that I've read (including both "Life and Death in Shanghai" and "Red Azelea", both of which are excellent). The writing is wonderful! But more, the story evolves through 3 generations, from pre-Communist China, through the days leading up to the October 1949 Communist state, the early days of Communist China (including very important, personal factual accounts about the so-called "Great Leap Forward," etc.), through the Cultural Revolution, and into the dawn of post-Mao China. It is written from an almost unique point of view, by a daughter of 2 Communist Party members, both mid-level cadre. The daughter, now living in the West, brings to the memoir a clearly deep and abiding love of China, of the Chinese people. Although she gives credit to the Communist Party for things done right, esp in the early years of the revolution, she also takes dead-on aim at the party's (and esp its highest leaders') acts that caused incredible suffering for tens, hundreds of millions. It is a wonderful book. If you have an interest in Chinese history, in Mao's China, and the dawn of early post-Mao days -- then find this book and read it!

"Illustrator 10 - Mastering Art Design" is a very good training book. Similar to the Adobe Illustrator Classroom in the Book which is for beginners, this one is for those in the intermediate level. The book comes with a CD like most training design books.

I was really impressed by the type of projects you learn and some of the things you create are really stylish and cool!

I highly recommend this book but for those with at least some knowledge of Photoshop. This book is intended for the intermediate level. For instance, in the first project, you will need to make ruler guides and rotate the guide to an angle. Also, you will be dwelving into meshing and blending colors. This is not a beginner book to explain what meshing and blending is about.

So, if you are a beginner, check out the Illustrator 10 bible. Then with a bit of knowledge you can dwelve into this book because you will be making really awesome things with this book.

As for the book, it is easy to follow but it really asks a lot from you especially if you are good using the pen tool. I've used Illustrator for years and to this day, I'm not good with the pen tool. So, for this book on certain projects which asked to make something with the pen, I switched to the pencil tool, used a Wacom pen on my tablet and drew it (if you have good control with your mouse, use a mouse)

Otherwise, it's a really good book. The type of projects are very glamorous and stylish compared to other Illustrator books with projects/training.

Check it out!