Twin Sisters

About the Book

This subject matter in Twin Sisters still highly controversial for a novel in China.

This book reveals an army cadre seducing a girl that comes from deep in the author's memories from her childhood. She was author’s neighbour who gave up her virginity in an attempt to gain her mother’s freedom, a beautiful girl with a slightly pale face, often in tears at home; this is the prototype of YingLi. YongHong is a typical representative of the Red Guards who denounced the capitalist roaders, and traitors, who often were family members or neighbours; creating many grievances, and injustices.

This book differs from most accounts of the Cultural Revolution that label the "Red Guards" as a "sin" or criminals; this book explains firsthand the motivations, influences, mentality, and personal growth of the fanatical Red Guards.

Twin Sisters, reveals the characters of many different people in great depth; Lian was a woman who’s good intentions were betrayed by the party, lost the love of her life, and lived with life-long regret, and suffering. Zhang was disabled in a battle on the Russian frontier due to the incompetence of his captain and later died at the hands of his wife. Crippled Sun was a veteran of the Korean war that had cost him a leg, became a hero, and the work group leader in his village; who went on to recruit and abduct women as incentives for the village men to produce more. LinLin was a college professor who lost his position because of his wife; he went on to become a refuse collector, and was subsequently accused of being an anti-revolutionary and condemned.

The innocence of juveniles, justice, and the goodness of people are portrayed in depth; as are the rivalry and confrontations of opposing factions of the Red Guards, as well as life in the countryside versus the city.

It is acknowledged by historians that history has usually been written about leaders, and the victorious; that history has been written by or for the winners. Twin Sisters is a departure from the traditional; depicting the real lives of common people impartially in historical context.

Because the subject matter Twin Sisters is still considered "too sensitive" for Chinese publishers it has not been published in book form in China yet. I hope that this book will give English readers the same surprises, insights, and delights as the Chinese who have read it. Twin Sisters has received great acclaim on the web in China, and among Chinese living in North America.

About the Author

I was born in Northern of China, and was raised by my grandmother. My grandfather had been a factory worker and lived in a typical workers neighbourhood. During the Cultural Revolution a number of new neighbours began to move in. In my eyes, these people were not the same as the rest of us. The men and women, and even their children had a humble, elegant style of conversation. Later, I learned from adults that these were not common ordinary people at all; many of them were once high-ranking cadre or senior intellectuals. The revolutionary masses had taken them from their beautiful houses, and sent them here to live. My childhood memories are as clear to me as if it was just yesterday. I was seven years old when the Cultural Revolution began and the hardships, injustice, and trials that took place among family, friends, and neighbours during the following ten years remains indelibly imprinted in my memories. Later I saw some of the people who had been very active in the Cultural Revolution punished for their injustice to others. After the Cultural Revolution I worked in the municipal government for many years. My experiences working in the government gave me the opportunity to learn much more about our country and the damage caused during the Cultural Revolution. So many things happened during my younger years that I have never been able to forget and always dreamed of writing about; I hope that through my writing I will find peace within myself. Many things have been written about the Cultural Revolution but none that I have seen have covered the many aspects, and given the whole story in perspective. During the opening up that followed, I left my government job in search of a better life. I embarked on a business venture in Russia that was unsuccessful; then I went to the U.S. and lived and worked in New York City. It was only after meeting my husband and moving to Canada that I found the time to write this book that has been my heart’s desire for most of my life. What I want to say now that China's Cultural Revolution has been revealed to be is a catastrophe of unprecedented scale; is that the Chinese people, whether they were involved or not involved, they were all are victims. For those who have been swept under the wheels of history, the ghosts abandoned by history and those still living from that time who are now enjoying life as beach-goers I say: “You all were innocent!”