Iris Chang and the Power of One by Randy Hopkins and Ying-Ying Chang -- BOOK BEGINNINGS

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAYS

Iris Chang and the Power of One by Randy Hopkins and Ying-Ying Chang

Thank you for joining me for Book Beginnings on Fridays. Please share the opening sentence (or so) of the book you are reading this week. You can also share from a book that caught your fancy, even if you are not reading it right now.

MY BOOK BEGINNING

My daughter, Iris Chang, passed away on November 9, 2004. What happened on that terrible day is still so vivid in my memory.

-- from Iris Chang and the Power of One by Randy Hopkins and Ying-Ying Chang.

Iris Chang was a journalist and historian who shot to fame with her book, The Rape of Nanking. She later killed herself, in part because of depression linked to her historical research. 

Historian Randy Hopkins wrote this book with Iris's mother, Ying-Ying Chang. They wanted to write a book about Iris's life, her influence, the causes of her death, and the ability of one person to change the world.  It is an interesting format because it is not a straightforward biography. Instead, it is a compendium of materials about Iris, her life, and the impact she had. It is a collection of excerpts from other books, letters, photographs, speeches, eulogies, and other materials. Some of the key materials are reprinted in the back in Chinese and Japanese. 

YOUR BOOK BEGINNINGS

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THE FRIDAY 56

The Friday 56 is a natural tie-in with Book Beginnings. The idea is to share a two-sentence teaser from page 56 of your featured book. If you are reading an ebook or audiobook, find your teaser from the 56% mark.

Freda at Freda's Voice started and hosted The Friday 56 for a long, long time. She is taking a break and Anne at My Head is Full of Books has taken on hosting duties in her absence. Please visit Anne's blog and link to your Friday 56 post.

MY FRIDAY 56

-- from Iris Chang and the Power of One:

No longer an unknown writer, Iris undertook a series of exhausting book tours to promote The Chinese in America. But, she could not escape The Rape of Nanking.

FROM THE PUBLISHER'S DESCRIPTION

This book is about Iris Chang and her world-changing influence. At age 29, Iris, a Chinese American, wrote the wildly popular and deeply controversial book The Rape of Nanking - exposing the atrocity now known as the Nanjing Massacre which followed the Japanese Imperial Army's 1937 capture of Nanking, China. She later wrote another massively researched book, The Chinese in America. At the age of 36, Iris took her own life.

The book first traces Iris' life and tragic end. Reasons leading to her death are covered, with elements that echo in today's headlines. The second part is a revelation of the positive influences Ms. Chang has had upon the world -- a highly graphic celebration of the 'ripples of light' emanating from her life's work.