China Post Reviews Jade Phoenix

My friend Syd Goldsmith's new book Jade Phoenix was reviewed in the English-language China Post. And for a special bonus, they quoted my review of the book:

Goldsmith was director of the American Institute in Taiwan's Kaohsiung branch office, the unofficial equivalent of a consulate general, from 1985 until 1989, when he settled in Taipei. Now in his mid-60s, he first came to Taiwan in 1968 and was a political officer at the American embassy in Taipei from 1970 to 1974. Fluent in Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Cantonese, as well as several other languages, Goldsmith grew up in New Jersey and attended Columbia University. He lives in Taipei with his Taiwanese wife and their two children.

A reviewer in Taiwan noted on his blog that "the great strength of Goldsmith's story lies in its rich depiction of the realities [since] Goldsmith knows many of the historical persons who appear as characters in the book, both real and fictionalized, [and he] is able to leverage his vast knowledge of the island to produce a book that is not only historically informed but also culturally accurate."

In addition, a reviewer on Amazon.com called the book a riveting read, writing, "This is one of those novels that you had better not pick up unless the kids are fed and you don't mind staying up all night."

Goldsmith said that "Jade Phoenix" is now available in bookstores islandwide or directly from the publisher's Web site.

[Taiwan]