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Paper Butterfly Audiobook
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(3.02) - 165 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In Beijing, Mei Wang is a unique entity—the first successful female private detective. An outsider in her culture, she is independent and solitary. Now she faces her toughest challenge yet. When beloved Chinese popstar Kaili disappears, Wang must unravel a mystery filled with family secrets and the shadowy truth behind China's labor camps. Following her trail of clues, Wang takes readers on a spectacular and sensual tour of China's magnificent capital city.
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"I enjoyed it but also thought it didn't have a lot of detective investigation type stuff in it. Definitely not like the usual crime murder novels. Still it was interesting and a fast read."
— Alisha (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Brims with fascinating details about the fizz of daily life in modern Beijing.”
— The Seattle Times -
“A deftly crafted journey into the heart of modern-day China…[A] highly accomplished novel.”
— Guardian (London) -
“Fueled by innumerable tidbits about Chinese culture and daily life, the story is refreshingly low on Western-centric references.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Zeller’s smooth Mandarin Chinese pronunciation and depiction of characters—who include a disillusioned student revolutionary, a high-rolling entertainment mogul, a lovesick assistant, and a host of elderly country and city dwellers—add to the textured sense of place. Both story and narrator draw the listener straight into the contradictions of old and new China.”
— AudioFile -
“The author, who spent her childhood in a labor camp and escaped China in 1989 after taking part in the student uprising, uses recent Chinese history as a catalyst for a haunting mystery.”
— Library Journal -
“A solid and compelling mystery and a fully realized protagonist…A tense and compelling private-eye mystery.”
— Booklist
Paper Butterfly Listener Reviews
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" A sad little love story that takes place in China, nine years after the student protests in Tianamnen Square. This is billed as a mystery, and it is indeed, but it is more about how a moment in time changed forever the lives of two people who loved each other. It's the sort of book that lingers with you. "
— Sandra, 2/5/2014 -
" Much stronger mystery, but I felt Lin's story was more interesting than Mei's. "
— Caitlin, 2/2/2014 -
" Excellent description of labor camps and Tienanmen Square incident "
— Ellen, 1/18/2014 -
" It wasn't just another simple detective story. The biggest asset of this book is great description of China, Beijing - with its mixture of modern influences and tradition, Chinese history and unique culture. That's why "Paper Butterly" is worth reading. And after all, to realise how complicated is life in China for the generation involved in Tiananmen Square protests - the history that is still alive. "
— Krzysztof, 1/17/2014 -
" Since the author was born and raised in China, the settings and customs are equal to the mystery. It was definitely realistic, perhaps more than I wanted. "
— Judy, 1/16/2014 -
" An interesting view of life in urban China and the mindset of the youth during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. "
— Jerry, 1/12/2014 -
" You wouldn't expect the paths of Lin and Kaili to cross, but they do. Their story is beautiful because of the tragedy that surrounds it: while some roads seem to end, hope appears where you least expect it... in a paper butterfly... "
— Oana, 12/31/2013 -
" An intriguing story set in Beijing about the present (a missing pop singer) and the past (the Cultural Revolution). The main character is a woman private investigator who is determined to solve the mystery, even though it might cost her business. "
— Gina, 12/25/2013 -
" I find it impossible to be without a stack of books around me. It's just part of me! This is an ex library one that I am crossing to start this evening. Just finished Dirty Streets of Heaven by Tad William "
— Tania, 12/7/2013 -
" Good mystery set in contemporary China. "
— Julie, 4/21/2013 -
" disappointing diatribe against the Communist government. the characters lacked the individuality to make the story believable and literarily distinctive. "
— Lou, 11/30/2012 -
" Interesting mystery set in Beijing. Perhaps more interesting for its cultural information than for the plot. Investigator Mei Wang is likeable. "
— Ellen, 12/12/2011 -
" A pretty crummy mystery, although I did like listening to this as an audiobook and hearing the spoken Chinese. "
— Lara, 8/4/2011 -
" Lots of fun for a head clearing read--not too well written--rather simplistic-but the story was good. "
— Gaile, 6/20/2011 -
" I liked the story, but the editing was distractingly bad. There was even a typo that gave away a spoiler! "
— Jen, 2/7/2011 -
" Mystery in modern China by a woman pi. "
— Doreen, 8/16/2010 -
" Loved a view into China. Mystery? Not so much. Stiff. "
— John, 7/24/2010 -
" I liked the premise and setting of the story; but the story and characterization was, IMO, weak. "
— Bruce, 6/15/2010 -
" Good mystery. Good writing "
— Ellen, 5/30/2009
About Diane Wei Liang
Diane Wei Liang was born in Beijing. She spent part of her childhood with her parents in a labor camp in a remote region of China. In 1989 she took part in the Student Democracy Movement and protested in Tiananmen Square. She is a graduate of Peking University. She has a PhD in business administration from Carnegie Mellon University and was a professor of business in the US and the U.K. for more than ten years. She now writes full-time and lives in London with her husband and their two children.
About Emily Woo Zeller
Emily Woo Zeller is an artist, actor, dancer, choreographer, and voice artist who has won Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration in 2018. She began her voice-over career by voicing animation in Asia. AudioFile magazine named her one of the Best Voices of 2013 for her work in Gulp. Other awards include the 2009 Tristen Award for Best Actress as Sally Bowles in Cabaret and the 2006 Roselyn E. Schneider Prize for Creative Achievement.