What an Eye Opener

(no picture available) Robert Elegant's Mandarin is a sweeping saga of two families, one Chinese and the other Jewish. Set in the mid-nineteenth century all around China but mainly in Shanghai. The Emperor's reign is in jeopardy with the Taiping rebellion.

I learned much about both cultures that before was unknown to me. For example, a Jewish mother has Jewish children but a Jewish man who marries a non-Jewish woman does not have Jewish children. When Saul's daughter marries an English man not of the Jewish religion, his wife told him to let it go that the children would be Jewish.

Also, that charged with a crime of doing something against the Chinese idea of filial piety is an executable offense. So when Aisek Lee's mother commits suicide leaving a note that they are broke and going to starve, even though they were very wealthy, Aisek Lee was charged for not taking better care of his mother.

These are only two of minor but very interesting things that I found interesting. Both the Chinese and Jewish cultures are very different from my own, which peaks my interest. If you want to learn about history as well as these culture this book is very interesting and engaging.

Read the book!