Leaving Mother Lake : a Girlhood at the Edge of the World by Yang Erche Namu

Ms. Yang started life out in a remote village of southwestern China in the foothills of the Himalayas. Her family belonged to the matrilineal Moso culture so Yang’s mother was the head of the household and property owner. Yang was born loud and was always wailing as a child. Later in childhood she was such a problem child she was sent to live with a relative in the mountains to help with the livestock. As a teen she discovered her talent for singing and ran away from the village to join a singing troupe and the modern world. Her story is well told with many surprising twists and turns on her journey from yak herder to Shanghai lounge singer. I learned a lot about the unique Moso way of life while following Yang’s colorful adventures. The verdict on this book is very enjoyable.

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Suggested by Joe M.