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Title: Perpetually Cool: The Many Lives of Anna May Wong, 1905-1961 (FILMMAKERS SERIES) by Anthony B. Chan ISBN: 0-8108-4789-2 Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield (Non NBN) Pub. Date: 01 November, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $45.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.33 (6 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Anna May Wong - a paragon of strength
Comment: I thorough enjoyed reading Chan's biography of Anna May Wong. Although I saw only one of her movies when I was a graduate student in America, I was deeply impressed by her art and sensitivity. Chan's book filled in a lot of the blanks. I never knew that her career covered such wide territories, not only geographically but in the various kinds performing arts - the silent movies, the talkies, stage and TV. Chan examines her work and her character. The sense I got is her humanity. It's insightful of Chan to bring out her daoist approach to life. If I remember my Lao Zi correctly from my Hong Kong days, daoist philosophy emphasizes not to seek fame or riches, but do your utmost and retreat from the limelight. The Anna May Wong that comes through is a woman of strength.
The fact that Chan's book is dedicated to the Chinese girls adopted by non-Chinese families shows the author's understanding of not only the person of Anna May Wong but also the significance of Chinese heritage. My cousin and her husband (a Scot) adopted a Chinese girl last year. I am sending them the book to keep so that their daughter will read it one day.
(Anyone who knows anything about Chinese culture and Chinese history would know the vast differences between daoist philosophy and daoist religion).
Helen (London, UK)
Rating: 5
Summary: Anna May Reigns!
Comment: I loved Anthony Chan's book "Perpetually Cool!" It's the best book on Anna May Wong currently on the market. Unlike some other books and articles, Prof. Chan does not present Anna May Wong as a "victim" or "exotic" creature to be ogled but rather as a woman who triumphed over adversity, overcame much prejudice, took care of her family, created her own sense of style which remains iconic even today, and led a courageous and exciting life. As a Chinese American, I especially appreciated the Asian American perspective of his book. I too remember seeing Anna May Wong in "Shanghai Express" for the first time on a late-night TV showing, when I was about eight or nine years old. In those days in the late-1970s in America, there were NO glamorous images of Asians, just that awful Calgon commercial. And here was a stunningly beautiful, self-confident Asian woman holding her own against Dietrich. In fact, I think Anna May stole the movie from Dietrich with her multi-layered performance. Prof. Chan's book was fascinating to me because I had not realized all the amazing things Anna May had done in her life, including her stage work in Europe and Vaudeville, her talent with languages, and her work on behalf of charities. What a heroine! Prof. Chan is right! Anna May Wong is indeed perpetually cool.
Rating: 2
Summary: Full of theory without adequate life stories
Comment: This book is a little bit dry. big theories shadow the inadequate narratives about the subject. Especially, the Daoist analaysis does not make sense for me. Follow Chan's logic, everyone could be a Daoist, at least at certain moment of your life. Wish the author got deeper in his research.
It seems that Chan befriended Wong's surviving brother, why have not any oral materials through interviews been included?
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Title: Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend by Graham Russell Gao Hodges ISBN: 0312293194 Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan Pub. Date: 01 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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Title: Anna May Wong: A Complete Guide to Her Film, Stage, Radio and Television Work by Philip Leibfried, Chei Mi Lane ISBN: 0786416335 Publisher: McFarland & Company Pub. Date: 01 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $45.00 |
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Title:A Study in Scarlet ASIN: B00008G8CZ Publisher: Gotham Distribution Pub. Date: 18 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $7.98 |
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Title: Design for Living: Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne : A Biography by Margot Peters ISBN: 0375411178 Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Pub. Date: 14 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $30.00 |
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