Twin Sisters

This book reveals an army cadre seducing a girl that comes from
deep in the author's memories from her childhood. She was author's
neighbour who gave up her virginity in an attempt to gain her
mother's freedom, a beautiful girl with a slightly pale face, often in
tears at home; this is the prototype of YingLi. YongHong is a typical
representative of the Red Guards who denounced the capitalist roaders,
and traitors, who often were family members or neighbours; creating
many grievances, and injustices.

This book differs from most accounts of the Cultural Revolution
that label the "Red Guards" as a "sin" or criminals; this book explains
firsthand the motivations, influences, mentality, and personal growth
of the fanatical Red Guards.

Twin Sisters, reveals the characters of many different people in
great depth; Lian was a woman who's good intentions were betrayed
by the party, lost the love of her life, and lived with life-long regret,
and suffering. Zhang was disabled in a battle on the Russian frontier
due to the incompetence of his captain and later died at the hands of
his wife. Crippled Sun was a veteran of the Korean war that had cost
him a leg, became a hero, and the work group leader in his village;
who went on to recruit and abduct women as incentives for the village
men to produce more. LinLin was a college professor who lost his
position because of his wife; he went on to become a refuse collector,
and was subsequently accused of being an anti-revolutionary and
condemned.

The innocence of juveniles, justice, and the goodness of people are
portrayed in depth; as are the rivalry and confrontations of opposing
factions of the Red Guards, as well as life in the countryside versus the
city.

It is acknowledged by historians that history has usually been
written about leaders, and the victorious; that history has been written
by or for the winners. Twin Sisters is a departure from the traditional;
depicting the real lives of common people impartially in historical
context.

Because the subject matter Twin Sisters is still considered "too
sensitive" for Chinese publishers it has not been published in book
form in China yet. I hope that this book will give English readers the
same surprises, insights, and delights as the Chinese who have read it.
Twin Sisters has received great acclaim on the web in China, and
among Chinese living in North America.