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This blog is the work of an educated civilian, not of an expert in the fields discussed.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Finding Iris Chang

Finding Iris Chang: Friendship, Ambition, and the Loss of an Extraordinary Mind by Paula Kamen is a rather personal memoir of Kamen's search into what happened to her friend, who committed suicide in what appeared to be the midst of a wonderful life (success, beauty, hubby, young child) and career (e.g., The Rape of Nanking). We not only learn a lot about Chang (a complex character, well fleshed out here) and mental illness, but some about Kamen and how she went about "finding" Chang the best she could. This results in a rich book that provides many strands. The insight on the process particularly adds something.