Rating: 
Summary: Dr. Lili Quan's Quest for Life a Fasciniating Read
Review: Dr. Lili Quan is a Chinese American who, much like the young Chinese women in Amy Tan's THE JOY LUCK CLUB, has a difficult time blending her heritage with her very American dreams. When her traditional Chinese mother dies, Dr. Quan begins to realize the gift family, history and being Chinese has bestowed upon her as she travels to China in the weeks just before the Tianamen Square massacre.SHOU is the secret of long life, which like most great secrets, has the power to save or destroy. Dr. Quan's Chinese physician grandfather has discovered SHOU. He trembles at the power he holds over China and the world, trusting Lili to fulfil her destiny and decide how to handle his secret. Lili's journey of self-discovery, in the face of ruthless men who would destroy her, brings her back to America and her life here. But after this experience, Dr. Quan will never forget she is Chinese. SHOU is a novel of magnificent proportions that will transport you to China and inside the soul of the Chinese. For five thousand years, the Chinese people have endured with grace, beauty and equinamity. In SHOU, the Shlians have given readers a rare opportunity to join them. It is well worth the trip. M. Diane Vogt Author of SILICONE SOLUTION and JUSTICE DENIED, novels of mystery and suspense in the Judge Willa Carson Series.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent medical thriller
Review: Dr. Lili Quan is a second generation Chinese-American. Her grandfather exiled her mother when Mao and the Communists took over their country in 1949. Lili has never stepped inside the homeland of her ancestors, but now in 1989 plans to honor the last wish of her dead mother Su Wei to return to China. Unbeknownst to Lili is that several zealots including the Chinese government want to abduct her. They feel she is a perfect negotiating pawn to force her still living grandfather, an elderly scientist, to reveal his secret that dramatically extends the human life span. Now seemingly the world competes to use Lili as a dupe to attain SHOU from her grandfather. Even as the danger mounts, Lili falls in love with her host Professor Chi-Wen Zhou, but he has need to dupe her just like everyone else surrounding her. 1989 China is an exciting disheartening period as the murders at Tiananmen Square squelch the democracy movement in China. That adds to the fervor of a well-written medical thriller that never eases the tension for a moment as the quest to steal SHOU fits the global economic and political scene. However, what makes this novel so good is Deborah and Joel Shlian's ability to paint a picaresque landscape of the people, the customs, the landscape, and politics of modern day China.
Rating: 
Summary: A VERY COMPLEX READ
Review: Dr. Lili Quan is a twenty-seven year old medical resident who is just finishing up her training in Los Angeles. Lili is very strong willed woman who has a conflict going on inside her as to whether she is American or Chinese. When her mother Su-Wei is dying she asks Lili to go to china and get to know her Chinese heritage. Lili does go to China as her mother ask and immediately gets wrapped up in an international conspiracy to find the secret of longevity. SHOU is a very complex story with intrigue, romance, covetousness, treachery, suspense and even a little sex thrown into the mixture. It ranges over fifty years and two continents. You will learn about Chinese culture from 1949 when Mao and the communists took over China to 1989 and the political demonstrations in Tiananmen Square and the harrowing massacre that ensued. The Shlian's have managed to have several stories going on at once and did it remarkably well. The details of the scenery are breathtaking. Character development was spectacular, with the love story between Lili and Chi-Wen was very touching and romantic. Best of all was the heart stopping surprise ending. Included in the book a glossary, map and a very helpful pronunciation chart.
Rating: 
Summary: Please forgive my one dissenting vote
Review: I bought this book solely on the basis of all the rave reviews, and it is one of the worst books I have read. The story and the characters are one dimensional and there are absurd stereotypes on every page. The writing style is juvenile. Here are just a few examples: A brilliant Chinese scientist smuggles his young granddaughter, Lili, out of communist China to America. Lili grows up to be a brilliant and exquisitely gorgeous doctor working in a prestigious Los Angeles hospital, but being humble, she has no clue about her stunning attributes. Poor Lili is a frequent victim of racism, even from patients whose lives she has saved. She had a rich, handsome, and brilliant boyfriend who broke her tender heart, because the parents were racist, too. At least she managed to remain a virgin. Lili wears leather and drives a racing motorcycle. That's how she paid for her education - racing motorcycles. On a routine drive home after work, she narrowly escapes death by avoiding collisions with a car and a bus. A police officer, who witnesses this, makes a pass at Lili, but she smiles, gets back on her bike, and speeds away. Meanwhile, Lili's grandfather has discovered the secret formula to long life. Everybody knows how clever the Chinese are with herbs. The grandfather does not want to give the formula to the evil Chinese government, and the government has made him a prisoner and will not hesitate to use torture to extract the formula. Of course, all efforts to make the grandfather talk are unsuccessful. Then someone remembers his granddaughter in America. There is discussion of abduction and using the granddaughter to weaken the grandfather, but the Chinese devils find a more subtle method. I think you get the idea by now, and all this is just the beginning.
Rating:
Summary: SHOU is a fascinating search for self
Review: International intrigue, romance, greed, betrayal and self-sacrifive surround the young, endearing Dr. Lili Quan, a California physician as she sets out to find her Chinese roots and learn Chinese medicine and culture, leaving behind her suitor, a medical researcher. Unbeknownst to Lili, she will be working with her grandfather, Dr. Cheng, her only living relative. Long ago,the Chinese government informed her family of his death while actually holding him captive to perfect his longevity formula. To avoid thhis successful recipe from falling into power-greedy hands, he has concealed it from his untrustworthy superior, Dr. Seng. Lili is a pawn in a scheme to capture the secret formula SHOU, for longevity coveted by many all over the world. Dr. Cheng's assistant's faith is on the line as he comes to terms with his values and new found love for Lili. Lili must learn whom to trust as she attempts escape through a treacherous terrain strewn with sinister characters eager for the secret of longevity. This is the third novel by Drs. Shlian and the most ambitious and well researched, complete with a glossary and map. China through Lili's eyes is a highly recommended journey through a mysterious country during turbulent times.
Rating:
Summary: First rate riveting novel set in China and United States
Review: International intrigue, romance, greed, power, betrayal and self-sacrifice surround the young, endearing American physician, Dr. Lili Quan as she sets out to find her Chinese roots and learn Chinese medicine, leaving behind her suitor, a medical researcher. Unbeknownst to Lili, she will be working with her grandfather, Dr. Cheng, her only living relative. Chinese a;uthorities long agao had informed her family of his death whileactually holding him captive to perfect his longevity formula. To avoid his successful recipe from falling into greedy hands, he has concealed it from his untrustworthy superior, Dr. Seng. Lili is used as a pawn in a scheme to capture the secret formula SHOU-long life coveted by many all over the world. Dr. Cheng's assistant's faith is on the line as he comes to terms with his values and new found love for Lili. Lili must learn whom to trust as she attempts escape through a treacherous terrain strewn with sinister characters eager for the secret of longevity. This is the third novel by Drs. Shilian and the most ambitious and well researched, complete with glossary and map. China through Lili's eyes is a highly recommended vivid journey through a mysterious country during threacherous times.
Rating:
Summary: First rate riveting novel set in China and United States
Review: International intrigue, romance, greed, power, betrayal and self-sacrifice surround the young, endearing American physician, Dr. Lili Quan as she sets out to find her Chinese roots and learn Chinese medicine, leaving behind her suitor, a medical researcher. Unbeknownst to Lili, she will be working with her grandfather, Dr. Cheng, her only living relative. Chinese a;uthorities long agao had informed her family of his death whileactually holding him captive to perfect his longevity formula. To avoid his successful recipe from falling into greedy hands, he has concealed it from his untrustworthy superior, Dr. Seng. Lili is used as a pawn in a scheme to capture the secret formula SHOU-long life coveted by many all over the world. Dr. Cheng's assistant's faith is on the line as he comes to terms with his values and new found love for Lili. Lili must learn whom to trust as she attempts escape through a treacherous terrain strewn with sinister characters eager for the secret of longevity. This is the third novel by Drs. Shilian and the most ambitious and well researched, complete with glossary and map. China through Lili's eyes is a highly recommended vivid journey through a mysterious country during threacherous times.
Rating:
Summary: SHOU is a fascinating search for self
Review: The question of cultural identity is at the core of this beautiful story about Lili Quan, a strong -willed young woman who struggles with who she really is - American or Chinese? When Lili Quan's mother, Su-Wei, is about to die, she asks her daughter to promise to visit China since she knows that Lili (who Su-Wei insists on calling Li Li) will never appreciate her Chinese heritage until she sees the country and the people for herself. Reluctantly, Lili does go to China, only to be swept up in an international conspiracy to find the secret of longevity. The Shlians have managed in this book, to layer several stories on top of one another and to do it quite well. There is the story of Lili finding her grandfather; Lili's love relationship with Chinese born Chi-Wen, a contemporary in age, but not in experience; the quest for SHOU and finally, the struggle within China for power which ends in the Tiananmen massacre. I felt all of these stories were fascinating and wonderful to read. But the essential question of ultimately who we are as individuals was, for me, the most significant story within the story. I highly recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: Mind and Body woven expertly together
Review: The Shlians bring their medical background to bear on the ancient question of increasing human longevity in this fast-paced novel that brings together two cultures and two approaches to what we in the West consider to be biological questions. There's food for thought and for new perspectives in this well done read.
Rating:
Summary: Great history and story!
Review: This book takes the reader for a trip through time and space while providing a variety of learning experiences and great action to boot! Through the experiences of Lili Quan, the main character, the reader learns about Chinese culture and the evolution of Chinese society. As an American, Lili has a perspective which we all can identify with. Moreover, this book provides enough action to keep readers turning the page - way past their bed-time! I can easily imagine this book as a screenplay. The description of sights, sounds, and smells, makes you want to jump on the first plane!
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