I went to my library to find a book for my book club not realising that only the express section was open on a Sunday. I had a mooch around and spotted the oriental cover of this book. Seeing as I love all things Chinese/Japanese I took it out.

The story wasn't what I was expecting. It is about a young boy called Jin Xing who loves to dance and joins Mao's Red Army as this is where he can get the best dance training. He continuously battles with his sexuality and eventually feels that he is a woman trapped in a man's body. After travelling much of the world through his dancing he returns to China and undergoes a sex-change operation.

The book started out well and Jin Xing as a boy and a young man is a very sympathetic character. I felt like I really shared his journey from a boy to young adulthood. As soon as he became a woman my opinion of Jin Xing changed. The female Jin Xing was selfish, obnoxious and far to self assured.

Jin Xing is not the best writer but his story is fascinating. This book is well worth the read both for an insight into Mao's China and into transsexuals.