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Cutted Chicken in Shanghai
An American woman takes a cultural fling into China and finds humorous and engaging adventures as her Shanghai driver tries to keep her out of trouble in a land she struggles to understand. From supermarkets to restaurants, and her driver who doesn’t speak English, every aspect of her daily life contains a challenge. A delightfully realized memoir full of humor, warmth, and thoughtful insights. Readers will find this well-written diary-cum-travelogue an eye-opening and entertaining read.
243 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2014
13 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Winters
10 books14 followersSHARON WINTERS has retired from teaching English and math, but continues to study Mandarin and visit China. She has a BS in psychology from Illinois State University and an MA in humanities from the University of Texas. Her stories have appeared in the MENSA BULLETIN: The Magazine of American MENSA as well as The New Mensican and The Rodent Reader Quarterly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
March 3, 2014
A really charming book I was unable to put down. As someone who has herself been an expat in Asia for 7 years, I was pleased to win this book on goodreads and looked forward to reliving some of the universal experiences ex pats have living abroad. And while the author does cover many of these experiences (language challenges, shopping and dining experiences, cultural differences) she also brings to light the humor and acceptance necessary to live abroad. I loved her humor and observations. This book is written in short journal entry bits and Winters writing is refreshing. I wish the photos had been better quality, color, and more plentiful but that is only because as you read you feel like you want to experience Shanghai (and Beijing and nearby short trips) too. In fact no photos were necessary but having include them, I wish they had been better. Don't let that put you off. I felt like the writer was someone I wanted for a friend by the end of this book. You will be charmed and laugh and wish to go to China if you read this excellent memoir.
May 3, 2015
More like 2.5 stars.
The author kept a journal of the couple of years she and her husband Martin lived in Shanghai for Martin's job; and here she shares her impressions of the Chinese food, culture and people. She is a good story teller with a devilish sense of humor, and her presentation of the adventures and short excerpts put me in mind of a stand-up comedy monologue. One bit after another, coming at you quickly while the audience chuckles. At times, the jokes get recycled and the audience thinks "Oops, I've heard that one before...." Other times it is rather profound and enlightening. I thought it was interesting that our State Department has determined that it takes 35 months to learn Mandarin, while only 6 to learn French. As a Mensa member, Sharon seems to grasp the language quicker than most. As a housewife, Sharon has grasped the art of bargain shopping and lunching. Those stories were the most redundant and needed some editing.
The meaning of the title I would let you discover for yourself. It's pretty gross.
Good first half; then downhill from there.
The author kept a journal of the couple of years she and her husband Martin lived in Shanghai for Martin's job; and here she shares her impressions of the Chinese food, culture and people. She is a good story teller with a devilish sense of humor, and her presentation of the adventures and short excerpts put me in mind of a stand-up comedy monologue. One bit after another, coming at you quickly while the audience chuckles. At times, the jokes get recycled and the audience thinks "Oops, I've heard that one before...." Other times it is rather profound and enlightening. I thought it was interesting that our State Department has determined that it takes 35 months to learn Mandarin, while only 6 to learn French. As a Mensa member, Sharon seems to grasp the language quicker than most. As a housewife, Sharon has grasped the art of bargain shopping and lunching. Those stories were the most redundant and needed some editing.
The meaning of the title I would let you discover for yourself. It's pretty gross.
Good first half; then downhill from there.
March 29, 2014
What a delightful memoir, cultural education and fun reading! Winters had the great luck to go to Shanghai for two years when her husband was there on a work assignment. In some ways her experiences were just like those of us who have followed the call of the wild through work, Peace Corp Volunteer service, international aid organizations, etc. As soon as I saw the title, I understood. This was someone speaking English as a second language and yes, that is how it would be translated. The chicken would be cut when it got to the table. Therefore, "cutted" chicken. Winters was already alert and aware of the culture before she got there. She had learned some Chinese and after she got there she immediately enrolled in additional classes and bargained with the driver to tutor her and check her homework. Add to this fun mix her husband who will only eat 16 things, none of them Chinese, and who does not speak Chinese.
Winters wanders around sometimes, telling us stories of her childhood and her friends, while explaining some event that happened in Shanghai. Unfortunately for Winters, any time she makes a cultural mistake, such as trying to purchase Mao (and fails because he is dead) everyone in her husband's factory quickly knows about it. (You have to read the book if you do not understand the last sentence.) Foreigners are a mystery so the locals who work for her husband's firm soon learn to gossip about her and quickly spread any gossip.
This always happens to "foreigners" in any society and Winters takes it all in stride. The smoke alarm goes off when there is no smoke and does not go off if there is smoke. For two years, it does not work and she wonders (like all of us foreigners) why the property manager does not fix it. I don't know except that I think host country nationals do not want to give us "bad" news so they insist on telling us they will fix it.
Anyone who has worked in a non-English speaking culture will identify with this book. It is a great read.
Winters wanders around sometimes, telling us stories of her childhood and her friends, while explaining some event that happened in Shanghai. Unfortunately for Winters, any time she makes a cultural mistake, such as trying to purchase Mao (and fails because he is dead) everyone in her husband's factory quickly knows about it. (You have to read the book if you do not understand the last sentence.) Foreigners are a mystery so the locals who work for her husband's firm soon learn to gossip about her and quickly spread any gossip.
This always happens to "foreigners" in any society and Winters takes it all in stride. The smoke alarm goes off when there is no smoke and does not go off if there is smoke. For two years, it does not work and she wonders (like all of us foreigners) why the property manager does not fix it. I don't know except that I think host country nationals do not want to give us "bad" news so they insist on telling us they will fix it.
Anyone who has worked in a non-English speaking culture will identify with this book. It is a great read.
February 23, 2014
Love, love, love this book! For anyone who is planning a trip to China or has already been, you will enjoy this book. Sharon Winters writes about her two year stay in China in Cutted Chicken in Shanghai.
Sharon spent 1997 to 1999 in Shanghai, China due her husband’s transfer for business. I only had a three week tour of China in 1993 but we have had many similar experiences. Her wit and humor shines through this book on every page. We are both from the Midwest so the Chinese culture is very different, we both studied Mandarin before leaving for China, we have husbands whose native language is not English and they both have very strong food preferences. Martin’s list of foods that he will eat was limited to fourteen and included cookies. My husband hates cookies but seldom veers away from Chinese food.
Sharon enriches her book with short summaries of Chinese Culture, Language and food. Her experiences such as crossing the dangerous streets of Shanghai ring very true, I have had the same experience! Also her experiences in China that may seem odd to most Americans are true. She tells of her shopping and restaurant advantages and how to prepare for a trip to China. She also added to this book by telling stories of her family and childhood. We got to know her Chinese friends and Martin. I hope that Sharon Winters writes more books.
I have no negative criticism of this book, it is a gem.
I strongly recommend this book to all who are going to China or have already been.
I received this book from the author without charge in exchange for unbiased review. My thoughts and feelings in this review are totally my own.
Sharon spent 1997 to 1999 in Shanghai, China due her husband’s transfer for business. I only had a three week tour of China in 1993 but we have had many similar experiences. Her wit and humor shines through this book on every page. We are both from the Midwest so the Chinese culture is very different, we both studied Mandarin before leaving for China, we have husbands whose native language is not English and they both have very strong food preferences. Martin’s list of foods that he will eat was limited to fourteen and included cookies. My husband hates cookies but seldom veers away from Chinese food.
Sharon enriches her book with short summaries of Chinese Culture, Language and food. Her experiences such as crossing the dangerous streets of Shanghai ring very true, I have had the same experience! Also her experiences in China that may seem odd to most Americans are true. She tells of her shopping and restaurant advantages and how to prepare for a trip to China. She also added to this book by telling stories of her family and childhood. We got to know her Chinese friends and Martin. I hope that Sharon Winters writes more books.
I have no negative criticism of this book, it is a gem.
I strongly recommend this book to all who are going to China or have already been.
I received this book from the author without charge in exchange for unbiased review. My thoughts and feelings in this review are totally my own.
June 28, 2015
I have never been to China, have no connection to China, and never want to go to China. The culture just isn’t for me. Reading Sharon’s account of her life there for almost 2 years, from 1997-1999, brought me there just as well. I felt I was in the car with her drivers, navigating the streets of Shanghai, in the shopping centers, flea markets, and pearl shops, at home in her high-rise, art-filled apartment, and in the restaurants where she tried to read the menu and avoid animal parts at all costs. Sharon is a very smart woman, and not to mention humorous! She notices the fun in the world, and makes the best of every situation. She put in the time to learn Mandarin, and if she hadn’t, this book would not have turned out as complete an account. I laughed out loud throughout her diary entries, from the banter back and forth with her new friends, husband, and strangers, and picturing the unique situations she got herself into. There is very little self-reflection that you find in most biographies, but Taitai, as I’ve come to know her, has her own way of saying exactly what she was thinking at the moment, and has no shyness of sharing it. Tell-all stories are shared of her family when she was a child, her grown children, and her husband only eating 16 things and not understanding any Chinese. Sharon’s life in Shanghai, and visiting surrounding cities, is filled with food, spending money, and laughing. It seems like a dream, but I am happy that all of it really happened, and that she shared it with us.
March 20, 2014
I've always wondered what It would be like to visit China. Really sink my teeth into it and have a good visit. I've never had the finances to make this a reality. I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I didn't immediately fall in love with the book after the first couple of pages. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't a peak into the journal of someone living in China for two years. I think I had been expecting a story. Frankly, I'm really glad that ISN'T what Sharon wrote.
I really loved this memoir. The journal style of writing really grew on me. I was able to put myself in Sharon's shoes. Honestly, every day of any persons life on the planet doesn't involve a grand story. This book is more about the every day interactions of an American with the people in China. Sharon is fearless. She is willing to try most anything (I would have fainted at the site of the Cutted Chicken) and really makes an effort to connect, engage with the people, and immerse herself into Chinese Culture. After reading it I have a new understanding of how life is in China.
I found Sharon to be funny, fearless, and fascinating. She's definitely someone I'd love to spend some time with. If you are interesting on what it would be like to live in China, read this!
I didn't immediately fall in love with the book after the first couple of pages. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't a peak into the journal of someone living in China for two years. I think I had been expecting a story. Frankly, I'm really glad that ISN'T what Sharon wrote.
I really loved this memoir. The journal style of writing really grew on me. I was able to put myself in Sharon's shoes. Honestly, every day of any persons life on the planet doesn't involve a grand story. This book is more about the every day interactions of an American with the people in China. Sharon is fearless. She is willing to try most anything (I would have fainted at the site of the Cutted Chicken) and really makes an effort to connect, engage with the people, and immerse herself into Chinese Culture. After reading it I have a new understanding of how life is in China.
I found Sharon to be funny, fearless, and fascinating. She's definitely someone I'd love to spend some time with. If you are interesting on what it would be like to live in China, read this!
April 15, 2014
I don't often read memoirs because they don't typically interest me that much (but I'm a huge Sci-Fi and Fantasy fan, so I tend to like my books to be a lot more imaginary.) I was completely captivated by this book though (maybe partially because I'm an American living in a foreign country, so I could relate to that aspect of the book.) I enjoyed how most of the entries were short and to the point, but the ones that weren't would have certainly disappointed me had they been shorter because they were more in depth stories. I loved shopping with Martin, although I'm sure I would actually really hate shopping with Martin if I had to do it.
After reading this book, I feel like I might actually have a grasp on many Chinese customs that are so different from our own. I also really want to go to China and eat real Chinese food, fortunately I know my husband would join me, because unlike Martin, he doesn't have an approved food list :) Many of the stories that Sharon shared made me laugh, some made me cry, and a few made me think of my Grandpa Hill, who was a very ornery man, much like Sharon's Rascal.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes memoirs or China.
Copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
After reading this book, I feel like I might actually have a grasp on many Chinese customs that are so different from our own. I also really want to go to China and eat real Chinese food, fortunately I know my husband would join me, because unlike Martin, he doesn't have an approved food list :) Many of the stories that Sharon shared made me laugh, some made me cry, and a few made me think of my Grandpa Hill, who was a very ornery man, much like Sharon's Rascal.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes memoirs or China.
Copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2014
Sharon Winters provides a unique look at life in Shanghai as it transformed from a sleepy big city to a booming metropolis. She and her husband live there for two years at the end of the 1990s. She sprinkles a little back story that informs the reader about her grown kids back in the US and and how her marriage to Martin is her second. Sharon bonds with her two drivers and her Mandarin teacher. She travels not only around Shanghai, but also to Suzhou and other somewhat nearby cities.
This book reminds me of a friend of a friend I met in Hong Kong while I lived there in the late '90s. We met for dinner one night at a popular restaurant. When I asked how she was adapting to Hong Kong, she rattled off all the out-of-the-way areas she had already visited and the many more she planned to see in the weeks and months to come. I was so impressed that she jumped into her new life in Hong Kong with abandon. This is how Sharon Winters approached Shanghai.
This book is written in journal format and shows her in-depth knowledge of Chinese culture and language. Her book serves as a reminder of what it used to be like before the cars and glitz overtook the city.
This book reminds me of a friend of a friend I met in Hong Kong while I lived there in the late '90s. We met for dinner one night at a popular restaurant. When I asked how she was adapting to Hong Kong, she rattled off all the out-of-the-way areas she had already visited and the many more she planned to see in the weeks and months to come. I was so impressed that she jumped into her new life in Hong Kong with abandon. This is how Sharon Winters approached Shanghai.
This book is written in journal format and shows her in-depth knowledge of Chinese culture and language. Her book serves as a reminder of what it used to be like before the cars and glitz overtook the city.
April 29, 2014
Wonderful!! Put your feet up, order Chinese take-out and get your chopsticks ready. You'll find the author's adventures in Shanghai just as savory as soy sauce. Ride with her in bustling Chinese traffic as she becomes acquainted with her new city!
The author's diary-style writing reveals many contrasts between American and Chinese cultures. The reader is ultimately drawn into Ms. Winter's struggles with learning to speak and write Mandarin Chinese. She is now living in a place where "you are welcome" becomes "don't be so polite." The author brilliantly handles culture shock. Helpers who refuse to accept gratuities are a delicate dance of repeated offerings until they acquiesce. Crossing the street in front of her apartment building becomes a terrifying game of Frogger. Shopping for pearls is like opening a pirate's treasure box...there are so many beautiful jewels and so reasonably priced.
Your fortune cookie says "Order this book and you will have good time reading this story!" Highly Recommended to Everyone! :)
The author's diary-style writing reveals many contrasts between American and Chinese cultures. The reader is ultimately drawn into Ms. Winter's struggles with learning to speak and write Mandarin Chinese. She is now living in a place where "you are welcome" becomes "don't be so polite." The author brilliantly handles culture shock. Helpers who refuse to accept gratuities are a delicate dance of repeated offerings until they acquiesce. Crossing the street in front of her apartment building becomes a terrifying game of Frogger. Shopping for pearls is like opening a pirate's treasure box...there are so many beautiful jewels and so reasonably priced.
Your fortune cookie says "Order this book and you will have good time reading this story!" Highly Recommended to Everyone! :)
March 20, 2014
I was given a copy of the book by the author.
At first I was thrown off by the short diary/journal style entires as I am used to a continuing story, but grew to appreciate the entries as it was easy to pick up and read something in any amount of time you have.
The book tells the life of an American women in China, when her husband is transferred to Shanghai for two years, Sharon accompanies him and seizes the experience. Studying Mandarin, shopping and entertaining her driver, the book tells the story of an expat in China. Through both touching stories and funny anecdotes, you get the feel of the real China. While embracing the diversity and realizing people are the same at heart no matter where you are.
It was interesting to see how different the experience is for Sharon and her husband as he continued to eat KFC and McDonalds while speaking English and she embraced all that came her way.
A great glimpse into the China most Americans will never see.
At first I was thrown off by the short diary/journal style entires as I am used to a continuing story, but grew to appreciate the entries as it was easy to pick up and read something in any amount of time you have.
The book tells the life of an American women in China, when her husband is transferred to Shanghai for two years, Sharon accompanies him and seizes the experience. Studying Mandarin, shopping and entertaining her driver, the book tells the story of an expat in China. Through both touching stories and funny anecdotes, you get the feel of the real China. While embracing the diversity and realizing people are the same at heart no matter where you are.
It was interesting to see how different the experience is for Sharon and her husband as he continued to eat KFC and McDonalds while speaking English and she embraced all that came her way.
A great glimpse into the China most Americans will never see.
September 3, 2016
Since childhood I have been drawn to autobiographies and memoirs. So this book was a perfect read. I found myself smiling and even laughing out loud as Sharon shared her hilarious adventures as an American navigating her way through China and the Chinese culture in the late 1990's. I enjoyed not only her journal style of writing/storytelling, but also her humorous and touching stories about her own family. I learned a lot about the long history of China. I learned about the art of shopping, especially for pearls and artwork; as well as dining out with menus only in Chinese. It was amazing how protective and helpful Sharon's and Martin's assigned drivers were in making their two year experience so positive. It was a delightful book! Family and friends are anxiously waiting to read my copy of Sharon's book. Plus I plan to give copies as gifts!
April 5, 2014
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book for an honest review.
Honestly? I loved this book. It is a very quick read. The chapters although short keeps moving.
The book is written as if I am reading someone's personal journal which makes you feel like you are hearing about the author's thoughts and her day.
If you are looking for insight into how the Chinese think, or their politics or history, then this is not the book for you.
If however you wonder what it would be like to move to a country with minimal language skills and how you would blend in with your community then this IS the book for you.
I loved reading about the idiosyncrasy of their manners and etiquette rules. Example: do not be so polite.
Honestly? I loved this book. It is a very quick read. The chapters although short keeps moving.
The book is written as if I am reading someone's personal journal which makes you feel like you are hearing about the author's thoughts and her day.
If you are looking for insight into how the Chinese think, or their politics or history, then this is not the book for you.
If however you wonder what it would be like to move to a country with minimal language skills and how you would blend in with your community then this IS the book for you.
I loved reading about the idiosyncrasy of their manners and etiquette rules. Example: do not be so polite.
August 12, 2016
The first thing that attracted me to this book was the title. I thought, "this is probably a fun book". I was right! Written is a journal style, this is the story of the author's two years in Shanghai. It is a quick and entertaining read. This book is not only fun and funny but very informative. Anyone was has lived in a mostly non-English speaking country with a culture extremely different from ours in the US - or who would like to, will enjoy this book. Full of funny anecdotes as well as some stories of the authors past history, Cutted Chicken in Shanghai is a great read. I think the author, Sharon Winters, should write a sequel since this book was written from her experiences in 1997-98 and give us an updated look at living in Shanghai!
February 24, 2014
The author gave me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, so here goes . . .
What happens when the language-challenged, non-Chinese-food-eating husband of an American Buddhist with an interest in Chinese language and history gets transferred to Shanghai? This book! The author shares her diary of two years in China, her struggles with the language, her new-found love of shopping, and her friendships with some of the locals. The book doesn't contain any great, new wisdom about the Chinese culture, but is instead filled with the small, fun details that can only be picked up by living there - a fun, easy read especially good for those interested in the Chinese language and wondering what it would really be like to live there.
What happens when the language-challenged, non-Chinese-food-eating husband of an American Buddhist with an interest in Chinese language and history gets transferred to Shanghai? This book! The author shares her diary of two years in China, her struggles with the language, her new-found love of shopping, and her friendships with some of the locals. The book doesn't contain any great, new wisdom about the Chinese culture, but is instead filled with the small, fun details that can only be picked up by living there - a fun, easy read especially good for those interested in the Chinese language and wondering what it would really be like to live there.
March 10, 2014
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book through Goodreads giveaways. It did not disappoint and I did not want it to end! I have read a lot of books about peoples travels around the World, Cutted Chicken in Shanghai has become my favorite. It was funny, touching and informative. By the end I fell in love with Jin and Stella, two of the author's close friends. I really enjoyed the author's clear love and respect for China and the people. I also appreciate that the author shared her personal photos of her friends and adventures.
I will definitely read this more than once. It is a great read, and one I will go to when I want some adventure and a good laugh. I will be recommending this to family and friends!
I will definitely read this more than once. It is a great read, and one I will go to when I want some adventure and a good laugh. I will be recommending this to family and friends!
July 21, 2014
I didn't win this book on Goodreads.com. I got it from the author herself. I have to say this book was awesome. I laughed a lot while reading it. I loved reading about Sharon Winters life in and around Shanghai, China for the two years that she was there. I think that she had the kind of experience that I wanted to have when I lived in Japan for two years. She had an advantage though. She had two wonderful drivers, made wonderful friends, and could speak and write the language. When I finished the book, it was with a sigh because I didn't want the book to be over. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves entertaining memoirs and this one was very entertaining!! :o)
April 18, 2014
The author gave me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The book is presented diary style - it may have actually have been her diary - and that takes some getting used to. Many of the anecdotes meander a bit - ending up... nowhere. But that it part of the charm of the book. Once you get used to the idea that you (the reader) are just on the journey with her as an expat in Shanghai, you can relax and start to enjoy it. A good book for learning a little about Chinese customs, food, and shopping. I enjoyed reading it.
The book is presented diary style - it may have actually have been her diary - and that takes some getting used to. Many of the anecdotes meander a bit - ending up... nowhere. But that it part of the charm of the book. Once you get used to the idea that you (the reader) are just on the journey with her as an expat in Shanghai, you can relax and start to enjoy it. A good book for learning a little about Chinese customs, food, and shopping. I enjoyed reading it.
February 16, 2014
Sharon Winters has written a five-star book that addresses many of the differences between Chinese and American cultures with humor and warm personal insights. Her short, simple stories help the reader understand and appreciate the very complex differences between her new life in China and her life in America while providing a wealth of practical information that fellow travelers to China will find useful. Finally, her sense of humor pervades the book and the laughs just keep coming. This is a fun and enlightening book that I enjoyed reading.
February 18, 2014
An American woman's experience living is Shanghai, this book is fun and entertaining. Written as a journal the short chapters help to make it an easy read. Sharon's larger than life personality give us a unique view of the Chinese and their sense of humor. She seemed to bring out the "funny" in everyone she meets and she herself finds the humor in situations where some people would not.
I enjoy reading about other cultures and how Americans get by in other countries. This book delivered everything I wanted in such a book.
I enjoy reading about other cultures and how Americans get by in other countries. This book delivered everything I wanted in such a book.
March 14, 2014
Cutted Chicken in Shanghai is an adventurous journey of an American woman's transition to life in Shanghai after her husband is transferred for work. Sharon's journal is entertaining and informative, humorous and original. Each page has something new about the traveler, the culture, or the language in Shanghai. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun read that illuminates another culture through through the eyes of an American traveler. This book is insightful and captures the reader from the first page. It is officially on my list of books to read again.
March 11, 2014
LOVED it! Although memoirs are not my usual preference, reading Sharon's captivating and heart-warming portrayals of adventures living in a new country, adapting to the lifestyle, dealing with language barriers, building lasting friendships, and exploring the culture and it's treasures was a truly exceptional experience. Can't wait to read it....all over again!!
February 24, 2014
Loved this book. I have always wanted to go to China, now I feel I amost did.
This book was a lot of fun and interesting. I love books about other cultures and learning new things about the people and their countries.
I hope there will be more adventures by Sharon Winters in the near future
This book was a lot of fun and interesting. I love books about other cultures and learning new things about the people and their countries.
I hope there will be more adventures by Sharon Winters in the near future
February 27, 2014
Excellent! This author is new to me and I found her book to be very well written. I enjoyed every chapter and I think you will too!
May 7, 2014
Great book. Took a little while to get used to the style of story-telling, but once you do, the stories told of the author's travels are quite marvelous.
May 18, 2014
I won a copy of this book on GoodReads in exchange for reviewing it. This was a great, fun read - Sharon has a great sense of humor and insight into Chinese culture from an outsider's perspective.
January 26, 2023
This book is such a delight!!! Thank you, thank you, to my friend and neighbor who so kindly shared this book with me. I expected to learn a lot about China and living in Shanghai by reading this book. I did not expect to become so wonderfully well acquainted with Sharon Winters, the author! The book is written in journal style and the candor and personal nature of it caused me to fall in love with Sharon as well as Shanghai.
The book clips right along. The writing itself is clipped and most remarkable. It is as though Winters wrote in Chinese and then translated it word for word into English! It made me feel fully immersed in her adventures and antics! Her characters are such a joy! Making me want to go there and meet them!
I lived in the Philippines for a couple of years. There I met many Chinese people and those associations made me long to visit China. The country was not accessible to foreigners 52 years ago. On my way home I went to Hong Kong, loved it and it’s people as well. Departing from Hong Kong, I found myself wishing we’d be hijacked into China, where I imagined myself living out the rest of my days! Of course that never happened. Just a few years ago, though, I found myself driving tour bus loads of Chinese people from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I came, once again to love those, kind, thoughtful, hospitable, bright, funny, orderly, charming people! I grew especially close to the Tour Guides and Trip Leaders as most of them spoke English, but even the tourists themselves were warm and friendly! One of my favorite moments on each tour came when we had climbed from Swan Valley,Idaho to the Summit of Teton pass. As the bus rounded a corner to the summit to behold the beautiful Jackson Hole laid out far below, the whole bus would exclaim, “Whaaaaaa!”
For me Sharon’s book was chock full of Whaaaaaa! moments! It was a joyous ride through her memories and experiences. Like the Chinese themselves, I found Sharon Winters’ book to be kind, thoughtful, hospitable, bright, funny, orderly and utterly charming!
The book clips right along. The writing itself is clipped and most remarkable. It is as though Winters wrote in Chinese and then translated it word for word into English! It made me feel fully immersed in her adventures and antics! Her characters are such a joy! Making me want to go there and meet them!
I lived in the Philippines for a couple of years. There I met many Chinese people and those associations made me long to visit China. The country was not accessible to foreigners 52 years ago. On my way home I went to Hong Kong, loved it and it’s people as well. Departing from Hong Kong, I found myself wishing we’d be hijacked into China, where I imagined myself living out the rest of my days! Of course that never happened. Just a few years ago, though, I found myself driving tour bus loads of Chinese people from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I came, once again to love those, kind, thoughtful, hospitable, bright, funny, orderly, charming people! I grew especially close to the Tour Guides and Trip Leaders as most of them spoke English, but even the tourists themselves were warm and friendly! One of my favorite moments on each tour came when we had climbed from Swan Valley,Idaho to the Summit of Teton pass. As the bus rounded a corner to the summit to behold the beautiful Jackson Hole laid out far below, the whole bus would exclaim, “Whaaaaaa!”
For me Sharon’s book was chock full of Whaaaaaa! moments! It was a joyous ride through her memories and experiences. Like the Chinese themselves, I found Sharon Winters’ book to be kind, thoughtful, hospitable, bright, funny, orderly and utterly charming!
March 6, 2014
I won read this book through First Reads! I started reading it last night and will finish it this evening. I will add a review soon.
UPDATE: Finished reading it. Working on a review.
UPDATE: Here's the review:
I enjoy travel memoirs, especially when the travel happens in countries I will probably never visit, like China, so I was very excited to win Cutted Chicken in Shanghai from a First Reads drawing. I was a little disappointed when I started reading and found the author is nothing like me. Well, ok, we are both “white” American women, both educated, both writers. Unlike me, Sharon Winters is married to a man whose job took them both to China in the mid-90s. Also, it quickly becomes apparent that Winters and her husband have a lot more money than I’ve ever had. I don’t know if Winters would call herself rich, but she sure seems rich to me. (Some examples: Winters loves to shop and most of her adventures recounted in this book center around shopping. She buys over 150 paintings during her two years living in Shanghai. She also buys countless pearls; at one shop in Beijing, she buys 15 pounds of pearls in one day! Most telling is where she and her husband live. The two of them inhabit a four bedroom, four bath apartment for which the rent is $6300 per month! [Winters is quick to point out that “this price does include the furniture rental.”])
At the beginning of the book, I thought I was getting the “adventures” of a rich, pampered lady, and I didn’t think I was going to enjoy that very much. I kept reading, though, and by the middle of the book, I was charmed.
The aspect of Winters I most admire is her desire to communicate in Mandarin, a notoriously difficult language to learn. She starts studying the language before she leaves the US, and continues her studies as a student at Fudan University in Shanghai. Most importantly, she speaks Mandarin every chance she gets. She speaks to her driver in Mandarin and gets him to correct her homework before class every day. (She also helps him with his English, including teaching him the term “SOL” without telling him what it means). Chinese people are constantly surprised (and usually charmed) when Winters speaks to them in their own language. Sure, she makes mistakes. (Once she addressed her language teacher as “rat” instead of “professor,” then humorously writes, “[f]ortunately, I also know how to say [in Mandarin], “Oh, I’m sorry.”) But she doesn’t let her mistakes stop her from trying again (and again and again), and I highly respect her determination and perseverance.
Yet, some of Winters’ experiences in China perplex me. She is terrified to cross streets because of the thick traffic and lack of crosswalks, so she always gets someone (friend or stranger) to walk her across while she keeps her eyes closed. After two years she still has no idea how to cross a city street, and I want to shout at her to grow the fuck up!
She has a driver, provided by her husband’s company, and she seems to go nowhere without him. She explains, “Because a car accident in Shanghai could cost a company millions of dollars, the company [her husband] worked for assigned drivers to all US employees and their spouses.” It is unclear if Winters is even allowed to go anywhere without her driver. The first of only two times she leaves her apartment alone (yes, at two o’clock in the morning, but only to walk one block to buy an ice cream bar at a kiosk), the night guard at her apartment building narcs her out to her driver, who is very mad at her and tells her she should never go out alone at night. She chalks this up to “the protective instinct men have where women are concerned,” but I wonder if the driver was worried about losing his job or having to answer to some governmental force if Winters had been harmed in some way.
Winters does seem to genuinely like her driver; she calls him her friend and writes that they kept in touch after her return to the US, but I can’t help but think that if I were living in Shanghai, I would have wanted to ditch my driver at least some of the time in order to have adventures on my own. If Westerners were simply not allowed to wander off alone during that time period, I wish Winters had just come out and said that. Otherwise, she looks to me like a bit of a ninny too scared to even take a walk alone.
As I said, Winters shops a lot, and she’s not afraid to negotiate with merchants to get what she considers a good price. I’m always skeptical of Westerners who want to haggle to get even lower prices on what seem like bargains to me. Yet Winters shows herself to be a really sweet person and not a cheap American by her interactions with a “nearly blind old woman” who sells string at a flea market. On several occasions, Winters addresses her with the respectful form of hello, then proceeds to buy all her string at ten times the asking price with no bargaining at all! Winters writes, “Do I feel sorry for her? No. I admire her greatly, and when I hold her string in my hand, I see her face and whisper to myself—a great woman held this string before me.”
Some parts of this book seem to be filler. Winters tells stories about her children, her childhood, and her family history. None of these stories have a lot to do with Winters’ life in Shanghai. Many passages read like a holiday newsletter sent out to family and friends to show them how cheerful and chipper Winters is in the face of this whole new world that is China. I'd rather hear more about the gritty side of China (such as the memorial dedicated to the massacre of over three hundred thousand Chinese civilians killed by the Japanese Imperialist Army in 1937 and having to meet the seafood before eating it at many restaurants.)
All in all, I did enjoy reading this book and learning about one woman and her time in China. I guess I can learn some things from a rich lady too scared to cross the street.
UPDATE: Finished reading it. Working on a review.
UPDATE: Here's the review:
I enjoy travel memoirs, especially when the travel happens in countries I will probably never visit, like China, so I was very excited to win Cutted Chicken in Shanghai from a First Reads drawing. I was a little disappointed when I started reading and found the author is nothing like me. Well, ok, we are both “white” American women, both educated, both writers. Unlike me, Sharon Winters is married to a man whose job took them both to China in the mid-90s. Also, it quickly becomes apparent that Winters and her husband have a lot more money than I’ve ever had. I don’t know if Winters would call herself rich, but she sure seems rich to me. (Some examples: Winters loves to shop and most of her adventures recounted in this book center around shopping. She buys over 150 paintings during her two years living in Shanghai. She also buys countless pearls; at one shop in Beijing, she buys 15 pounds of pearls in one day! Most telling is where she and her husband live. The two of them inhabit a four bedroom, four bath apartment for which the rent is $6300 per month! [Winters is quick to point out that “this price does include the furniture rental.”])
At the beginning of the book, I thought I was getting the “adventures” of a rich, pampered lady, and I didn’t think I was going to enjoy that very much. I kept reading, though, and by the middle of the book, I was charmed.
The aspect of Winters I most admire is her desire to communicate in Mandarin, a notoriously difficult language to learn. She starts studying the language before she leaves the US, and continues her studies as a student at Fudan University in Shanghai. Most importantly, she speaks Mandarin every chance she gets. She speaks to her driver in Mandarin and gets him to correct her homework before class every day. (She also helps him with his English, including teaching him the term “SOL” without telling him what it means). Chinese people are constantly surprised (and usually charmed) when Winters speaks to them in their own language. Sure, she makes mistakes. (Once she addressed her language teacher as “rat” instead of “professor,” then humorously writes, “[f]ortunately, I also know how to say [in Mandarin], “Oh, I’m sorry.”) But she doesn’t let her mistakes stop her from trying again (and again and again), and I highly respect her determination and perseverance.
Yet, some of Winters’ experiences in China perplex me. She is terrified to cross streets because of the thick traffic and lack of crosswalks, so she always gets someone (friend or stranger) to walk her across while she keeps her eyes closed. After two years she still has no idea how to cross a city street, and I want to shout at her to grow the fuck up!
She has a driver, provided by her husband’s company, and she seems to go nowhere without him. She explains, “Because a car accident in Shanghai could cost a company millions of dollars, the company [her husband] worked for assigned drivers to all US employees and their spouses.” It is unclear if Winters is even allowed to go anywhere without her driver. The first of only two times she leaves her apartment alone (yes, at two o’clock in the morning, but only to walk one block to buy an ice cream bar at a kiosk), the night guard at her apartment building narcs her out to her driver, who is very mad at her and tells her she should never go out alone at night. She chalks this up to “the protective instinct men have where women are concerned,” but I wonder if the driver was worried about losing his job or having to answer to some governmental force if Winters had been harmed in some way.
Winters does seem to genuinely like her driver; she calls him her friend and writes that they kept in touch after her return to the US, but I can’t help but think that if I were living in Shanghai, I would have wanted to ditch my driver at least some of the time in order to have adventures on my own. If Westerners were simply not allowed to wander off alone during that time period, I wish Winters had just come out and said that. Otherwise, she looks to me like a bit of a ninny too scared to even take a walk alone.
As I said, Winters shops a lot, and she’s not afraid to negotiate with merchants to get what she considers a good price. I’m always skeptical of Westerners who want to haggle to get even lower prices on what seem like bargains to me. Yet Winters shows herself to be a really sweet person and not a cheap American by her interactions with a “nearly blind old woman” who sells string at a flea market. On several occasions, Winters addresses her with the respectful form of hello, then proceeds to buy all her string at ten times the asking price with no bargaining at all! Winters writes, “Do I feel sorry for her? No. I admire her greatly, and when I hold her string in my hand, I see her face and whisper to myself—a great woman held this string before me.”
Some parts of this book seem to be filler. Winters tells stories about her children, her childhood, and her family history. None of these stories have a lot to do with Winters’ life in Shanghai. Many passages read like a holiday newsletter sent out to family and friends to show them how cheerful and chipper Winters is in the face of this whole new world that is China. I'd rather hear more about the gritty side of China (such as the memorial dedicated to the massacre of over three hundred thousand Chinese civilians killed by the Japanese Imperialist Army in 1937 and having to meet the seafood before eating it at many restaurants.)
All in all, I did enjoy reading this book and learning about one woman and her time in China. I guess I can learn some things from a rich lady too scared to cross the street.
August 17, 2025
Our book club just added Cutted Chicken in Shanghai to our upcoming list, and the concept already has us intrigued. Sharon Winters’ title alone sparks curiosity, and we’re excited to dive into what looks like a unique and layered story.
August 27, 2025
Sharon Winters' story sounds both hilarious and touching. The idea of exploring daily life in Shanghai through her eyes (and her non-English-speaking driver!) sounds like a charming and unique perspective. This is going to spark some great discussion in our expat-themed book club!
August 27, 2025
A quirky, thoughtful read that blends humor, culture, and everyday life in Shanghai. The city feels alive on the page, and the mix of food, identity, and reflection makes it both entertaining and meaningful.
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