Book. Man has to leave his family, promises to send a photo of himself when he arrives (if he's standing in photo, he's doing well).

[Lejla]

I have read about the book but I can't recall the name: A man has to leave his family, which they are not happy about. He promises to send them a card with a photo of himself when he arrives. If he stands up in the photo, he is doing well, if he is sitting down, he is not doing so well. In the photo that the family receives, he is lying down.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

It is mandatory to include genre and plot details in your topic header, as per the Group Rules.

We will close threads that don't adhere to this requirement.

[Kris]

Lejla, what's the genre (which we need to add to the header/ topic title) - e.g., adult fiction or non-fiction, mystery, thriller, contemporary or historical, etc.?

Around what year did you read this book?

Can you tell us more about the man - e.g., his job, why he had to leave his family, where was he going, his hometown, etc.?

[Samantha]

Red Scarf Girl

[Lejla]

I really don’t know anything else. I saw the description of the book on Facebook but forgot to save the post. Afterwards I couldn’t find it again. Don’t know the genre or year it was written, unfortunately.

[Lejla]

Not Red scarf girl

[Lejla]

Kris wrote: "Lejla, what's the genre (which we need to add to the header/ topic title) - e.g., adult fiction or non-fiction, mystery, thriller, contemporary or historical, etc.?

Around what year did you read t..."
I really don’t know anything else. I saw the description of the book on Facebook but forgot to save the post. Afterwards I couldn’t find it again. Don’t know the genre or year it was written, unfortunately.

[Juels]

Are you sure it is not Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang? If it isn't the correct book, maybe something by playwright David Henry Hwang ?

This is from the foreword of Red Scarf Girl written by David Henry Hwang:

"When I was a small boy, my grandmother told me about a distant uncle who was living in China during the Cultural Revolution. He promised to send a picture of himself to his relatives in America. If conditions were good, he said, he would be standing. If they were bad, he would be sitting. In the photo he sent us, my grandmother whispered, he was lying down!"


This same quote has been used in other books such as Feather in the Storm: A Childhood Lost in Chaos by Emily Wu. I'll keep my eye out for more.

Hwang also used this same photo thing in Dance the Railroad and Family Devotions: Two Plays, see the play Family Devotions, Act 1.

[Lejla]

Juels wrote: "Are you sure it is not Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang? If it isn't the correct book, maybe something by playwright David Henry Hwang ?

This is from the ..."

Thank you for info, it sounds like a legend that has its roots in Chinese culture in America, since it is used in several books.

[Juels]

I don't know I'd consider it a legend since Hwang relates it as something that actually occurred in his family. If someone else used it, they may have given credit to Hwang. I hope this helps you find it.