Beijing Tai Tai

Beijing Tai Tai is a collection of witty observations on Beijing expat life, from a mother, wife and woman intent on capturing her love-hate affair with China. Intensely personal, at times a little controversial, it's a rollercoaster ride of honesty and openness as a mother and wife (tai tai) juggles suburban family life in urban Beijing. Presented in a series of column-like snippets – on topics ranging from the consumption of bull testicles to the life-altering experience of walking the Great Wall – it talks of both the challenging lows and intense highs of expat life in a country on the brink of great change.

It's a book about bad hair and silk markets as much as it is about China's quest to stay true to its ancient origins, while the world sucks this complicated country headlong into the future. Beijing Tai Tai is a book for anyone keen to learn more about this diverse and culturally rich country. It's for anyone, from anywhere, who knows what it's like to fall in love, explore new worlds and live with challenges. Both funny and deeply sad, its content epitomises the dichotomy that typifies China.

About the Author

Tania McCartney is an Australian author of children's books and adult non-fiction. She is an experienced magazine writer and editor, is the founder of respected literary site Kids Book Review and writes for several online websites. She has lived and worked in London, Paris and Beijing, and currently resides in Canberra with a husband, two kids and a mountain of books.