Customer Reviews

Running with the Tiger: A Memoir of an Extraordinary Young Woman's Life in Hong Kong, China, The South Pacific and POW Camp

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This well written memoir brings the reader into the fascinating, adventurous and challenging youth of a woman who was way ahead of her times in terms of her independent and adventurous spirit before and during WWII. The fact that she somehow retained her diaries throughout her early life and even during her imprisonment is astounding and enables her to share her personal perspective throughout these times. This, coupled with well researched facts establishing an accurate historical setting, gives the reader insight which could never be gleaned from a history book. I finished the book in awe of Ansie's zeal for life and inspired by her extraordinary ability to face the most challenging of circumstances with pragmatism and dauntless strength.
Running with the Tiger: A Memoir of an Extraordinary Young Woman's Life in Hong Kong, China, The South Pacific and POW Camp

History is so interesting and exciting when you hear it in the voice of someone who lived it. I especially loved the very first chapter with story of "Aunt" Li whose remains were found fully in tact with 138 melon seeds in her internal organs after 2000 years!!! As with any good book I read, it makes me interested to learn more. This book sent me to google many times seeking more information--googling "Hunan Provincial Museum" got pictures of auntie Li in the museum. Yet those sources, rarely include the intimate details woven into this book: like their hobby of growing silk worms to make silk for their clothes, the "honey carts" effect on dating life in Hong Kong; from traveling to England: experiencing the meaning of the word posh, the joys of a hully gully man, the lamplighter and Ansie's joy of learning in England; the delights and challenges of living and traveling in the South Pacific: the surprising hot shower with solar heated water, learning to boil clothes and ride a bicycle, and the delight of rhubarb for dessert; the many details of living as a prisoner of war: the rationing of toilet paper, bed bugs in your belt, amoebic dysentery and hospital care, ants and a typhoon, mixed with the joy of creating delicious food from scavenged bits and pieces cooked using charcoal made from coconut shells, the satisfaction of designing and building a shanty for herself and Donald, bookbinding, entertainment, drawing and art shows and of course the dramatic details of amphibious tank rescue from the prisoner of war camp. So much in just 263 pages which includes maps of her travels, pictures, documents and her own sketches from the prisoner of war camp--the detail in the hospital picture is incredible: she included not only the fly swatter, but the fly too. Ansie Lee Sperry clearly exemplifies her "tiger" sign (born in 1914) in her adventures overcoming many obstacles with creative solutions--a true tiger. It was a delight to read "Running with the Tiger".

I recently have been reading a lot of history about the period covered by Ansie Sperry's life, including biographies of McArthur, Churchill, Nimitz and Chiang Kai-Shek. I thought Running with the Tiger would provide interesting background to my "main" reading, and it has - but it is so much more. Told by the person who lived it in a wry and humorous, yet substantive and serious fashion, Ms. Sperry's life comes across as much more interesting - and certainly more real - than the main figures one normally encounters in this period of history. If you're interested in Asia and the South Pacific in the 20th Century, you should read this book. But even more, if you want to know a genuinely fascinating woman, you have to read this book. Running with the Tiger is a greatly satisfying read in every respect.

Well-written, moving and informative, this memoir reads like a Hollywood movie script! Ansie lived through one of the most tumultuous times in human history and we are blessed to be able to relive and learn from her experiences through this book. Casual readers will be entertained by Ansie's intrepid spirit and history buffs will not be disappointed with the detailed and accurate narrataive. Truly an amazing story from an incredible woman!

I can not remember any book at any time that has given me more pleasure. It isn't only the delight in meeting and growing to love the young Ansie - It's also the awe inspired by her travels in the midst of a war, followed by her inventiveness in handling life in a prison camp. This story is told so well, it answers the many questions we, her friends, have had for many years about how she survived, but didn't feel right about asking. For me, personally, it was a joy to have life in Hong Kong before the war brought to life, because it was here I lived MY life. I was 21 when I left Washington in 1950 on a long flight to Hong Kong. I met my husband there. I had my children there. I made wonderful, life-long friends there. I grew to middle-age there, and loved every single moment of the thirty years. The years before were prologue. The years after are epilogue. This book, so wonderfully written, has brought it all back in an emotional rush, and I am very grateful. Peg Bordwell

Ansie Lee Sperry's "Running with the Tiger" is a compelling and heartwarming book which I will read again and again, and will treasure in my library forever !!

Ansie Lee Sperry displayed her warm, caring, giving and loving personality; educational knowledge; charm and unsung bravery in conveying her wartime memoirs.

I enjoyed "Running with the Tiger" so much, that I was disappointed that the book ended so soon. I yearned to learn more about such a strong and heroic young lady, one who was willing to give up such a comfortable and safe life. I admired Ansie as she followed her heart and passion, giving her life purpose and meaning by unselfishly helping and compassionately serving others. I was so inspired and intrigued with Ansie and the Lee family, yearning for more... like awaiting a sequel or prequel to a fantastic movie, that I had to immediately do further research on the Lee Hysan Family via the internet.

To my surprise, I learned about Ansie's humbleness as Ansie never boasted about her wealthy, prestigious and philanthropic family, stemming from Ansie's Grandfather, to her own Father Lee Hysan, and even to the present time.

Furthermore, Ansie's humbleness was again displayed by not once writing about her bravery and courage in her decision to voluntarily serve in the war efforts, and never conveyed any negativity for all Ansie endured and experienced in the internment camp, as well as her many bouts of near death experiences whilst on the sailboat in the South Pacific.

I Thank Ansie Lee for sharing her inspiring memoirs, and for writing such a compelling book that teaches us to Give; to Serve; to Care; to know the true meaning of Loving Mankind; to be Humble; to truly be Dedicated in one's work; Bravery and Courage. I certainly admired Ansie's Strength and Independance...a quality of a young lady before her time.

One day, it would be a great honor and pleasure to meet and shake the hands of such a wonderful woman, Ansie Lee Sperry.

Remember, it's not the years in your life, but rather, the LIFE IN YOUR YEARS that count. Ansie Lee Sperry is living this axiom to it's fullest. HAPPY 95th BIRTHDAY ANSIE !!

I started reading this book because I had met Ansie and her husband and their children when I was a little girl in Hong Kong and again on a family visit with the Sperrys in the Berkshires; I kept reading the book because I was enthralled by the story of a woman's life fully and gracefully lived. The stories of the resourcefulness of Ansie and her friends in prison camp bring me to tears - her account is told with restraint leaving one's knowledge of history to fill in more fully the hardships that she endured. Her curiousity, love of learning, and courage saw her through and are among the reasons we all admire her.

Happy Birthday.

Kathleen Hall
(daughter of Jack (Pan Am) and Jimmie (painter and painting teacher) Hall
Phoenix, AZ

THIS MARVELOUS AUTOBIOGRAPHY MANAGES TO CAPTURE THE DIVERSITY OF THE AUTHOR'S EXTRAORDINARY LIFE IN A STYLE THAT REFLECTS THE SPECIAL ASPECTS OF HER NATURE. IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE SHE REMAINS CALM AND GRACIOUS, POSITIVE AND ADVENTUROUS. THIS IS A PERIOD OF HISTORY WHERE OPPORTUNITY WAS LIMITED FOR A YOUNG WOMAN IN CHINA BUT ANSIE PRESSED BEYOND THOSE LIMITATIONS TO EXPAND HER HORIZONS. IN THIS WRITING SHE INCLUDES JUST ENOUGH DETAIL TO PAINT A PICTURE AND ALLOWS HER SENSE OF HUMOR TO HELP HER THROUGH THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. THERE IS SO MUCH HISTORY TO BE LEARNED FROM HER STORY BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE WAR. I HAD HEARD MANY STORIES ABOUT THE 11TH AIRBORNE'S AMAZING RESCUE OF PRISONERS FROM LOS BANOS . HER MEMORY AS A YOUNG WOMAN BRINGS INTO FOCUS THE HORRORS OF TOTALLY INNOCENT CIVILIANS SUDDENLY BEING THROWN INTO A PRISON CAMP IN A WAR ZONE. ANSIE SPERRY, WITH EXCELLENT LITERARY SKILLL, HAS GIVEN US AN OUTSTANDING GIFT . HER BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT IS ALIVE IN THIS BOOK.

MRY PEARSON PAINE

Ansie Lee Sperry's wonderful spirit shines through her story as she lives a remarkable life in a time of great upheaval. She adapts to so many life changes, always keeping a bright mind, sense of humor and optimistic attitude. Learning about the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong through her eyes makes it come alive in a heart wrenching way. Her devotion to her family and friends makes this a very human and inspirational story. I pondered the contents of this book for weeks after reading it.

Ansie Lee Sperry has written the story of her life as a young woman--and it is a tale that is both captivating and humble. She writes with a novelist's instinct for what makes a great read and a historian's understanding of the big picture. She draws on her own journals from the time, giving readers an intimate look at life in a privileged Hong Kong home in the early 20th century, as a medical volunteer in rural China, as a WWII POW in the Philippines, and--significantly--as friend and assistant to some of the most influential people of the time, including Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, W.H. Donald, and General Joseph Stilwell. It is also a story filled with great intelligence and wry humor--the kind of book that makes you want to call the author your friend. It was a privilege for me to play a small role in the making of this book about the very inspiring Ansie Lee Sperry.