Wild Swans is the sort of book you can't read on a train without people telling you how good it is. If you're a bit of a poser, accept no substitutes.

It's also a fascinating journey through three generations of life in 20th Century China, during which the country transformed beyond all recognition. Jung Chang adds a human dimension to huge events such as the Great Leap Forward and, horribly, the Cultural Revolution. I don't think I could read it again, but it's an essential book.