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meg_teg's review against another edition
4.0
From the very first page, Adeline’s writing style drew me in. By the end of the first chapter, she had me deeply invested in her story. My heart clenched countless times with frustration, heartache, anger, and sorrow at the lifetime of betrayals and injustices she faced. Something about this book kept me riveted and thinking about the story constantly. The combo of rich detail and historical background and the blunt way she described her trauma created an immersive journey into her life as if I was there with her. And through it all, she remained determined to succeed in spite of her cruel family dynamic and abusive childhood.
evvaarose's review against another edition
5.0
oh this was incredible i remember reading this in year 8 and LOVING it (ty ms rombola) but when i read it again last year it was even better. i love books that i think about repeatedly for weeks on end until my focus gets overtaken by another book
goldenivygarden's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
3.5
emotional; riveting; haunting; but echoing many reviews here in saying i think it could have benefited from more reflection and introspection instead of ending so abruptly. in some parts it does feel more an exposé than a memoir. i also read her other memoir, chinese cinderella, which details her childhood life in more detail but is also written the same rather clinical way. i did still enjoy it though.
simsimmi's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazingly touching read! I enjoyed reading this multiple times and will probably readi it again soon. It's definitely made my favorite books list.
deathbyspreadsheet's review against another edition
3.0
I won't bother with a synopsis; that you can find anywhere. But I want to echo the other reviews here that although I enjoyed the cultural and historical insights, this book was almost entirely lacking in any connection between author and reader. I felt I was reading an interesting, skewed history, but not much more. It kept me interested enough in the storyline but left me cold. A timeline is presented, but all depth of character and emotion is lacking.
lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition
2.0
I guess I was disappointed in this memoir. While there is no doubt that what Adeline Yen Mah went through was awful and that she had great strength to overcome all that was placed against her, I feel there is something missing from the tone of the story itself. It is almost as if she wasn't truly emotionally invested in the writing she did. It doesn't seem like there is heart or soul behind it but instead just a recounting of history through the view of an unrelated source. I don't know, I guess I wished I liked this memoir more...
gadicohen93's review against another edition
1.0
Canceled midstream. Threw my arms up and surrendered. Such a horridly, tediously terse style packed with details that are so trivial as to make one's head pop. And yet such an intriguing plot.
I hate it when they hook you right in with some type of foreshadowing. It's the worst type of offense when a writer decides to say, "This bizarre and terrifically terrible thing happened" and spend the entire book explaining everything that happened before it (and I mean everything, from the late 18-effing-00s) until reaching that point (which I have not yet reached, and do not intend to, thank god) and realize that the whole book was a waste of time.
Please spare yourselves. Surely, you can Wiki this Mah Yen and read her CONDENSED life story in five minutes rather than read this book. Long, painful, and without anything to merit reading it, a quite futile attempt at interesting memoir-writing.
I hate it when they hook you right in with some type of foreshadowing. It's the worst type of offense when a writer decides to say, "This bizarre and terrifically terrible thing happened" and spend the entire book explaining everything that happened before it (and I mean everything, from the late 18-effing-00s) until reaching that point (which I have not yet reached, and do not intend to, thank god) and realize that the whole book was a waste of time.
Please spare yourselves. Surely, you can Wiki this Mah Yen and read her CONDENSED life story in five minutes rather than read this book. Long, painful, and without anything to merit reading it, a quite futile attempt at interesting memoir-writing.
megstro's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the examination of traditional Chinese values and usage of language and sayings. I also liked the descriptions of 1940s Shanghai and how beautiful she made it seem. While I did like Mah's storytelling, I am wary of memoirs as there is little way to verify its accuracy. Some of her siblings have contested her claims, while others have verified. Either way, I appreciate her changing names to protect living members. What I dislike is the way she portrays herself. She portrays herself as someone totally above reproach and incapable of harsh actions--another thing that raises my brow.
srvest's review against another edition
4.5
A heartbreaking Chinese Cinderella story with the cliche evil stepmom.