14mins's review against another edition
5.0
my really fucking hot history teacher with a unfortunate personality recommended this book. this a nice read unlike her presence. funny how it took her leaving for me to complete this
lizzy_sedai's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
aubreystapp's review against another edition
5.0
fantastic read, I loved it. Books like this one are why I adore nonfiction. Definitely anyone should read it before visiting China.
happylittlestar's review against another edition
4.0
I was suppose to read this in High School for history class but I didn't. I should've read it, it was interesting to learn about these 3 women and life in China. I grow up watching a lot of Asian dramas and I know some of these traditions. I don't pay enough attention to my own traditions and I feel like I am falling out of my own culture. It was refreshing to see how it is in the past.
rdorrington's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, Child death, Police brutality, and Suicide
katiez624's review against another edition
4.0
As a child of parents who lived through the Communist Revolution, this is a topic that I have always been intrigued by. I've read countless books that span this part of Chinese history, but only through this book did I truly feel like I got a firsthand account of that tumultuous time period. The details that Chang was able to glean from her meticulous research and immediate family members about that time period is extremely thorough and comprehensive. The tactics that the Communist group employed to gain the trust and respect of the Chinese people put into perspective why so many people were so loyal to this increasingly corrupt governing body. As Mao's political views changed on a regular basis, and his love of senseless violence and brutality was made evident, the Chinese people were able to see what a terrible leader he was. But in that time and place, there was no way to get out unscathed.
Parts of the book were very heavy, both in terms of the politics and the violence. This was not a book I could read in one sitting, but I knew that this was a history that cannot be skimmed over, and I never considered giving up on it. The brutality and violence that innocent people had to endure were difficult to stomach, especially with my parents in mind. However, the insight this book gave me was invaluable in gaining a deeper understanding of what many of my parents and grandparents experienced and survived. They don't really talk about this time period in their lives, so I'm not sure what their specific experiences were. It's also a topic in which I'm not sure if I should try to delve deeper and potentially open up past wounds and trauma. Nevertheless, these events in history NEED to be made known, especially to people who have direct ties to China and its people.
Parts of the book were very heavy, both in terms of the politics and the violence. This was not a book I could read in one sitting, but I knew that this was a history that cannot be skimmed over, and I never considered giving up on it. The brutality and violence that innocent people had to endure were difficult to stomach, especially with my parents in mind. However, the insight this book gave me was invaluable in gaining a deeper understanding of what many of my parents and grandparents experienced and survived. They don't really talk about this time period in their lives, so I'm not sure what their specific experiences were. It's also a topic in which I'm not sure if I should try to delve deeper and potentially open up past wounds and trauma. Nevertheless, these events in history NEED to be made known, especially to people who have direct ties to China and its people.
nancy_vb's review against another edition
4.0
Great memoir that vividly depicts life in China under Mao's reign and during the Cultural Revolution. Horrifying at times yet a testament to the power of the human spirit and how some can survive despite insurmountable odds.