Scan barcode
A review by ailurophile_bibliophile89
Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
5.0
Updated Review: 5 Stars
Original Review: 4 Stars
A moving story that is a testament to human endurance and highlights the differences between East and West.
Updated Review: October 28, 2023
So, this is actually one of my all-time favorite books ever. I have honestly read this more than I count – my Goodreads read dates aren’t actually up-to-date. My mother bought me this book when I was 12, and for the longest time, it was one of the few books I re-read every year. Eventually, my copy became so old and tattered that it got thrown out during a move.
That being said, one of the reasons I liked this book so much was because it hit somewhat close to home. As an Asian adoptee growing up in suburban America, being raised by a white couple in a primarily white town, there were few opportunities for me to learn much about the history of China, Japan, or the Philippines, the last of which is my birth country. However, knowing that there were other people out there like me who strived for a strong, supportive family unit in a loving home made me feel less alone, especially given that Adeline Yen Mah was also Asian.
Falling Leaves was my first real introduction to how the East clashed with West. The West has always been portrayed as superior conquerors, and the treatment of the Chinese in the treaty concessions underscores that fact. Yen Mah’s family history confirms the culture clash between the two. Her father’s remarriage to a young, beautiful Eurasian woman from a poor family highlights this fact even further.
Blamed for her mother’s death, treated as less than a servant, her story is, indeed, that of the Chinese Cinderella. Jeanne Prosperi, her step-mother, knew what she what she wanted when she married into the Yen family: a wealthy, handsome husband who she could wrap around her fingers. Surrounded by his wife’s French relatives, he adopted the superior attitude the French and British typically used when dealing with the native Chinese.
Yen Mah’s early life was filled with abuse, sadness, and loneliness. There was no such thing as equality in her home. The double standard between East and West, her full siblings and her half siblings was made clear and highlighted every second of every day. Reading her words, you can feel the longing she felt. You feel indignant on her behalf; you weep with her when she’s separated from her beloved Aunt Baba; and you cheer with her when she finally finds happiness with her second husband.
While my adoptive family was nowhere near hers, in fact it was the exact opposite, I still felt a similar loss. My birth mother willingly gave me up, telling the social workers she had no desire to keep me – despite having two other children by a different man. She never mentioned the name of my father and refused to talk of him. I have always loved and been loved by my family, but my heart goes out to those like Adeline who experience such trauma.
Jeanne Prosperi did not want any of her stepchildren to thrive and attempted to ruin any chances of success. Yet, Yen Mah manages to rise above the petty jealousies of the family. The triumph of finding her father’s first will, and her final moments with Aunt Baba, highlight her ability to still love and forgive despite the abuse and trauma she endured.
In short, Falling Leaves is a testament to human strength in the face of adversity. A definite 5 stars.
June 25, 2023
Will write something more in depth when I'm not so tired.
Original Review: 4 Stars
A moving story that is a testament to human endurance and highlights the differences between East and West.
Updated Review: October 28, 2023
So, this is actually one of my all-time favorite books ever. I have honestly read this more than I count – my Goodreads read dates aren’t actually up-to-date. My mother bought me this book when I was 12, and for the longest time, it was one of the few books I re-read every year. Eventually, my copy became so old and tattered that it got thrown out during a move.
That being said, one of the reasons I liked this book so much was because it hit somewhat close to home. As an Asian adoptee growing up in suburban America, being raised by a white couple in a primarily white town, there were few opportunities for me to learn much about the history of China, Japan, or the Philippines, the last of which is my birth country. However, knowing that there were other people out there like me who strived for a strong, supportive family unit in a loving home made me feel less alone, especially given that Adeline Yen Mah was also Asian.
Falling Leaves was my first real introduction to how the East clashed with West. The West has always been portrayed as superior conquerors, and the treatment of the Chinese in the treaty concessions underscores that fact. Yen Mah’s family history confirms the culture clash between the two. Her father’s remarriage to a young, beautiful Eurasian woman from a poor family highlights this fact even further.
Blamed for her mother’s death, treated as less than a servant, her story is, indeed, that of the Chinese Cinderella. Jeanne Prosperi, her step-mother, knew what she what she wanted when she married into the Yen family: a wealthy, handsome husband who she could wrap around her fingers. Surrounded by his wife’s French relatives, he adopted the superior attitude the French and British typically used when dealing with the native Chinese.
Yen Mah’s early life was filled with abuse, sadness, and loneliness. There was no such thing as equality in her home. The double standard between East and West, her full siblings and her half siblings was made clear and highlighted every second of every day. Reading her words, you can feel the longing she felt. You feel indignant on her behalf; you weep with her when she’s separated from her beloved Aunt Baba; and you cheer with her when she finally finds happiness with her second husband.
While my adoptive family was nowhere near hers, in fact it was the exact opposite, I still felt a similar loss. My birth mother willingly gave me up, telling the social workers she had no desire to keep me – despite having two other children by a different man. She never mentioned the name of my father and refused to talk of him. I have always loved and been loved by my family, but my heart goes out to those like Adeline who experience such trauma.
Jeanne Prosperi did not want any of her stepchildren to thrive and attempted to ruin any chances of success. Yet, Yen Mah manages to rise above the petty jealousies of the family. The triumph of finding her father’s first will, and her final moments with Aunt Baba, highlight her ability to still love and forgive despite the abuse and trauma she endured.
In short, Falling Leaves is a testament to human strength in the face of adversity. A definite 5 stars.
June 25, 2023
Will write something more in depth when I'm not so tired.