A review by crystalritchie
The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang

4.0

It took me so long to finish this book because there were many days where I couldn't bear to listen to the truly unspeakable sufferings the Chinese endured at the hands of the Imperial Japanese troops during what is now known as the Rape of Nanking. I would never have known this event even occurred if it hadn't been for this book, and although even just hearing about the atrocities committed was a struggle to sit through at many points, I am so glad that Iris Chang had the courage the expose the truth of what really happened in Nanjing from 1937-1938. I wouldn't recommend this book for the faint of heart but I definitely think it is worth reading, if not for any other reason than to acknowledge the existence of the Nanking Massacre and remember the hundreds of thousands of Chinese (many civilians) who died, and for the survivors who experienced life-long trauma following the event as well.