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shirleytupperfreeman's review
Born in 1957 to educated parents, Anchee Min was sent to a labor camp during China's cultural revolution. Her first 20+ years in China were less than ideal,to put it mildly, and are well documented in her first memoir, The Red Azalea. This new book is an account of her life as an immigrant to the US and her development as a writer and parent. If half of what she writes is accurate, I'm in awe of her persistence and guts. She's the Tiger Mother with no English (initially) and no financial resources. At one point early in her US life, she was attending, and barely passing, college at the Art Institute in Chicago and holding down 5 part-time jobs using public transportation to get around. While the writing style is sometimes choppy and the transitions sometimes abrupt, I enjoyed this memoir of surviving and even thriving.
cathyatratedreads's review
3.0
It’s painful to read about the deprivations Anchee Min endured here in a land of supposed plenty. Despite (and because of) her many challenges, Min eventually finds happiness and security and a sense of who she is, including joy with a new and good husband, and it’s so satisfying to see her journey through to its conclusion.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com:
https://ratedreads.com/cooked-seed-nonfiction-book-review/
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com:
https://ratedreads.com/cooked-seed-nonfiction-book-review/
bookishblond's review
3.0
I was first introduced to Anchee Min in the summer of 2010, when I read [b:Empress Orchid|139254|Empress Orchid (Empress Orchid, #1)|Anchee Min|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442864153s/139254.jpg|936155] and [b:The Last Empress|47305|The Last Empress (Empress Orchid, #2)|Anchee Min|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1433552246s/47305.jpg|3011152]; I remember reading late into the night, unable to put the books down. I rediscovered Min in early 2012 when I was living in New Orleans. I devoured five more of her books. Again, I remember hungrily reading her novels and breathtaking memoir in a matter of days.
Six years later, I came across Min's second memoir. I was ecstatic at this find and looked forward to reading the book more than I have anticipated reading a book in a long time.
The first half of The Cooked Seed contains Min's heartbreaking account of her unlikely immigration the United States and her struggle to learn English in a very short amount of time to claim her place at the Art of Institute of Chicago. I flew through the first half of this memoir with the absorption I recall from my first taste of her books, and I was not disappointed. However, my attitude quickly changed when I reached the second half of the book, Min's narrative of raising her daughter and meeting her second husband. Although Min does attempt to explain her parenting philosophy, with a nod to her Chinese heritage and her immigrant mindset, I was horrified at how she raised her daughter. Min's rambling tale of how she met her husband and the lengthy illustration of his personality was incredibly boring. These chapters were in desperate need of an editor.
My favorite part of this book was the inside of the hardcover backing, which featured a collage of pictures from this period in Min's life. After finishing the book last night, I am hesitant to recommend the book, but overall, I do believe that readers of Min's earlier work should read her memoir for a complete portrait of this remarkable woman.
Six years later, I came across Min's second memoir. I was ecstatic at this find and looked forward to reading the book more than I have anticipated reading a book in a long time.
The first half of The Cooked Seed contains Min's heartbreaking account of her unlikely immigration the United States and her struggle to learn English in a very short amount of time to claim her place at the Art of Institute of Chicago. I flew through the first half of this memoir with the absorption I recall from my first taste of her books, and I was not disappointed. However, my attitude quickly changed when I reached the second half of the book, Min's narrative of raising her daughter and meeting her second husband. Although Min does attempt to explain her parenting philosophy, with a nod to her Chinese heritage and her immigrant mindset, I was horrified at how she raised her daughter. Min's rambling tale of how she met her husband and the lengthy illustration of his personality was incredibly boring. These chapters were in desperate need of an editor.
My favorite part of this book was the inside of the hardcover backing, which featured a collage of pictures from this period in Min's life. After finishing the book last night, I am hesitant to recommend the book, but overall, I do believe that readers of Min's earlier work should read her memoir for a complete portrait of this remarkable woman.
emjay24's review against another edition
3.0
This is a memoir about a woman who came to Chicago at 27 from China, not knowing any english and having gotten herself into college there. She grew up in China during the cultural revolution, turning in her teacher to the government, having to work in a work camp, and more, and escapes to the United States to turn around her life. She manages to do it, and even becomes a famous author (even before this book), so in one way this story is inspirational. In another, I just didn't like Anchee Min much as a person, or the way she often did things. But Anchee doesn't need me to like her, because look at all she's accomplished. This book was very interesting for the glimpses of her past in China, as I know next to nothing about that history, as well as for her experiences here in the US. The story flowed well and I would recommend it. This was a book club selection from work, but it's something I might have picked up anyway. It's more of a 3 1/2 stars, but that's not an option here.
yipeng's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
An incredibly difficult read about a Chinese woman coming to America and trying to survive. It was heart wrenching and incredibly harrowing.
reneesuz's review
4.0
Anchee is not much older than myself and her daughter and my eldest were born in the same year but beyond that our life stories are so very different.
If you enjoy stories of those that have overcome adversity, this is the book for you.
If you enjoy stories of those that have overcome adversity, this is the book for you.
dana_in_denver's review
2.0
I only read about half the book. What I read was interesting... and intense. This is a memoir of a woman who moves from China to the United States and goes through just about every challenge in life you can imagine. I just did not feel compelled to keep reading.
nievesstephanie's review
5.0
Este libro me abrió los ojos a la realidad que viven los inmigrantes. Fue hermoso ver como Anchee Min luchó y sobrepasó todas las situaciones que se le presentaron. Para mi fue un libro esperanzador.