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luchikreads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Physical abuse, Grief, Violence, Hate crime, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, and Police brutality
megs_k's review against another edition
3.0
Here, even if they don't throw you in prison, they keep you in a cage. ~ Lan Yan
katiez624's review against another edition
4.0
Yan writes about the history of her family in this epic saga that spans many generations and involve notable events that took place in China during the 20th century. Her father and grandfather both held prominent positions and worked closely with the leaders of the Communist government. They were privy to many conversations that occurred between leaders and countries, giving a firsthand look at many of the discussions that took place and the decisions that were made. Because of the intricate ties that her family had with the governing officials in China, the story of the Yan family is also the story of major events that occurred in China during that time period.
The stories Yan tells are personal, vivid, and paint a clear firsthand account of the tumultuous experiences that her family and those around her were going through. The book contains comprehensive information about the events that occurred, just like a textbook, but it is infused with personal stories of the Yan family.
Many events are difficult to read about and imagine. Yan utilizes short, concise chapters and a nonlinear timeline to share with the reader the entire brutal story in a more palatable way. Knowing the story of this family is pivotal in understanding the events that took place in Chinese during this turbulent time period.
The stories Yan tells are personal, vivid, and paint a clear firsthand account of the tumultuous experiences that her family and those around her were going through. The book contains comprehensive information about the events that occurred, just like a textbook, but it is infused with personal stories of the Yan family.
Many events are difficult to read about and imagine. Yan utilizes short, concise chapters and a nonlinear timeline to share with the reader the entire brutal story in a more palatable way. Knowing the story of this family is pivotal in understanding the events that took place in Chinese during this turbulent time period.
tidestriders's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
it's so interesting to me that one family can be so intertwined with the political conflict and history of a country. the timeline of the book was hard to follow at times (as someone unfamiliar with china's history & the cultural revolution), but overall the book was very enjoyable, especially the last half
caroreadssometimes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
cyn_ng's review against another edition
I felt like the book got a little "dry" as I got more and more pages in.
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