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inmynuggets's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
janelodge's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book has given me a belated and profound insight into the cultural revolution in China that moved me to tears
mary00's review against another edition
4.0
This is one book that I will never forget. I cannot say that I loved reading it, the injustice and tragedy throughout make it too harrowing of a read for that, but I was fascinated by it. Before reading this I had literally zero knowledge of modern Chinese history. Although the book is written from one person's point of view, I now feel that I have a basic knowledge of the mind-boggling history of China in the last century. The one thing that I hope that I take away from reading this is an unshakeable gratitude for living when and where I do. I found it fitting that I finished reading this book, a book about the political and personal suffocation of nearly a whole population, on Memorial Day, a day when we remember and honor those who haved died to preserve our freedom. China has always seemed somewhat of a mysterious country to me. I had absolutely no idea that they had a dictator in Mao who could rival Hitler for pure evil. I am now interested in learning more about him. This was an eye-opening read that I would recommend to anyone.
karol99's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
hectaizani's review against another edition
4.0
This book was fascinating, and I'm glad that it was selected for my bookgroup to read. Most of us had never heard of it before and we thought it was fiction. That it was biographical/autobiographical made it that much more interesting and horrifying. This story of Jung Chang's family and the China they lived in is both sad and uplifting. It's hard to believe all that was going on in China, and the rest of the world was completely unaware.
shanzae_m's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
One of the most emotional books I have ever read. It opens your eyes to the different types of suffering amongst generations, but also sparks appreciation for the freedom in your own life - compared to those who do not have this privilege. It really communicates the power of education and reading, and how this is corrupted by dictatorships.
nrweinst's review against another edition
4.5
A true, and incredible story about the effects of maos communism on the lives of Chinese women (and some men). Narrator may be unreliable but this only adds to the fun.