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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
This book is definitely an eye-opener and a really intelligent, beautiful and emotional read. I knew next to nothing about Mao or China's recent history before I read this and I am so thankful that this interconnected generational story exists. This book winds up story with fact because the emotional turmoil Jung Chang and her family went through is so shocking it's hard to remember it's 'real!'
What most interested me in this book was the fact that it was a historical document and an interesting read. Having the personal connection of the author discussing her own family meant that this book captured my heart at times and made me wish I could have helped. Mao's China sounds like a horrendous time to have lived and grown up in and I can hardly believe that Jung Chang's family was one of so very many. Jung's story weaves together the life of three generations of women, her grandmother, mother and herself. These three women have had such varied lives and lived through all sorts of tragedies and trials that it instantly makes this story one that's easy to enjoy.
I really would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about recent history of China. It's by far one of the best historical non-fiction books I've read, and it really goes into thorough and personal detail.
A fantastic read and I'll definitely be reading more from this author. Also, I highly recommend the Audiobook as the narrator was great and having an authentic sounding Chinese pronunciations made me get a sense of the settings even more. 4*s overall
What most interested me in this book was the fact that it was a historical document and an interesting read. Having the personal connection of the author discussing her own family meant that this book captured my heart at times and made me wish I could have helped. Mao's China sounds like a horrendous time to have lived and grown up in and I can hardly believe that Jung Chang's family was one of so very many. Jung's story weaves together the life of three generations of women, her grandmother, mother and herself. These three women have had such varied lives and lived through all sorts of tragedies and trials that it instantly makes this story one that's easy to enjoy.
I really would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about recent history of China. It's by far one of the best historical non-fiction books I've read, and it really goes into thorough and personal detail.
A fantastic read and I'll definitely be reading more from this author. Also, I highly recommend the Audiobook as the narrator was great and having an authentic sounding Chinese pronunciations made me get a sense of the settings even more. 4*s overall
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This book rides in the middle of the pack as far as memoirs of pre-Maoist and Maoist China go. A decent read even when it is moving a bit slow. I found myself very engaged with the story at certain points and detached in others. I wouldn't read it again, but it served its purpose of an "okay" narrative of Chinese life.
I started noting the passages that I was going to quote that reminded me of current times, but by the time I finished the book I had so many notes that my review would have been as long as the book! So let me just say that it is a sad reflection of our times (2017 USA) that our current environment reminded me so much of the horror of Communist China under Mao.
This is a memoir-type book of 3 generations of Chinese women and their lives intertwined with the history of the country in which they were living. At times it reads like both fiction and non-fiction. A fascinating story and a horrible recollection of real-life. An academic study and a lovely tale.
I was both enthralled to read the book but at the same time felt I had to force myself to trudge through it. I felt the writing was both good and bad -- many times within paragraphs of each other.
I'm very glad I read this book and very glad that I am finally done.
This is a memoir-type book of 3 generations of Chinese women and their lives intertwined with the history of the country in which they were living. At times it reads like both fiction and non-fiction. A fascinating story and a horrible recollection of real-life. An academic study and a lovely tale.
I was both enthralled to read the book but at the same time felt I had to force myself to trudge through it. I felt the writing was both good and bad -- many times within paragraphs of each other.
I'm very glad I read this book and very glad that I am finally done.
I stumbled upon this book when I was leading a bookclub for online teachers with Chinese students. We were all meeting Chinese kiddos everyday but it became apparent relatively quickly that we didn't know much about China and Chinese history. We had certain words we were forbidden to use. We could not mention Mao or Tiananmen Square. We had to use a very specific map of China. And in the early months of 2022, we were all separated from our students as the Chinese government decided they wanted to stop Western influence within the children's English education.
When I stumbled upon the book a year ago in a charity shop, I picked it up because my interest never wavered and I'm so glad that I did and that I've finally gotten to read it.
What a fascinating and eye opening look at the last century+ in China. I found all 3 women's stories captivating and unique, but starting off with grandma is definitely a hook. Her life was UNREAL. I had to remind myself a few times this was nonfiction. It was also such a wonderfully detailed and honest look at the start of communism in China and what it looked like in everyday life. Genuinely, a fascinating read. There's no wonder it won prizes in the early 90s! I feel like it's a classic, though, and should be more readily these days as well. Well woven, perfectly paced, crammed full of information without ever being overwhelming. Just... Eye opening. Would give 10 stars if possible.
When I stumbled upon the book a year ago in a charity shop, I picked it up because my interest never wavered and I'm so glad that I did and that I've finally gotten to read it.
What a fascinating and eye opening look at the last century+ in China. I found all 3 women's stories captivating and unique, but starting off with grandma is definitely a hook. Her life was UNREAL. I had to remind myself a few times this was nonfiction. It was also such a wonderfully detailed and honest look at the start of communism in China and what it looked like in everyday life. Genuinely, a fascinating read. There's no wonder it won prizes in the early 90s! I feel like it's a classic, though, and should be more readily these days as well. Well woven, perfectly paced, crammed full of information without ever being overwhelming. Just... Eye opening. Would give 10 stars if possible.
Incredible story. Chang humanises and artfully puts faces to the Great Leap Forward & the Cultural Revolution, events I had only really understood at a conceptual level - the death toll, politics, and factional in-fighting, instead of the devastating and varied human experiences. Still as much relevance in 2023 as 1993. 5/5 ⭐️
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Me encariñé mucho con este libro, es algo largo (como 650 páginas) pero vale muchísimo la pena.
Cuenta la historia de tres generaciones de mujeres desde 1910 hasta 1980 aproximadamente, hablando de su abuela, su madre y más tarde de ella misma.
Siento que la historia de juventud de la abuela es un poco más lenta y se siente más extranjera, pero a partir de la historia de la madre -y posteriormente la de la propia autora- definitivamente no podía dejar de leer.
Me sorprende lo poco que sabía yo de la historia reciente de China y del periodo de la invasión japonesa y posterior instauración del comunismo de mano de Mao. (De los 50s a los 70s principalmente) Ni que decir la cantidad de indignación que esta lectura me causó. Hay cosas que me parecieron tan disparatadas que tenía que estarme recordando que este no es un libro de ficción. Como cuando quisieron proponer que el rojo de los semáforos debía significar “avance” porque era el color del comunismo, causando muchos accidentes. Esto hablando sólo de las cosas ridículas y más inofensivas, pero hubo muchísimas cosas horriblemente crueles que son difíciles de asimilar y que no paran de escalar en intensidad a medida que se avanza con la lectura.
Entre las que más me afectaron están la manera en que se seguía despreciando a las mujeres, las “cacerías de brujas” hacia las personas educadas o más afortunadas previo al comunismo por tacharlas de “burguesas”, esa manera de lavado de cerebro en que el sufrimiento de los campesinos era algo a lo que todos debían aspirar en vez de instaurar educación y salud para todos (!!!), en fin; pese a todo, me encantó la forma tan cautelosa y a la vez crítica que usó la autora para abordar estas situaciones.
Este libro sólo me deja con ganas de seguir leyendo obras de no ficción que tocan temas históricos, sobre todo relatos contadas desde las perspectivas de las mujeres.
Cuenta la historia de tres generaciones de mujeres desde 1910 hasta 1980 aproximadamente, hablando de su abuela, su madre y más tarde de ella misma.
Siento que la historia de juventud de la abuela es un poco más lenta y se siente más extranjera, pero a partir de la historia de la madre -y posteriormente la de la propia autora- definitivamente no podía dejar de leer.
Me sorprende lo poco que sabía yo de la historia reciente de China y del periodo de la invasión japonesa y posterior instauración del comunismo de mano de Mao. (De los 50s a los 70s principalmente) Ni que decir la cantidad de indignación que esta lectura me causó. Hay cosas que me parecieron tan disparatadas que tenía que estarme recordando que este no es un libro de ficción. Como cuando quisieron proponer que el rojo de los semáforos debía significar “avance” porque era el color del comunismo, causando muchos accidentes. Esto hablando sólo de las cosas ridículas y más inofensivas, pero hubo muchísimas cosas horriblemente crueles que son difíciles de asimilar y que no paran de escalar en intensidad a medida que se avanza con la lectura.
Entre las que más me afectaron están la manera en que se seguía despreciando a las mujeres, las “cacerías de brujas” hacia las personas educadas o más afortunadas previo al comunismo por tacharlas de “burguesas”, esa manera de lavado de cerebro en que el sufrimiento de los campesinos era algo a lo que todos debían aspirar en vez de instaurar educación y salud para todos (!!!), en fin; pese a todo, me encantó la forma tan cautelosa y a la vez crítica que usó la autora para abordar estas situaciones.
Este libro sólo me deja con ganas de seguir leyendo obras de no ficción que tocan temas históricos, sobre todo relatos contadas desde las perspectivas de las mujeres.