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Last Boat Out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao's Revolution by Helen Zia
daumari's review against another edition
5.0
This book is stunning, and is yet another I will likely send to my dad to read, as it combines his interest in military history but also our shared fascination with the history of the Chinese diaspora. To listen to an interview with the author, check out this live episode of They Call Us Bruce.
I was initially surprised to find that it was a narrative read, following four individuals from childhood through their diaspora adventures. Even more surprising, these are *true* narratives, collected over many interviews through the course of 12 years (in addition to over one hundred interviews with other Shanghainese immigrants). Nonfiction can get very dry, citing reports and contemporary news articles without personifying things, but this was a gripping tale. My family are Taishanese folks, but the stories here are adjacent to my family's, with an uncle remembering Japanese atrocities in the ancestral village during WWII, and his wife being a refugee yet also a "sophisticated city girl" to his self-described "country bumpkin".
Last Boat Out of Shanghai covers the mostly untold story of the exodus of millions out of Shanghai around the Communist takeover of the city in 1949. Zia mentions the perception that the people who fled Mao's revolution were the landowners, the bourgeosie, the rich and intellectual, but the Japanese occupation and the following civil war disrupted life for all classes. Annuo and Bing's stories consistently are about staving off poverty (both girls also leave and return to Shanghai various times during this period too), Benny goes from a spoiled son of a corrupt police official to struggling to find a way to finish his education, while Ho is trapped in limbo, a student overseas trying to figure out if he should go home to find his family or find a way to stay in a country that doesn't want him.
Though a historical, biographical narrative, it's not hard to draw comparisons to modern day discussions about refugees displaced on the globe. Zia digs in her acknowledgements that even at the height of Cold War and McCarthyism paranoia, the US government didn't want to separate parents from their children. The stress of having enough money to enter another country, having the right papers, making sure your family is all covered (or do you divide members in case the safe haven't isn't that safe?) are still questions people need to consider when thinking about fleeing home.
I was initially surprised to find that it was a narrative read, following four individuals from childhood through their diaspora adventures. Even more surprising, these are *true* narratives, collected over many interviews through the course of 12 years (in addition to over one hundred interviews with other Shanghainese immigrants). Nonfiction can get very dry, citing reports and contemporary news articles without personifying things, but this was a gripping tale. My family are Taishanese folks, but the stories here are adjacent to my family's, with an uncle remembering Japanese atrocities in the ancestral village during WWII, and his wife being a refugee yet also a "sophisticated city girl" to his self-described "country bumpkin".
Last Boat Out of Shanghai covers the mostly untold story of the exodus of millions out of Shanghai around the Communist takeover of the city in 1949. Zia mentions the perception that the people who fled Mao's revolution were the landowners, the bourgeosie, the rich and intellectual, but the Japanese occupation and the following civil war disrupted life for all classes. Annuo and Bing's stories consistently are about staving off poverty (both girls also leave and return to Shanghai various times during this period too), Benny goes from a spoiled son of a corrupt police official to struggling to find a way to finish his education, while Ho is trapped in limbo, a student overseas trying to figure out if he should go home to find his family or find a way to stay in a country that doesn't want him.
Though a historical, biographical narrative, it's not hard to draw comparisons to modern day discussions about refugees displaced on the globe. Zia digs in her acknowledgements that even at the height of Cold War and McCarthyism paranoia, the US government didn't want to separate parents from their children. The stress of having enough money to enter another country, having the right papers, making sure your family is all covered (or do you divide members in case the safe haven't isn't that safe?) are still questions people need to consider when thinking about fleeing home.
bookwoman1967's review
4.0
The author concludes "If told often enough, one day such stories may become lessons for historical reflection, not broken paths to be retrod." Watching the news right now, I doubt it. The book was outstanding, though, illuminating complicated history through the absorbing lives of four different people.
waynediane's review against another edition
4.0
Very well written about China through the stories of 4 different individuals and their life. Also, interesting history of China and it's occupation from imperialist countries and of course Japan. I gave it 4.5 stars versus 5 because I think she could have cut 100 pages out, too long.
tophat8855's review against another edition
5.0
I learned a lot about this time and place in history- this stuff was definitely skipped in my Midwestern history classes. I’m glad I read. And these are just 4 stories out of thousands/millions. Would recommend. The experience of people learning while amai came into power and the discussion about how China is not a monolith of culture- it is so many cultures and dialects, and the immigrant experience. Very good to learn.
suebrownreads's review against another edition
5.0
EXCELLENT!
Meticulously researched, and masterfully organized and presented!
I learned so much about this subject. I really was unaware of so much of the hardship that the Chinese people endured in the years that followed WWII, and their flight from China to other countries. Excellent work Ms. Zia! Thank you to your mom and to the many others who shared their stories!
This is definitely going on my "favorites" list.
Meticulously researched, and masterfully organized and presented!
I learned so much about this subject. I really was unaware of so much of the hardship that the Chinese people endured in the years that followed WWII, and their flight from China to other countries. Excellent work Ms. Zia! Thank you to your mom and to the many others who shared their stories!
This is definitely going on my "favorites" list.
gabmc's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really well written and meticulously researched book which tells the stories of four different Shanghai people who left Shanghai in 1949, as the Communists were taking over. The author has traced their very different lives in order to tell their stories. It is unknown how many people actually left Shanghai during the lead up to 1949, but there were lots of Chinese immigrants to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and also the US. For anyone interested in Chinese/Asian history, this book is a must read.
li_gao's review against another edition
5.0
Zia’s book is expertly written following the lives of four children at the start of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai. Each of their stories start in the international settlement of Shanghai and diverge and converge over the course of the book.
The vivid imagery of first hand accounts cannot be understated and is so important in capturing history (from those that lived it).
I think was a great format to honour the lives and experiences of those who had long waited to tell their stories. Zia presents their experiences in a sensitive manner and capturing the human condition.
To summarize the four main individuals:
Benny lived lavishly under Japanese rule as his father rose in ranks in the Japanese puppet police service at 76 Jessfield. Once the Japanese surrendered and the Chinese nationalist moved in Benny’s life was turned upside down having been affiliated with his father’s treasonous work. He fights to keep his siblings safe as the civil war threatens his studies and safety.
Ho is a studious gifted young man determined and focused on gaining a higher education in America. His family puts all their effort and money to support his dream. Separated from his family he work’s tirelessly to find a way for him and his family to survive the war and McCarthyism.
Annou spends most of her childhood traversing China making dangerous moves at the request of her commanding father. Intent on finding a new path forward she dedicates herself to her studies and sets her sights on America.
Bing twice adopted finds a loving and fiesty family with a strong willed resourceful Elder Sister. Interrupted by the war and unrest she is unable to return to her studies. She becomes the main caregiver to Ma and to her nephews Peter and Ole. As the civil war intensifies many are trying to leave the city Elder sister struggles to secure a spot to take Bing with her to America with their final destination set for Denmark.
10 stars out of 5 if I could!
The vivid imagery of first hand accounts cannot be understated and is so important in capturing history (from those that lived it).
I think was a great format to honour the lives and experiences of those who had long waited to tell their stories. Zia presents their experiences in a sensitive manner and capturing the human condition.
To summarize the four main individuals:
Benny lived lavishly under Japanese rule as his father rose in ranks in the Japanese puppet police service at 76 Jessfield. Once the Japanese surrendered and the Chinese nationalist moved in Benny’s life was turned upside down having been affiliated with his father’s treasonous work. He fights to keep his siblings safe as the civil war threatens his studies and safety.
Ho is a studious gifted young man determined and focused on gaining a higher education in America. His family puts all their effort and money to support his dream. Separated from his family he work’s tirelessly to find a way for him and his family to survive the war and McCarthyism.
Annou spends most of her childhood traversing China making dangerous moves at the request of her commanding father. Intent on finding a new path forward she dedicates herself to her studies and sets her sights on America.
Bing twice adopted finds a loving and fiesty family with a strong willed resourceful Elder Sister. Interrupted by the war and unrest she is unable to return to her studies. She becomes the main caregiver to Ma and to her nephews Peter and Ole. As the civil war intensifies many are trying to leave the city Elder sister struggles to secure a spot to take Bing with her to America with their final destination set for Denmark.
10 stars out of 5 if I could!
jmutschler88's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent and historically informative book following the lives of four refugees from Shanghai. I found I was able to connect to each refugee and their story, and that the order of events as presented was not hard to follow. It strikes me that the plight of the Chinese people in WWII and the Communist revolution has been rather excluded from lessons in "World History", and that this was a new and exciting point-of-view to read about. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to expand their knowledge regarding world history and the plight of refugees. Perhaps it will make you a more open-minded and empathetic person.