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A review by baasanka
The Chief Witness: escape from China’s modern-day concentration camps by Sayragul Sauytbay
3.0
Great story, mediocre book.
Considering that many of the readers will be westerners with no in-depth knowledge of the subject, I wish she had really driven in how much they as individuals are supporting genocide and torture by purchasing cheap Chinese crap and buying from companies with questionable practices in their supply chain. This was only mentioned briefly at the end of the book – it should have been a bigger talking point.
Since it's a biography, I normally wouldn't complain about the story being too focused on the individual, but it seems that the author Alexandra Cavelius has written other books on the subject of Chinese oppression/internment camps and should be an expert (-ish). Hence, I think she could have done a better with the structure.
It's a heavy and highly important subject matter; there could have been more context and history provided. I found myself thinking back on other books and interviews I've read to fill in the gaps where the text provided no further details.
The book paints very vivid imagery, though, and will no doubt elicit emotional responses, which is its primary goal. I wish it were a bit more informative.
Considering that many of the readers will be westerners with no in-depth knowledge of the subject, I wish she had really driven in how much they as individuals are supporting genocide and torture by purchasing cheap Chinese crap and buying from companies with questionable practices in their supply chain. This was only mentioned briefly at the end of the book – it should have been a bigger talking point.
Since it's a biography, I normally wouldn't complain about the story being too focused on the individual, but it seems that the author Alexandra Cavelius has written other books on the subject of Chinese oppression/internment camps and should be an expert (-ish). Hence, I think she could have done a better with the structure.
It's a heavy and highly important subject matter; there could have been more context and history provided. I found myself thinking back on other books and interviews I've read to fill in the gaps where the text provided no further details.
The book paints very vivid imagery, though, and will no doubt elicit emotional responses, which is its primary goal. I wish it were a bit more informative.